Walter Kelcher grew up in the Maheno area and was trained at No. 7 Aerial Observer School at Portage La Prairie, graduating his course in March, 1942. He was then posted to bombing/air gunnery and navigation schools in Manitoba. His first operational posting was to 75 (NZ) Squadron, flying Vickers Wellington bombers.
Walter's second operation was in a large raid on the German city of Dusseldorf. 479 aircraft took part, about half of them twin-engined bombers, the rest four-engined. The target was effectively bombed using coloured flares known as "pink pansies," dropped on the target by specialised crews. The RAF lost 33 aircraft, one of which was Wellington BJ974 with all its crew.
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| Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. |
Walter and his crew were intitially listed as "Missing, believed killed." The listing was later changed to "Missing, presumed dead."
FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE
KELCHER. — Sergeant Walter Foch, R.N.Z.A.F., killed on active service at Cologne on September 11. 1942, dearly loved youngest son of Isabella M. and the late Leonard Kelcher, of Maheno. "His duty nobly done." -Otago Daily Times, 22/12/1942.
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| Maheno Cemetery. |
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