A sad July. The passing of two Battle of Britain Pilots He married Grace, his wartime girlfriend, and they had three children. Retirement. Please enter your email and password to sign in. One of the "Few", the. 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. Wellum's first solo flight was on 1 September 1939. For Wellum the focus had switched to daytime sweeps, mainly over northern France. Spitfire flypast for funeral of war pilot Geoffrey Wellum He left the service in 1961, after 22 years, in the rank of squadron leader. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219366673/geoffrey-harris_augustus-wellum. ", Two weeks after leaving school, Wellum was training with the RAF. [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. [11], In July 1942, Wellum was sent to Glasgow, where he participated in Operation Pedestal, a convoy mission to carry supplies for the relief of the besieged garrison at Malta. He was also stationed at RAFGaydon, and in East Anglia. Wellum has contributed to various television documentaries on the Battle of Britain, including Spitfire Ace produced by RDF Media/Channel 4 (2004),[16] Dangerous Adventures for Boys produced by Channel 5 (2008),[17] and The Spitfire: Britain's Flying Past produced by the BBC (September 2011). Geoffrey Wellum, who has died aged 96, was the author of one of the most gripping personal accounts of aerial warfare ever written. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. And I cant put it into words., England was a peaceful place, all I wanted to do was watch England play Australia at Lords. It is 40mph faster, has very good armament and a very high rate of roll". [3] On 11 August 1942, Wellum led his flight of eight Spitfires, flying without ammunition to save weight (the .303 cartridges were replaced with cigarettes), and landed at Luqa airfield on Malta, joining 145 Squadron on air defence duties. Wellum's first solo flight was on 1 September 1939. Looking at him through the site, getting larger much too quickly, concentrate, hold him steady, that's it, hold it". Bloody front gunners. Wellum joined a family haulage business, but this went bust and afterwards he worked as a sugar broker in the City. As Wellum put it, Id shot my bolt. He was evacuated to England: Something inside me gave way and I broke down. The Germans were flying a formidable new fighter, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, and Wellum was beginning to suffer from persistent headaches. Thereafter he briefly test-flew Typhoons and then saw out the war as a pilot attack instructor. He was a regular at his local pub, having never lost his taste for English bitter. Family members linked to this person will appear here. He was 21 and his war was over. He died on July 18, 2018 in the UK. I watched this because I wanted to see some of Heughan and Lewis's earlier works. 'Where's everybody gone? It was then that you were in danger. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. It was well produced for a TV movie. I must be getting lightheaded! Geoffrey Wellum: Prize fighter | The Independent | The Independent He left the service in 1960 with the rank of Squadron Leader. [11], In February 1942, he was reassigned to combat duties, being transferred to 65 Squadron based at Debden, where he was appointed a Flight Commander in March 1942. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Wellum witnessed the arrival at Valletta Harbour of the few remaining ships, including, last of all, the desperately-needed oil tanker SS Ohio, barely afloat, escorted by two destroyers. Quite often youd find yourself surrounded by aeroplanes and then the sky would be empty. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. When I was first given one to fly, he recalled, my emotion was almost intimidation. During the battle he had shot down a Heinkel He 111 bomber, and claimed a quarter share in a Ju 88. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and damaged several others. . God, is there no end to them? Geoffrey Wellum, author of First Light (2002), in which he looked back on his life as a Spitfire pilot in the second world war. In May 1940, before his flight training was complete,[4] Wellum was posted to 92 Squadron, which was a combat squadron flying Spitfires. In the mid-1980s he retired and moved to Mullion, Cornwall, where he wrote down his wartime memoirs. He and his wife were divorced in 1975. Wellum had an extraordinary story to tell, and the book he wrote is a huge success it has reached number three on the non-fiction bestsellers list, behind Antony Beevor's Berlin: the Downfall and The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton. Wellum, right, in 1941 posing for Cecil Beaton with Brian Kingcome at RAF Biggin Hill, Kent, Wellum in 2015 with Jodie Kidd, the model, in Fairford, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/squadron-leader-geoffrey-wellum-obituary-prswmxfsr. Geoffrey attended Forest school in Snaresbrook, and, while waiting that last term to join the RAF, captained the school cricket team. This officer has been with his squadron since the evacuation of Dunkirk. This browser does not support getting your location. From an early age young Geoffrey wanted to fly. Later in the war he served in the defense of Malta before returning to England for duty as an instructor pilot. After the war he remained in the RAF until 1961, and later ran a haulage business. The family settled in Epping, Essex.[3]. He joined the local choir, and eventually became deputy harbourmaster. Approached in 2000 by author JamesHolland who was researching a novel set during the Battle of Britain, Wellum lent him his unpublished memoir (see "First Light", below), Holland showed it to friends in publishing at PenguinBooks and, in 2002, Eleo Gordon, Penguin's editorial director, approached Wellum with a publishing deal[6][14] two decades after he had originally written the memoir. Wellum suffered severe sinusitis and battle fatigue after three years' intensive frontline flying. Their son and daughter survive him and a second daughter predeceased him. In 1943 Wellum married Dorothy Grace Neil. Geoffrey Wellum ( right ) and his commanding officer Brian Kingcombe. Failed to delete memorial. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Wellum looks sad. The youngest Spitfire pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain during World War Two has died, it has been announced. In his combat narration Wellum conveys something of the texture of battle, the imminence of death, aircraft straining for kills yards apart, the exhilaration, the surrealism, the terror, the speed and the Messerschmitt Bf 109s. He had a second victory in the summer of 1941, claiming a BF-109 over occupied France. As the war progressed, so the "Boy" grew up. Make sure that the file is a photo. In 1940, when he was 18, Wellum had, as the youngest Spitfire pilot in the RAF, flown in the Battle of Britain. Learn more about managing a memorial . SimonMorris. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. Later, in First Light, he wrote of the experience: "I experienced an exhilaration that I cannot recall ever having felt before. "The Air Force soon knocked that out of me. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. "I was a cocky little bastard, a bit full of myself. No92 was soon flying patrols from an airfield in South Wales, then on September 9 the squadron was sent to Biggin Hill at the height of the Battle of Britain. Wellum was a great supporter of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. Geoffrey Wellum Wikipedia Republished // WIKI 2 Oops, we were unable to send the email. Now 80, he was just 18 and straight out of school when he began flying Spitfires, the youngest fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain. It was the crucial point of the Second World War. He was immediately attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf 109; he had run out of ammunition and he had great difficulty escaping after his Spitfire was badly damaged. Disappointed to be leaving frontline service, Wellum initially found the experience to be "almost unbearable". Geoffrey Wellum - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Having learnt to fly in Tiger Moths, he first went solo on September 1, 1939. Two days later Britain declared war on Germany. 'Those Other Eagles' Shores, 2004, page 635, This page was last edited on 29 March 2023, at 13:16, FirstLight:TheStoryoftheBoyWhoBecameaManintheWar-TornSkiesAboveBritain, "BattleofBritainSpitfirepilotdiesat96", RAF.mod.uk:92SquadronGeoffreyWellum, ACobraintheSky. Wellum remained in the RAF after the war and served in a number of appointments in Fighter Command before serving as a weapons specialist in the Second Tactical Air Force in Germany. Try again later. "[4], In the summer of 1941 Wellum was taken off active duty, and assigned to a training squadron: No 52 Operational Training Unit at AstonDown, flying HawkerHurricanes. Wellum left the Royal Air Force in 1960 and took over the family business. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. He reached the island by flying off a lethally short aircraft carrier. During the summer of 1941 Wellum engaged Bf 109s and claimed one destroyed, one probably destroyed, and a third probably damaged. Its like one of those wonderful dreams, a Peter Pan sort of dream. Wellum recovered from his breakdown, married "Grace", his girlfriend in the book, had three children and stayed in the RAF for another 20 years. His father, Percy, who managed an off-licence, had fought at Gallipoli as a quartermaster sergeant before receiving a battlefield commission. That marriage was . Geoffrey Wellum married Grace Christian in September 1943. English In August he was awarded the DFC for his great skill and determination. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trevelyan relative 'would consider' famine payment, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic. A system error has occurred. Geoffrey Wellum obituary | Second world war | The Guardian Some of them men, mostly elderly, take off their hats and the womenfolk in their black hoods and cloaks cross themselves. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. First Light (2002), which was made into a BBC drama in 2010, was . The RAF's 'finest hour' Video, 00:01:52The RAF's 'finest hour', Is Penehllis House open to the public on Helston Flora Day 2023, Bodmin murder enquiry: Police support shocked community after killing, Update on whether popular Helston Flora Day viewing spot will be open this year, Man killed in Bodmin stabbings named as Michael Allen, Missing people from Devon and Cornwall who have vanished without a trace, Bodmin stabbings: Michael Allen named by police as man who died after group of people were stabbed, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended. He joined the local choir, and became deputy harbourmaster. Yes, and he currently resides in Mullion, Cornwall, England. Is climate change killing Australian wine? ), For many years he had regarded his wartime service as the pinnacle of his life, with the rest of it as anticlimactic. Learn more about merges. [3], In the mid-1980s, with the family business in liquidation and his divorce pending,[14] Wellum retired, as he had promised himself in his youth, to TheLizard peninsula, Cornwall,[14] settling in Mullion. Two (and one shared) Messerschmitt Bf109s were claimed "damaged" during November 1940. Instead, it is depicted as confused and brutal, never more so than when Wellum finds himself a target: When I saw him, I felt fear, real stark fear. "It was always the other chap. [11], In July 1942, Wellum was sent to Glasgow, where he participated in OperationPedestal, a convoy mission to carry supplies for the relief of the besieged garrison at Malta. [12], After the war, Wellum stayed with the RAF, serving first as a staff officer in the Second Tactical Air Force in West Germany, where he flew jet aircraft such as the Gloster Meteor, the de Havilland Vampire and the English Electric Canberra. Squadron Leader Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum DFC (4 August 192118 July 2018) was a British Battle of Britain fighter pilot and author. people today dont realise that feeling; its all too clinical.. In this film Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC, a veteran of the Battle of Britain, narrates the Airman's Grace. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. In the mid-1980s, . Geoffrey Wellum, born August 4 1921, died July 18 2018 SY 2018-08-16 It should have been. Patrick Tootal, secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, said members of the charity's staff and volunteers had been "much saddened by the news". of his instructors, he grew up quickly, although his age and cockiness earned him the nickname Boy. Geoffrey Wellum, who was just 18 when he joined the RAF in August 1939, died on Wednesday evening, the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. At school, I was captain of cricket and a monitor." An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, 50 off over 650 using this Expedia discount code, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected product with this eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK May 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this May, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said it was "saddened by the news". There s strong language so I would not recommend it for children under 16. Their son and daughter survive him and a second daughter predeceased him. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Eventually, Wellum relaxed: "I found a new peace andgradually I seemed to unwind. He joined a firm of commodity brokers in the City of London before retiring to live in Cornwall. Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum was born at Walthamstow, on August 14 1921. Two days later Britain entered the war. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? [4] On 9 September 1940, 92 Squadron was posted to RAF Biggin Hill in Kent, in the centre of the fighting. Nor were their teachers. In 1943 he married Grace Neill and the couple had three children. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? At 17, in his last year at school and six months before the war began, he applied to the RAF. Is Geoff wellum alive? Aged 18, in spring 1940, Wellum was posted to 92 Squadron and it was then that he encountered, and flew, a Spitfire for the first time. This is a carousel with slides. The film was first shown by the BBC on 14 September 2010 starring Sam Heughan.[19]. They were wooden and you used to buy them as a kit and I had 50 of the damned things. Geoffrey Wellum, Youngest Spitfire Pilot To Fly In The Battle Of Ellie Cullen. He was a writer, known for Witness 1939: When War Broke Out (2014), Battle of Britain (2015) and First Light (2010). Some of them men, mostly elderly, take off their hats and the womenfolk in their black hoods and cloaks cross themselves. To use this feature, use a newer browser. A 1941 photograph taken at Biggin Hill, Kent, of Geoffrey Wellum, right, and Brian Kingcome, another fighter pilot, in front of a Spitfire. The next few days proved to be the climax of the battle and Wellum was in constant action, sometimes flying three sorties a day. During the recent offensive operations over France he has led his section and flight with great skill and determination. [6], Life for Wellum at the end of his career as a fighter pilot was never be quite the same. 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. One of the "Few", the decorated veteran airman was. Next da Read allIn 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. TheHistoryof92SquadronRAF, "YoungestBattleofBritainRAFpilotdies", 5 August 1941 - Flying Officer Geoffrey Harry Augustus Wellum (42925) of. With Sam Heughan, Gary Lewis, Ben Aldridge, Alex Robertson. Doctors recognised that he was exhausted after three years of intense flying. Their son and daughter survive him and a second daughter predeceased him. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. It will enhance any encyclopedic page you visit with the magic of the WIKI 2 technology. Born an only child in Walthamstow, England, Wellum was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook before serving in the RAF. Resend Activation Email. He was previously married to Grace Neil. "I was 20 and, since then, everything else has seemed anticlimactic. Every night, listening to the news on the wireless 'Ten of our Spitfires are missing'.". "I didn't expect much," said Holland. I was impressed with both actors performance. From the fort a bugle sounds the "Still" and not a soul moves". For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. [11], On Malta, Wellum was diagnosed with severe sinusitis and battlefatigue, after three years' of intensive frontline flying. Born an only child in Walthamstow, Essex, Wellum was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook before serving in the RAF. He was also stationed at RAF Gaydon, and in East Anglia. By now, the Luftwaffe was flying a new fighter aircraft, the Focke-WulfFw190, superior in all but turn radius to the SpitfireV, and the squadron took heavy losses. "I see you, you sod," reads one passage as he dives on an enemy bomber. Geoffrey Wellum obituary - Youngest Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot ", In despair, he started writing a memoir about his youth. Failed to report flower. Wellum was educated at ForestSchool, Snaresbrook, where he captained the school cricket team.[3]. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? [3], Wellum saw extensive action during the BattleofBritain. Geoffrey Harris Augustus "Boy" Wellum - Find a Grave By now, the Luftwaffe was flying a new fighter aircraft, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, superior in all but turn radius to the Spitfire V, and the squadron took heavy losses. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. There were new problems. As Geoffrey Wellum watched the squadron of Spitfires soar into the sky earlier this year he was overcome with emotion. [9], In the summer of 1941 Wellum participated in more than 50 "sweeps" over occupied France (also known as Circus offensives) flying escort for Blenheim and Stirling bomber formations, taking the war to the enemy.
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