Stanley Henry Welch

1291444, Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner), 103 Squadron. Royal Air Force (VR).

Killed In Action on the 26^th July 1943 aged 21.

Flight Sergeant Stanley Henry Welch

Stanley Welch was the eldest son of Bertie & Dorothy Welch of 23 Whitesmead Road, Stevenage. After leaving school he was employed by Stevenage Gas Works as a Fitter and during his spare time was a euphonium player in the local Salvation Army band.

Stanley joined the RAF in January 1940 and was trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.

On completion of his training he was posted to 103 Squadron where he was to fly a total of 29 operational missions. Stanley’s aircraft took off from Elsham Wolds on the 25^th July 1943 to attack Essen. Twenty-Six aircraft were to be lost on this raid, which was observed by Brigadier-General Anderson of the 8th United States Army Air Force. Despite this the raid was deemed to be a success with the Krupps works receiving the most damaging raid of the war.

It is not known what brought the aircraft down but it crashed at the town of Borbeck between Oberhausen and Essen. All the crew perished and were initially buried at the Nordfriedhof cemetery in Dusseldorf.  After the war they were moved to the Reichswald Forest Cemetery where they now lie. Stanley is buried in Plot 6. Row F. Grave 1.

Headstone Inscription: "Father, In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Thy Servant Sleeping"

Crew of LANCASTER Mk.III  JA855  PM-L