David Maltby had successfully completed over 30 operations before his death in September 1943.
19 Facts About David Maltby
1.
2.
David Maltby's father, Ettrick, was a headmaster at Hydneye House School which Maltby attended for a while.
3.
David Maltby's mother was Aileen Hatfeild, who was originally from Hartsdown in Kent.
4.
David Maltby then joined Marlborough College between 1934 and 1936.
5.
David Maltby volunteered to join the Royal Air Force in 1939 however like thousands of others joining, he was told to wait and that he would be invited back for an assessment as soon as possible.
6.
David Maltby was eventually called up on 20 March 1940 where he was accepted for aircrew training and formally joined the RAF Reserves.
7.
David Maltby began his operational career with No 106 Squadron RAF in June 1941, flying the Handley Page Hampden on five operations.
8.
David Maltby made the decision to head back to base at Woodhall Spa but was directed to land at Coningsby instead due to it being a grass runway.
9.
Sgt Harold Rouse, who was at the time a gunner on David Maltby's crew recalls the incident:.
10.
David Maltby went on to complete his tour in June 1942, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 11 August 1942.
11.
David Maltby then spent six months commanding an Air Bomber Training Section in No 1485 Target Towing and Gunnery Flight, before returning to active service with 97 Squadron in March 1943.
12.
David Maltby was given a new crew, most of whom had only just finished training.
13.
David Maltby flew in the No 617 Squadron RAF Operation Chastise dams raid of 1943.
14.
David Maltby was the pilot of Avro Lancaster J-Johnny, flying as part of the first wave that attacked the Mohne Dam.
15.
David Maltby then returned home and was the first Lancaster to land back at Scampton having completed the operation.
16.
David Maltby was shortly after promoted to Squadron Leader and appointed as A flight commander of No 617 Squadron.
17.
David Maltby was killed a few months after the dams raid during Operation Garlic, a failed attempt at a low-level raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal.
18.
David Maltby's body was the only one recovered and he was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, Wickhambreaux, Kent.
19.
Several other pieces of memorabilia related to David Maltby have appeared in recent years, however many of these have been subject to critique and doubt over their legitimacy.