RAF Welford honours Lancaster mystery crash victims
Near 100 military personnel and distinguished civic dignitaries attended a private ceremony at RAF Welford on Friday to honour the victims of a fatal aircraft crash.
On March 30, 1944 at 10.05pm, Special Operations Lancaster bomber DV290 SR-X of 101 Squadron left RAF Ludford Magna in Lincolnshire to support an attack on Nuremberg.
When the aircraft reappeared over RAF Welford early the following morning, it attempted an emergency landing, killing all eight crewmembers onboard.
This year's annual commemoration took place at the sports hall due to heavy rain. A smaller contingent also paid its respects around a dedicated plaque for the crash victims at the Memorial Grove, where the service is usually held.
Rev Julie Mintern, vicar of Lambourn, led the ceremony with prayers and readings. Guests observed a two minute silence and joined in singing both the US and British National Anthems.
Attending the service were representatives of the USAF including USAF major and 420th Munitions Squadron commander Preston Smith, the Royal Air Forces Association, Newbury Royal British Legion, West Berkshire Parachute Regiment Association, Welford Historical Society, mayor of Newbury Gary Norman and local parish councillors.
Wing commander of 101 Squadron Paul Summers attended the service for the first time from RAF Brize Norton.
"I've been associated with 101 Squadron for about the last 20 years," he said. "I've known about the Welford memorial, but I've only just become aware of the actual content and what it was all about."
Branch chairman of the Newbury Royal British Legion, Keith Williams, said: "It's always been a simple service. It's nice that we're invited every year."
"It's all about being here and making sure the memory is kept alive," added standard bearer, James Moxon.
The RAF sustained heavy losses on this top secret ill-fated mission, with a total of seven aircraft and 56 aircrew never making it home.
It is not fully understood whether the Lancaster which hit Welford had succumbed to battle damage sustained over Germany or encountered a mechanical fault.
The eight crew members killed had an average age of 24 and included two Canadians and two Australians.
Their names were: warrant officer II Alan Norman Rice, flight sergeants Edwin Robert Thomas, Irvin Robert McNay, Ernest Hugo Traeger and Allen Howard Wilson and sergeants Dennis Roland Billson, Donald Addy and Richard Alfred James Collier.
Flight Sgt Traeger was an extra specialist addition to the crew. As a fluent German speaker, his role was to jam and confuse German night fighter pilots on their radio frequencies. His great-niece Jeannette Parker attended the service in his memory.
RAF Welford has been active since 1943. It was being used by Dakotas of the 435th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF at the time of the crash.
The base closed after the war and was returned to the RAF. It reopened as a USAF base in 1955 and ammunition storage buildings were built along the main runway.
Today, it is one of the largest ordnance depots in Western Europe.