Halifax DK242 at Leeming airfield.
At 12.41hrs on 29th July 1943 the undercarriage of this aircraft 427 Squadron collapsed at Leeming following a training flight when the aircraft swung on landing and was then over-corrected by the pilot. The aircraft was badly damaged and was not repaired.
Pilot - Sgt Douglas Harold Welch RAFVR (1318580).
WO Douglas Welch was killed on 23rd October 1943 flying Halifax DK182 when it crashed near Newton Kyme, York on return from Ops to Kassel. The 427 Squadron diary makes a comment about this young man stating "the young pilot, a reserved, unassuming capable pilot had only a week previously becoming a bridegroom." He was twenty two years old and is buried at Ampthill Churchyard, Bedfordshire. It is possible that his crew killed with him on 23rd October 1943 were the same who were flying with him in the incident to Halifax DK242 in July 1943. His brother Charles Maximilian Welch was killed in WW2 serving with the Irish Guards and died on 2nd April 1945.