“Midshipman (A)(P) JOSEPHEDWARD RUSHTON RAINFORD (1937)
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Rainford was born 2 March 1922 and entered the School from Calday Grange Grammar School
in January 1937 but left after only two terms, in Griffin’s House, to join the Merchant Navy. In
August 1940 he obtained a transfer to the Fleet Air Arm and qualified as a fighter pilot. In
November he was posted to H.M.S. Heron (R.N.A.S. Yeovilton) for duty with 760 Naval Air
Squadron and was Acting Adjutant of the Squadron at the time of his death. On 2 January 1941 he
was killed during a training exercise when Fairy Fulmar N 1959 of 807 Naval Air Squadron,
R.N.A.S. Yeovilton, collided with another aircraft.”

Found: Roll of Honour, Old Birkonian Society:

http://obs.org.uk/sites/default/files/content/core/memorials-ww2-roll_of_honour.pdf