Hoping that someone can help with information about the following man: Casualty Warrant Officer (Pilot) WELCH, DOUGLAS HAROLD Service Number 1318580 Died 22/10/1943 Aged 22 427 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Son of Harold and Beatrice Eleanor Welch, of Ampthill; husband of Blanche Matilda Welch. Buried at AMPTHILL (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD Location: Bedfordshire, United Kingdom Number of casualties: 12 Cemetery/memorial reference: Sec. 2. Row R. Grave 5. His brother 2724017 Charles Maximilian WELCH, 3 Irish Guards also died - in April 1945 and is buried at RHEINBERG. Hence the interest. Thanks
Hi Diane, I've come up with the following info. 22-23 October 1943 427 Squadron. Halifax V DK182 ZL- Op: Kassel. Crew. W/O. D H. Welch + Sgt. J H. Procter + Sgt. E J. Dutton + Sgt. K A. Brown + Sgt. P J. Moore + Sgt. J I. McCullagh + Sgt. D O. Collen + Took off 1725 hrs from Leeming. Turned back early and came down at 2115 hrs at Newton Kyme, 10 miles SW of York. BCL Vol.4 W R. Chorley Regards Peter
22/23 October 1943 Kassel Raid 569 aircraft - 322 Lancasters, 247 Halifaxes - to Kassel. The German controller was again successful in assessing the target and 43 aircraft - 25 Halifaxes, 18 Lancasters - were lost, 7.6 per cent of the force. The initial 'blind' H2S marking overshot the target but 8 out of the 9 'visual' markers correctly identified the centre of Kassel and placed their markers accurately. Although German decoy markers may have drawn off part of the bomber force, the main raid was exceptionally accurate and concentrated. The result was the most devastating attack on a German city since the firestorm raid on Hamburg in July and the results at Kassel would not be exceeded again until well into 1944. The fires were so concentrated that there was a firestorm, although not as extensive as the Hamburg one. 28 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos of No 8 Group carried out a diversionary raid to Frankfurt. Bombing was scattered. 1 Lancaster lost.
Peter, Thanks very much for this - I wanted to add something to their background and this is super information. Regards, Diane
Warrant Officer DOUGLAS HAROLD WELCH 1318580, 427 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 22 on 22 October 1943 Son of Harold and Beatrice Eleanor Welch, of Ampthill; husband of Blanche Matilda Welch. Remembered with honour AMPTHILL (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD Also on Headstone Guardsman CHARLES MAXIMILIAN WELCH 2724017, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 02 April 1945 Son of Harold and Beatrice Eleanor Welch, of Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Remembered with honour RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY please note incorrect spelling of Rheinburg on headstone photo
