Dennis Crosby Wellburn

Lancaster JB132, QR-M, 61 Squadron, RAF Syerston, Newark, Nottinghamshire. Take off 31/8/1943 on a mission to Berlin. On return at 03:26, 4 miles NW of RAF Syerston , at 1500ft collided head on with 1654 HCU Lancaster, on a cross country training flight from RAF Wigsley, Nottinghamshire. Both crews killed.

DFC awarded postumously, London Gazette 15/10/1943.

Lancaster JB132 crew :-
Sqn Ldr Dennis Wellburn DFC - Of 2276 East Broadway Vancouver. Son of Stephen C. Wellburn and Jane Wellburn, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Newark cemetery
F/O Roy Clarke RAAF - Son of Alfred James Clarke and Rebecca Ann Clarke, of Hastings, Victoria, Australia. Buried Newark Cemetery.
Sgt John Watson - Son of George and Catherine Watson, of Mid Calder.
Sgt John Forrest - Son of John and Margaret Forrest, of Glasgow; husband of Mary Forrest. Buried Newark cemetery.
F/Lt Richard Davies - Son of Richard and Margaret Alice Davies; husband of Elizabeth May Davies, of West Wickham, Kent.
Sgt Jack Blackett - Son of Robert William and Mary Blackett.
F/O Trevor Joyce - Son of Percy Francis and Amy Mabel Grace Joyce, of Ruislip, Middlesex. Buried Newark cemetery
Sgt Alan Paterson - Son of John Wright Paterson and Martha Guthrie Paterson, of Glendevon, Perthshire; husband of Margaret Smart Paterson, of Montrose. All killed.
At the subsequent inquiry it was suggested all navigation lights should flash to make them more noticeable and OTU's and HCU's should be informed as to Bomber Commands missions, as the skies were becoming increasingly congested.

Lancaster R5698 crew :-
P/O Joseph Macdonald - Son of William and Mary Joseph Macdonald; husband of Phyllis Macdonald, of Knighton, Radnorshire.
F/Sgt Walter Jobling DFC - Son of Thomas Stephen and Louisa May Jobling; husband of Dinah Annie Jobling, of Lincoln.
Sgt George Joyce - Son of John and Violet Joyce, of Northfleet.
Sgt Edward Jones - Son of Edward William and Mabel Jones, of Wallasey.
Sgt George Tough - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Tough and stepson of Evelyn Elizabeth Tough, of Rathgar, Dublin
Sgt John Hutchinson - Son of James and Mary Hutchinson, of Liverpool; husband of Edith Hutchinson, of Liverpool.
F/Sgt Robert Rashbrook RAAF - Son of Abraham and Ethel May Rashbrook (Emigrated from London 1922), of Bassendean Western Australia.
Sgt Thomas Shepherd - Son of William and Edith Evelyn Shepherd, of Stockton-on-Tees.