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Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC (born 4 August 1921), is a British Battle of Britain fighter pilot and author. In 1953 he converted to jet aircraft and six months later joined No192 Squadron flying the Canberra on reconnaissance sorties. He claimed a Bf 109 shot down on 9 July 1941 over France,[9] and in August 1941, Wellum was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. That made the unexpected attention in his eighties all the more gratifying, although he always saw himself as a representative of all who had served. In air combat over France, Wellum's number two, Freddie Haskett, was killed by a Fw 190, and Wellum himself survived only by "throwing the spit all over the sky without really looking round". The former squadron leader, who was just 18 when he joined the RAF in August 1939 . https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219366673/geoffrey-harris_augustus-wellum. He was 21 and his war was over. Sitting in the lobby of a smart London hotel, Wellum is white-haired, smartly dressed and strongly built. Although just 18, he was not the youngest pilot to fight in the battle, an honour which is currently held by Martyn Aurel King, born 15 October 1921 - [7]) despite being nicknamed "Boy" by his colleagues. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. The sun glints on their wings and bellies as they roll like trout in a stream streaking over smooth round pebbles. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? This officer has been with his squadron since the evacuation of Dunkirk. Born an only child in Walthamstow, Essex, Wellum was educated at ForestSchool, Snaresbrook before serving in the RAF. ", His first Commanding Officer was Roger Bushell, (later immortalised in The Great Escape), shot down with two others the day after Wellum's arrival, covering the evacuation of Dunkirk. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The marriage was later dissolved. [4] After successfully completing the course he then went on to fly the North American Harvard at RAF Little Rissington with 6FTS. [4] After successfully completing the course he then went on to fly the NorthAmerican Harvard at RAFLittleRissington with 6FTS. [18], To mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the BBC commissioned a one-off drama for TV called First Light, based on Wellum's book of the same name. Two days later Britain declared war on Germany. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Geoffrey Wellum, born August 4 1921, died July 18 2018 SY 2018-08-16 Although just 18, he was not the youngest pilot to fight in the battle, an honour which is currently held by Martyn Aurel King, born 15 October 1921 - [7]) despite being nicknamed "Boy" by his colleagues. A swarm of gnats on a warm summer evening the whole spectacle frightens yet fascinates.. [6] Bushell was shot down and captured almost immediately after Wellum's arrival, and was later executed by the Gestapo in the aftermath of the "GreatEscape". based on information from your browser. The movie wasn't so much about Spitfires as it was on the affects the fighting had on the pilots. During the recent offensive operations over France he has led his section and flight with great skill and determination. [3] This was followed by a four-year tour with 192 Squadron. Quite often you'd find yourself surrounded by aeroplanes and then the sky would be empty. As the war progressed, so the "Boy" grew up. The Battle of Britain was a pivotal moment in WW2 when the country stood alone against Hitler's seemingly unstoppable military power, In July 1940 the RAF deployed 640 planes, although more were available, and aircraft production was subsequently ramped up, The Luftwaffe could call upon 2,600 fighters and bombers, Nearly 3,000 aircrew served with RAF Fighter Command during the battle, The average age of a pilot was 20 years old, 20% of the pilots were from the British Dominions, and occupied European or neutral countries, The RAF lost 1,023 planes and the Luftwaffe lost 1,887 planes in the battle. We have set your language to The comradeship in a fighter squadron that has survived the Battle of Britain is something that you will never be able to understand, he observed, and I will never experience again. Later, Wellum recalled: "You make yourself a difficult target. James Holland, now a well-known historian, was struck by their emotional punch rare in first-hand accounts of the Battle of Britain and showed them to colleagues. Geoffrey Wellum was born in Walthamstow in 1921. Squadron Leader Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum DFC (4 August 192118 July 2018) was a British Battle of Britain fighter pilot and author.. Wellum suffered severe sinusitis and battle fatigue after three years' intensive frontline flying. The whole thing feels unreal and I cant believe this is really happening. After the war he remained in the RAF until 1961, and later ran a haulage business. Stunned, Holland showed it to friends at Penguin, who immediately decided to publish it. He was technically inexperienced and emotionally immature. At this time he began to develop severe headaches, "a splitting headache pain across my eyes". His are the inchoate thoughts of a young man who grows wearily accepting of death. The marriage was later dissolved. By what name was First Light (2010) officially released in Canada in English? [6], Life for Wellum at the end of his career as a fighter pilot was never be quite the same. Wellum returned to operations in February 1942 as a flight commander with No65 Squadron, flying sweeps over France and Belgium. Please try again later. Soon he is seeing action against the Luftwaffe,his sense of duty dispelling fear,and,h See production, box office & company info, Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham. Two (and one shared) Messerschmitt Bf 109s were claimed "damaged" during November 1940. During the passage of the vital re-supply convoy to Malta, Operation Pedestal, Wellum flew patrols over the convoy and the island and attacked ground targets in Sicily, but his headaches became severe and he was grounded with sinusitis. "The Battle of Britain made me want to put a value on life. The couple divorced in 1975, and six years later he relocated to Mullion on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. It is 40mph faster, has very good armament and a very high rate of roll". A few weeks later Wellum was in his local in Cornwall when the landlady handed him the phone. Of the numerous Bf 109 fighters which escorted the German bombers, Wellum wrote "God, is there no end to them? He was a writer, known for Witness 1939: When War Broke Out (2014), Battle of Britain (2015) and First Light (2010). Looking at him through the site, getting larger much too quickly, concentrate, hold him steady, that's it, hold it". He worked for a family haulage business and, after that went under, spent time working as a commodity broker in the City. . . Geoffrey was just 18 when he became the youngest fighter pilot to fly in the . Geoffrey attended Forest school in Snaresbrook, and, while waiting that last term to join the RAF, captained the school cricket team. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The reminiscences that he wrote a quarter of a century later were put away in a drawer for another three decades before he lent them to an editor at Penguin researching the period. Wellum's first solo flight was on 1 September 1939. Their son and daughter survive him and a second daughter predeceased him. 0 cemeteries found in Mullion, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England. Geoffrey Wellum, the youngest Spitfire pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain, has died, aged 96. In May 1940 eighteen-year old Geoffrey Wellum joins the 92 squadron of the Royal Air Force and is taken to the pub,where pilots who have seen action sign their names on a blackboard. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. [8], Wellum claimed a Heinkel He 111 shot down on 11 September, and a quarter share in a Junkers Ju 88 downed on 27 September 1940. This programme is not currently available on BBC iPlayer. Several times he narrowly evaded being shot down. He and his wife were divorced in 1975. A sad July. The passing of two Battle of Britain Pilots Geoffrey Wellum, born August 4 1921 died July 18 2018. Learn more about merges. Their son and daughter survive him and a second daughter predeceased him. Wellum left the Royal Air Force in 1960[13] and took over the family haulage business. Later he became a commodities broker. Sorry! There, Wellum made his first sorties, pursuing a Junkers Ju 88 German bomber as far as Weymouth, Dorset, and losing it in the clouds; attempting night-fighting around Bristol; and chasing isolated German aircraft all over the south-west. The books success reawoke painful memories for Wellum: People say, Youve got to forget all this, it was a long time ago. And I say, I quite agree with you, but can you tell me how? Yet he was glad of the chance to educate younger generations who knew little of the sacrifices made by his. He had already begun to experience sharp waves of pain across his forehead when, in 1941, he was sent to help raise the siege of Malta. The youngest Spitfire pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain during World War Two has died, it has been announced. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Wheres everybody gone? It was then that you were in danger. "It wasn't going to happen to you," he says, looking me firmly in the eye. [11], The convoy was heavily damaged by German and Italian forces, and many ships were sunk. Geoffrey Wellum - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Within days, a bewildered Wellum nicknamed "Boy" was joining such missions. Wellum remained in the RAF after the war and flew a variety of early jets. He later led eight Spitfires from HMS Furious to relieve Malta. [3], After his return to England, Wellum did not return to combat duties, instead finishing the war as a gunnery instructor. Sam Heughan and Gary Lewis also start in hit Starz series Outlander together. It was there that Wellum began his combat career, "chasing isolated German aircraft all over the south-west". Please reset your password. "[3], Wellum's close colleagues included Brian Kingcome. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. An only child, Wellum grew up in Essex, always dreaming of flying. He was a writer, known for Witness 1939: When War Broke Out (2014), Battle of Britain (2015) and Spitfire Ace (2004). Now, I have a life of deep tranquillity: I sing in the choir, I'm the deputy harbour master, I help out at church. [3], Wellum saw extensive action during the Battle of Britain. He was involved in dozens of dogfights over France and England. "One time, I had literally to fight my way back to the White Cliffs; on another, there was a German hanging on my tail, who wouldn't let me go. [18], To mark the 70th anniversary of the BattleofBritain, the BBC commissioned a one-off drama for TV called First Light, based on Wellum's book of the same name. I thought, 'Hold on a minute, this is bloody dangerous! "[4], Soon after Dunkirk, 92 Squadron was transferred from RAFDuxford in Cambridgeshire to RAFPembrey in Carmarthenshire, Wales. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Doctors recognised that he was exhausted after three years of intense flying. He was married to Grace Neil. [3], After his return to England, Wellum did not return to combat duties, instead finishing the war as a gunnery instructor. In 2002 these were published as First Light. Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum was born at Walthamstow, on August 14 1921. It was the German you didn't see who shot you down. Thereafter he briefly test-flew Typhoons and then saw out the war as a pilot attack instructor. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Born an only child in Walthamstow, England, Wellum was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook before serving in the RAF. This browser does not support getting your location. Geoffrey Wellum, who was just 18 when he joined the RAF in August 1939, died at his home in Cornwall on Wednesday evening, the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said. . Geoffrey Wellum - Wikipedia Born an only child in Walthamstow, Essex, Wellum was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook before serving in the RAF. Wellum led a flight of eight Spitfires to be carried on aircraft carrier HMSFurious, sailing from the Clyde to the Mediterranean, and then land them on the island. Wellum remained in the RAF after the war and flew a variety of early jets. It will enhance any encyclopedic page you visit with the magic of the WIKI 2 technology. cemeteries found in Mullion, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The dangers were huge. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Oops, we were unable to send the email. At 17, in his last year at school and six months before the war began, he applied to the RAF. The book became a bestseller and was adapted for a 2010 drama-documentary to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. ANDY PARADISE/REX FEATURES. I'll never know how I got away with it.". From October 1957 he served at RAF Gaydon, the home of a V-Bomber conversion unit, and before retiring from the RAF in June 1961 he served on Thor ballistic missile squadrons in East Anglia. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. These are Huns attacking England, our small country, our island, intent upon invasion and eventual occupation. Everyone who read the manuscript of Wellum's journey from confident 17-year-old schoolboy to his emotional and physical breakdown on Malta three years later, was engrossed. The sun glints on their wings and bellies as they roll like trout in a stream streaking over smooth round pebbles. A funeral was held in the village for the country's youngest ever Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot following his death at home in Mullion last month, at the age of 96. In August he was awarded the DFC for his great skill and determination. . He was subsequently diagnosed as suffering from exhaustion, aged 20, having by then completed two full tours, including dozens of fighter sweeps and bomber escort details. The average life- expectancy of a Spitfire pilot was four weeks. [6] Bushell was shot down and captured almost immediately after Wellum's arrival, and was later executed by the Gestapo in the aftermath of the "Great Escape".

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