Derek attended Sale High School prior to Wrekin College and then joined his father’s firm, T.H. Helsby & Co Ltd, timber importers based in Manchester. In his leisure time he was a keen tennis player and a member of Brooklands Tennis Club.

Having joined the RAF, Derek was based at RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire flying the 4-engined Short Stirling Mk III heavy bomber.

A week after the completion of his flying training Stirling EF246, took off at 20:19 hrs on Saturday 29^th January 1944, with Derek onboard, on a night searchlight co-operation exercise. Shortly after 22:00 hrs the aircraft came into the Hull area flying on a course due south at 15,000 feet and was illuminated by about 20 searchlights. The aircraft commenced violent evasive action, turning north, and diving with smoke coming from one side of the aircraft.

All searchlights were doused at approximately 8,000 feet with the aircraft continuing to dive with smoke and flames pouring from one engine. The aircraft dived straight into the Humber River at 22:03 hrs: there were no survivors. Derek was 19 years of age and is buried in Sale Cemetery, Cheshire.

Younger son of William Henry Helsby & Mabel Helsby, of Brooklands, Sale, Cheshire.

A copy of Derek's story is available for download here.

Revised: November 2025