 He later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, and after training joined 27 Squadron.On 23 September 1916, whilst flying an flying a Martinsyde G.100 elephant plane, he and five other planes broke off from 27 Squadron on an offensive patrol over Cambrai.The Third Battle of the Somme was being fought below them when five German planes, including Richthofen who was flying an Albatros D.II, attacked Bellerby's formation, all of which were shot down.