Civilian honoured with headstone after WWII plane crash

A civilian who served as an observer for the RAF has been finally honoured with a headstone at his grave 72 years after he was killed when a German plane crashed into his car.

Jack Kelway, a member of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC), was driving along the Welton to Hackthorn Road in Lincoln in the early hours of the morning on March 4, 1945 when a German Junkers JU88 swooped in.

The aircraft was attempting to attack targets on the ground but came in too low and hit telegraph wires before colliding with Mr Kelway's car, sending it flying across fields.

Mr Kelway, from Lincoln, was buried at Newport Cemetery in a service attended by his comrades and the four German airmen were buried in Scampton.

After a year of fundraising led by Bill Warwick, who served in the ROC from 1951 to 1959, Jack's grave now has a new headstone in place.

Mr Warwick, who spearheaded the campaign which raised £1,130, said: