I am sorry to have to report that there will not be a graveside tribute to Sqn Ldr David Maltby and his crew this year. David Maltby is buried in St Andrew’s church in Wickhambreaux, Kent (pictured above). His body was the only one recovered after their aircraft crashed into the North Sea on 15 September 1943, after an operation to bomb the Dortmund Ems canal was called off.
For many years the tribute was organised by the East Kent branch of the RAF Aircrew Association, with the support of local members of the Maltby family. However, this branch has now been disbanded, with their standard being laid up at the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum in Manston (see newspaper cutting below). The Maltby family is very grateful to them for leading the tribute over the last many years, and sends every best wish to the individual members.
Regular readers of this blog will recall that last year’s tribute by the RAF’s last flying Lancaster to David Maltby and his crew had to be called off because of adverse weather conditions. We very much hope that the Lancaster will fly over Wickhambreaux in September 2013, the 70th anniversary of their final flight.
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Very sad Charles , The years are not friend to the Vets, As i wont be in Germany this year I will try to get down to this years
Dom
Hello Charles, Very sorry the Memorial cannot be held this year as I was unable to attend last year due to ill health. Will look forward to hopefully being fit for next year. Have attended the BCA Memorial unveiling and was at RAF Wyton a couple of weeks ago for the 70th anniversary of the ‘Pathfinders’, when the Lancaster landed and we were able to look over it. As a Cousin twice removed of David’s ( I think!), I would like to be able to meet you and pay my respects to David in person, especially as I shall then be in my 80th year!! Just reading James Holland’s new book. Best regards, David