Memorial service honours 1944 Lancaster crash victims at RAF Welford
A memorial
Military representatives and civic dignitaries gathered to pay their respects at a private ceremony held at the Memorial Grove on the base on Monday, March 31.
Special Operations Lancaster bomber DV290 (SR-X) of 101 Squadron left RAF Ludford Magna late on March 30, 1944, for a bombing raid on Nuremberg.
But it crashed when it appeared over RAF Welford the next morning after a failed emergency landing.
The crowd at this year’s service joined in prayer and recited the Exhortation.
The Last Post sounded and a two-minute silence was observed.
The Reveille then sounded, followed by the Kohima Epitaph.
Both the British and American national anthems then played.
Wreaths were laid by those representing USAF, RAF, 101 Squadron, 501st Combat Support Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, The American Legion, West Berkshire and Oxford Parachute Regimental Association, Royal British Legion, Newbury Town Council, West Berkshire Council, RAF Welford Historical Society and Chaddleworth Parish Council.
Mayor of Newbury Andy Moore said after the service: “It was a moving ceremony, particularly because there were families of the deceased airmen from the Lancaster crash, not just from the UK but from Australia and Canada. That was profound.
“I congratulate the RAF Welford Historical Society who put on the event and brought a good number of people along.”
Major Marques Reyes, base commander at RAF Welford, said: “It's a very humbling experience knowing that a lot of people really support the base and remember the people that have been here before us.”
And adding how he plans to support the RAF Welford Historical Society through the remainder of his rotation, which ends in June 2026, he said: “I think it is really a true honour and appreciation of what has happened in the past and the operations which have taken place within the local area.
“One of my key goals moving forward is to ensure [the society] is supported well, and that there's no question of why they’re using that building.”
Other distinguished guests at the service included vice lord-lieutenant of Berkshire Graham Barker, chairman of West Berkshire Council Billy Drummond, high sheriff of Berkshire Alexander Barfield, Flt Lt Rich Needham of 101 Squadron,
RAF commander Jayne Robertson, Captain William Wyss of Royal Canadian Air Force, David Temple of Wantage RAF Association and Ian and Jeannette Parker, the great-niece of Flt Sgt Ernest Hugo Traeger – a specialist addition to the ill-fated Lancaster crew.
The crew members had an average age of 24. Their names are as follows.
RAF: Flt Sgt Edwin Robert Thomas (pilot); Sgt Addy (flight engineer); Sgt Dennis Roland Billson (mid upper gunner); and Sgt Richard Alfred James Collier (rear gunner).
Royal Australian Air Force: Flt Sgt Traeger (special duty operations) and Flt Sgt Allen Howard Wilson (wireless air gunner).
Royal Canadian Air Force: WO2 Alan Norman Rice (navigator) and Flt Sgt Irvin Robert McNay (air bomber).
