Edward Osborne grew up in Heriot Row, Dunedin and joined the Royal Air Force in 1940, leaving New Zealand in March of that year. It is possible that he had already qualified as a pilot by this time. He was granted a temporary service commission in May, 1940.
Ted Osborne took off on the night of November 28th in a twin-engined Whitley bomber, for the French port of Le Havre, by then occupied by German forces and possibly containing the barges and ships gathered for the invasion of Britain. He and his crew were not seen again and their fate is unknown. It is presumend that they crashed into the North Sea.
ROLL OF HONOUR.
OSBORN — To the gallant memory of my brother. Pilot Officer Edward Read Osborn, R.A.F.; aged 21 years.
Per ardua et astra.
— Inserted by his sister, Helen Banks, Sumner. -Press, 28/11/1941.
IN MEMORIAM.
For the Empire's Cause.
OSBORN. — A tribute of love to the memory of my dear son, Pilot-officer Edward Read Osborn, killed in action November 28, 1940.
Not just to-day, but every day, in silence I remember.
— Inserted by his mother. -Evening Star, 27/11/1943.
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