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DARLINGTON

Belous, W.L., W.O.1, 1942

Wesley Belous's Prayer card

In Darlington West Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of R61812 Warrant Officer Class I (Pilot) Wesley Leonard Belous, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, who died 20/07/1942.

Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
WO1 Belous was killed when Handley Page Halifax II W7670 MP-B of 76 Squadron crashed after returning to R.A.F. Middleton St. George from a mission to Vegesack, Bremen. The Halifax returned from the mission early due to technical problems, and was seen flying erratically over the airfield, losing height. Shortly afterwards five of the crew baled out, and the Halifax crashed near Yarm, with the loss of Sgt. F. Hebron and the pilot, R/61812 W/O1 Wesley L. Belous, R.C.A.F., who was buried at Darlington West Cemetery.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1942; W.R. Chorley; 1994; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 89 X, page 153<

Roy Darkin from Guildford states:
My late mother, nee Kathleen (Pat) Kelly, was engaged to him before his death. Among her possessions was his prayer card (attached).
Note he was a Sergeant Pilot not a Warrant Officer as shown on his headstone.


Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire
An account of the crash
The CWGC entry for Warrant Officer Class I Belous

If you know more about this person, please send the details to janet@newmp.org.uk