Flight Lieutenant William Laurie Lang, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He died on Service in a flying accident, aged 30, on the 27th October 1941. He had been born in Calcutta, India and was the son of the late John Lang formerly of the Indian Civil Service and Mrs Winifred Lang of Cleitheugh, Jedburgh. He was married to Frances Lang of Grendon Underwood, Bucks. whom he had married in Oxford in 1934. He had been educated at Clifton College, Bristol and Christ Church, Oxford from where he graduated in 1934. He had been employed by Pilkington Brothers Ltd. and had gained a commission in the R.A.F.V.R. in 611 ( West Lancashire ) Bomber Squadron upon its formation in 1936. He was promoted Flight Lieutenant in August 1941 and served with Coastal Command before becoming Chief Instructor at No. Flight Training School at Upper Hayford, Oxfordshire. He was killed when his Airspeed Oxford collided with another aircraft over the airfield killing all the occupants He is buried in Grendon Underwood ( St Leonard ) Churchyard, Buckinghamshire where his Headstone is inscribed ” A Talented Athlete A Loving Husband And Father A Brave And Free Spirit”.
