Out of the blue, once again, Richard Kellett’s life invites an unexpected adventure. (The Loch Ness Wellington, Stalagluft 4, Heliogoland)
After the worlds long distance record (LRDU) flight from Egypt to Australia, one of the three Vickers Wellesley bombers was damaged in a forced landing in mountainous country near Collier Bay, Western Australia. The men all survived, and were rescued by the ‘blacks’. The story is here.
Last year some Australians, led by John Szymanski and John McCartney, investigated and located the site of the forced landing. Inspired, they started the search for surviving relatives. They found Richard Combe, son of Andrew Combe, from Crew no 3, and with Brian Burnett, and then they found me and the record of Richard Kellett’s life on this site.
CREW1 Squadron Leader Richard Kellett (33) Ft Lt T Gething (27) Pilot Officer ML Gaine (28)
CREW 2 Flt Lt H Hogan (29) Ft Lt RG Musson (25) Sergeant TD Dixon (26)
CREW 3 Flt Lt AN Combe (27) Ft Lt BK Burnett (25) Sergeant HB Grey (26)
They are keen to attend the site again in July 2027 to install a commemorative plaque.
Our planned itinerary is as follows. They will organise transport from Broome to the site and associated accommodation. We need to find our way to Broome. (Broome, or Rubibi, is in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, best route is London->Perth-> Broom)
- Monday 20 July- Convene at Broome Airport (to coincide with John McC’s flight into Broome), Drive to Derby, overnight Derby (get supplies)
- Tues 21st July – Drive to site, build plinthe for the plaque , set up etc, overnight Charnley River Station
- Wed 22nd July – Plaque unveiling, absorb the location and gain a feeling for what the stranded crew must have felt.. Overnight at Charnley
- Thurs 23rd July- Explore the sites of Charnley. Overnight Charnley
- Friday 24th July- Drive back to Derby, chance to explore some gorges on the way, overnight Derby
- Sat 25th July – Drive to Willare Roadhouse, day exploring around the local area, overnight at Willare
- Sun 26th July- Drive back to Broome, overnight Broome
- Mon 27th July- UK and NZ contingent may stay on in Broome or fly out
| John and Michelle Szymanski | Definite | 2 X 4WD’s |
| Kelvin | Definite | uncertain |
| Butch and Robin | Definite | 1X 4WD |
| John & Leanne McCartney | Definite | uncertain |
| Richard & Helen Combe | Uncertain | |
| Trish & Steve Dowling | Definite | |
| Steph Combe | Definite | |
| Alex Combe | Probable | |
| Rachel Kellett | PROBABLE! |
…..
Meeting Richard and Helen Combe in Lavenham October 2026
You Tube Video
‘I was probably named after Richard Kellett’, Richard Combe began.
