Operation: Air Test

Date: 3rd November 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 76 Squadron, 4 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax V

Serial: LK681

Code: MP:A

Base: RAF Holme on Spalding Moor, Yorkshire

Location: Enthorpe House, 5 miles NE of Market Weighton, Yorkshire

Pilot: Flt Lt. James Steele 127895 RAFVR Age 20. Died

Flt Eng: Sgt. Jeffery George Kirby 1453264 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. William Laskie 131957 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Derek Kneale 1450874 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Plt Off. Roy Arthur Brawn 420611 RAAF Age 25. Killed (1)

Air Gnr (Rear): Plt Off. Henry Maxwell Welch J19121 RCAF Age 25. Killed (2)

Passenger: Miss Dorothy Robson Age 23. Died (3)

Above: Fg Off. William Laskie - as a trainee LAC; (courtesy of David Chalmers); Plt Off. Roy Arthur Brawn (from his service record); Plt Off. Henry Maxwell Welch

REASON FOR LOSS

While carrying out an air test of a new improved bomb sight with Miss Robson aboard, it is believed that Flt Lt. Steele was flying at a low level in order for her to maintain a view of the ground features. During this manoeuvre in an attempt to fly under low level cloud, the aircraft crashed into some higher ground obscured by a bank of fog at around 11:55 hrs.

It would appear that the pilot was attempting to keep below the cloud when it then entered a bank of fog lying over some high ground, either side of this the conditions were clear.

The Halifax completely disintegrated on impact spreading wreckage over a wide area. Although Flt Lt. Steele, Plt Off. Welch and Miss Robson survived the initial crash they succumbed to their injuries a short time later.

Fg Off. Frederick Hall, as Navigator, would normally have accompanied the crew but was preparing his navigation charts in readiness for the operation to Düsseldorf. Subsequently he joined Fg Off. Bolt’s crew and completed his tour of duty in 1944.

(1) Roy Arthur Brawn enlisted in June of 1941 and completed his training in Australia being awarded his air gunners badge in September 1942. Posted overseas in October, he was sent to No.7 Bombing and Gunnery School in January, 1943, for a refresher course before going to 20 OTU prior to 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) at Rufforth in Yorkshire. At the end of June, 1943 he joined RAF 76 Squadron based at Holme on Spalding Moor. Between July and November 1943, he completed 17 operations over Europe. A Printers Compositor for the North Coast Beacon newspaper in Ballina, NSW, prior to enrolling, Roy was married just three months before embarking for the UK.

Plt Off. Roy Brawn front row second from left. Stormy Down 26th January 1943

(2) Henry Maxwell Welch lived and worked on the family farm at Thornloe. He enlisted at North Bay, Ontario on 10 July 1942 and completed his basic training at No. 5 Manning Depot, Lachine, Quebec. Selected for training as an air gunner, Henry was posted to No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mt. Joli, PQ on 11 October 1942 where he graduated with the award of his Air Gunner badge on 30 December 1942. Posted to No. 1 'Y' Depot, Halifax he embarked for the UK on 26 January 1943. Trained at No.24 Operational Training Unit at RAF Honeybourne and from there to No.1664 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Rufforth before joining No. 76 Squadron at RAF Holme on Spalding Moor on 15 August 1943.

Henry and his crew mates had completed 14 operations against the enemy when he was lost.

(3) Dorothy Robson lived in Guisborough until she was eight (8) years old before moving to Hartlepool where her father had purchased a Chemist’s shop.

She was an exceptional student and after completing high school gained entrance to Leeds University studying Physics. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree, she accepted a position with the Ministry of Aircraft production at Farnborough in Surrey. Her work entailed the development of bomb sight improvements fitted to heavy bombers. Miss Robson was considered an expert on the Mk IV Bomb site. Spending much of her time with the bomber crews based at the numerous airfields in Yorkshire, she soon became known by the nickname 'Bomb Sight Bertha' and the “The girl with the laughing eyes”.

Critically injured in the crash, Dorothy died in hospital two days later. In accordance with her wishes she was cremated and her ashes scattered from the air by a small 76 Sqn training aircraft in which she sometime took flying lessons..

Burial Details:

Flt Lt. James Steele. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall), Section C Row D Grave 10. Grave Inscription: “DEARLY LOVED SECOND SON OF SQDN.LDR. AND MRS. STEELE CRAWLEY, WINCHESTER”.Born on the 22nd April 1923 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Son of Sqn Ldr. Robert Steele J15054 RCAF (later Wing Commander) and Norah Esme (née Gallaher) Steele of Crawley, Hampshire, England.

Sgt. Jeffery George Kirby. City of London Cemetery and Crematorium, Manor Park, Essex. Cremation Panel 12. No further biographical information found.

Above: Grave marker for Fg Off. William Laskie (Courtesy of David Chalmers)

Fg Off. William Laskie. Dundee Cemetery (Balgay), Section M Grave 1030. Grave Inscription: “DEEP IN OUR HEARTS BILL'S MEMORY IS KEPT WE WHO LOVED HIM WILL NEVER FORGET”. Born on the 4th February 1923 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Son of Robert Millar and Margaret Richardson (née Speed) Chalmers of Dundee, Scotland.

Sgt. Derek Kneale. Liverpool Cemetery (West Derby), Section C, C of E, Grave 1495. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM”. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1923 in Liverpool, Lancashire. Son of William and Phyllis (née Hodgkinson) Kneale of Stoneycroft, Liverpool, England. Husband of Edna May (née Dobie) Kneale.

Above: Initial Grave marker for Plt Off. Roy Arthur Brawn (From his Service Record)

Plt Off. Roy Arthur Brawn. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall), Section C Row D Grave 8. Grave Inscription: “TOO SADLY MISSED TO BE FORGOTTEN. JEAN”.Born on the 30th May 1918 at Ballina New South Wales. Son of Richard Henry and Alice May (née Lickliss) Brawn Husband of Jean Mary (nee Elliott) Brawn of Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia.

Plt Off. Henry Maxwell Welch. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Section C Row D Grave 9. Grave Inscription: “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL ENTER INTO THEIR REST”. Born at Kerns Township on the 8th December 1917. Son of Henry Tremain and Elizabeth Ann (née Rankin) Welch of Thornloe, Ontario, Canada.

Two of his brothers; Sgt. John Alexander Welch R151467 RCAF served overseas and Tpr. Lyman Arthur Welch B133489 served with the A33 Canadian Armoured Corps Training Establishment at Camp Borden in Ontario. Both survived the war.

Miss Dorothy Robson. In accordance with her wishes she was cremated and her ashes scattered from the air by a small aircraft. Born on the 10th November 1919 in Guisborough, Yorkshire North Riding. Daughter of Shafto and Myra Lily (née Moore) Robson of Hartlepool, County Durham, England.

Researched and written by Colin Bamford for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the families of all those aboard Halifax LK681. Miss Robson photo courtesy People At War. (Nov 2013). Reviewed and updated with new information by Aircrew Remembered with thanks to David Chalmers for the images for Fg Off. William Laskie (Nov 2025).

Other sources listed below.

References:

Hartlepool History Then And Now website.

Plt Off. Welch photograph courtesy Veterans Affairs Canada (CVWM) website.

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