382:
114:
267:
485:, and the squadron took heavy losses. "Quite simply, the Fw 190 outclasses our Spitfire 5Bs. It is 40mph faster, has very good armament and a very high rate of roll". 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". At this time he began to develop severe headaches, "a splitting headache pain across my eyes".
94:
456:
532:"As the three ships come through the harbour entrance, just about maintaining steerage way, the cheering of the Maltese who have to welcome her in slowly subsides until there is absolute silence. Some of them men, mostly elderly, take off their hats and the womenfolk in their black hoods and cloaks cross themselves. From the fort a bugle sounds the "Still" and not a soul moves"
706:
His birth was registered in West Ham, London, in Q3 1921, the only child of Percy H Wellum and Edith J Freeman, who were married in
Windsor Q4 1918. In Q3 1943 in Westminster Wellum married Dorothy G C Neil, born Q4 1922 in Romford. They had two daughters and a son. He and his wife were divorced in
435:
By this time most of Wellum's original colleagues at 92 squadron had been killed or captured; he survived owing to a combination of luck and skill. Later, Wellum recalled: "You make yourself a difficult target. Never stay still, never fly straight and level, chuck it around. Quite often you'd find
370:
in Kent, in the centre of the fighting. Of the numerous Bf 109 fighters which escorted the German bombers, Wellum wrote "God, is there no end to them? The sun glints on their wings and bellies as they roll like trout in a stream streaking over smooth round pebbles. Trout streams, water meadows,
387:
Front row, (left to right): Wg Cdr John A. Kent (Kentowski), Flt Lt
Anthony Bartley, Mrs Wade, Flt Lt Robert Holland, Plt Off Trevor Wade and two unidentified ladies. In the back – Plt Off Sebastian Maitland-Thompson, Fg Off Tom Wiesse (Intelligence Officer) and Fg Off Geoffrey
876:
This officer has been with his squadron since the evacuation of
Dunkirk. During the recent offensive operations over France he has led his section and flight with great skill and determination. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and damaged several
565:
Life for Wellum at the end of his career as a fighter pilot was never quite the same. "I am certain that my time came with my three years as an operational fighter pilot in our nation's finest hour. My only regret is that it had to happen so early in life".
366:. 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 - ) despite being nicknamed "Boy" by his colleagues. On 9 September 1940, 92 Squadron was posted to
507:, sailing from the Clyde to the Mediterranean, and then land them on the island. 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
381:
447:. Disappointed to be leaving frontline service, Wellum initially found the experience to be "almost unbearable". Eventually, Wellum relaxed: "I found a new peace and...gradually I seemed to unwind. I even began to enjoy pupils".
1323:
1353:
561:
After his return to
England, Wellum did not return to combat duties, instead finishing the war as a gunnery instructor. In 1943, he married Grace Neil, his wartime girlfriend, with whom he had three children.
715:
He retired from the RAF in 1961 to take up a position with a firm of commodity brokers in the City of London until his retirement to
Cornwall where he still lived when ‘First Light’ was published in 2002.
436:
yourself surrounded by aeroplanes and then the sky would be empty. 'Where's everybody gone?’ It was then that you were in danger. It was the German you didn't see who shot you down."
1338:
545:, after three years of intensive frontline flying. After surgery, he returned from Malta to Britain via Gibraltar, and later became a test pilot for new aircraft, such as the new
320:, he wrote of the experience: "I experienced an exhilaration that I cannot recall ever having felt before. It was like one of those wonderful dreams, a Peter Pan sort of dream".
1051:, Curiously, in Wellum's book, Kingcome is spelled all the time as "Kingcombe". Wellum describes Kingcome as "the finest fighter pilot I ever flew with" and recommends his book
482:
774:
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
274:(left), commanding officer of No. 92 Squadron Royal Air Force and his wingman, Flying Officer Geoffrey Wellum, next to a Supermarine Spitfire at RAF Biggin Hill, Kent, 1941
1235:
348:
and by the end of that day we'd lost five people, four of whom I'd met the night before in the officers' mess. I thought, 'Hold on a minute, this is bloody dangerous!’ "
294:. Wellum's first solo flight was on 1 September 1939. Two days later Britain declared war on Germany. After successfully completing the course he then went on to fly the
1016:
850:
Wellum also appeared in the documentary "Greatest Events of World War II in colour," being interviewed on his experience at the Battle of
Britain. The series aired on
1308:
778:
and, in 2002, Eleo Gordon, Penguin's editorial director, approached Wellum with a publishing deal – two decades after he had originally written the memoir.
868:
429:
181:
167:
1343:
333:). Bushell was shot down and captured almost immediately after Wellum's arrival, and was later executed by the Gestapo in the aftermath of the
1215:
813:
1318:
33:
920:
359:
in
Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was there that Wellum began his combat career, "chasing isolated German aircraft all over the south-west".
1328:
805:
797:
789:
1348:
1241:
439:
In the summer of 1941 Wellum was taken off active duty, and assigned to a training squadron: No 52 Operational
Training Unit at
385:
Officers and guests celebrating the first anniversary of the arrival of No. 92 Squadron RAF at RAF Biggin Hill, September 1941.
240:, to Percy and Edith Wellum. His father, who had served at Gallipoli during WW1, ran an off-licence. Wellum was educated at
902:
847:, based on Wellum's book of the same name. The film was first shown by the BBC on 14 September 2010 starring Sam Heughan.
751:
698:
Wellum left the Royal Air Force in 1960 and took over the family haulage business. Later he became a commodities broker.
1313:
985:
477:, where he was appointed a Flight Commander in March 1942. By now, the Luftwaffe was flying a new fighter aircraft, the
522:
The convoy was heavily damaged by German and
Italian forces, and many ships were sunk. Wellum witnessed the arrival at
672:
241:
201:
742:
To prove to himself that he had actually done something with his life, Wellum took his wartime notebooks and wrote a
316:. It was at 92 Squadron that he first encountered a Spitfire, and flew the aircraft for the first time. Later, in
780:
765:
684:
329:
1041:
771:
542:
962:
302:
746:
memoir of his time as a Spitfire pilot, that he never intended for publication. He was a member of the
412:
In the summer of 1941 Wellum participated in more than 50 "sweeps" over occupied France (also known as
1303:
1298:
747:
692:
680:
651:
638:
625:
612:
516:
401:
313:
864:
470:
309:
1221:
424:
bomber formations, taking the war to the enemy. He claimed a Bf 109 shot down on 9 July 1941 over
1172:
1084:
493:
345:
1045:
824:
Wellum has contributed to various television documentaries on the Battle of Britain, including
266:
924:
840:
809:
801:
793:
785:
736:
526:
Harbour of the few remaining ships, including, last of all, the desperately-needed oil tanker
478:
363:
217:
189:
157:
80:
1333:
1079:
550:
501:
444:
417:
413:
1019:
854:
in 2019, after his death, and the episode "Battle of Britain" is dedicated in his memory.
367:
334:
279:
175:
137:
119:
1189:
1130:
676:
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546:
421:
393:
375:
291:
271:
144:
99:
781:
First Light: The Story of the Boy Who Became a Man in the War-Torn Skies Above Britain
1292:
775:
668:
599:
397:
324:
295:
185:
816:), which contains a new foreword by military historian and novelist Patrick Bishop.
32:
371:
waders, fast-flowing water, the pretty barmaid at the inn. Dear Jesus why this?"
720:
496:, a convoy mission to carry supplies for the relief of the besieged garrison at
455:
356:
352:
287:
245:
233:
205:
193:
63:
728:
688:
474:
440:
283:
871:
in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:
1277:
1262:
743:
538:
341:
298:
1144:
500:. Wellum led a flight of eight Spitfires to be carried on aircraft carrier
469:
In February 1942, he was reassigned to combat duties, being transferred to
308:
In May 1940, before his flight training was complete, Wellum was posted to
220:, where he wrote down his wartime memoirs. In 2002 these were published as
863:
5 August 1941 - Flying Officer Geoffrey Harry Augustus Wellum (42925) of
732:
523:
851:
724:
527:
489:
278:
Aged eighteen, Wellum signed up on a short-service commission with the
213:
727:
pending, Wellum retired, as he had promised himself in his youth, to
425:
212:. After the war he remained in the RAF until 1961, and later ran a
512:
497:
454:
380:
265:
237:
197:
691:, and in East Anglia. This was followed by a four-year tour with
508:
739:. He joined the local choir, and became deputy harbourmaster.
667:
After the war, Wellum stayed with the RAF, serving first as a
209:
1324:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
344:, Wellum recalled: "After I joined the squadron they went to
232:
Geoffrey Wellum was born on 4 August 1921, an only child, in
1354:
Military personnel from the London Borough of Waltham Forest
998:
843:, the BBC commissioned a one-off drama for TV called
351:
Soon after Dunkirk, 92 Squadron was transferred from
396:
shot down on 11 September, and a quarter share in a
188:
and author, best known for his participation in the
282:in August 1939. The first aircraft he flew was the
216:business. In the mid-1980s he retired and moved to
163:
153:
143:
133:
125:
105:
87:
70:
50:
42:
23:
400:downed on 27 September 1940. Two (and one shared)
784:was published by: Viking Books, 2002 (hardcover,
1240:, Dangerous Adventures For Boys, archived from
874:
1166:
1164:
1162:
1160:
1158:
719:In the mid-1980s, with the family business in
248:, where he captained the school cricket team.
1339:People educated at Forest School, Walthamstow
903:"Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot dies at 96"
530:, barely afloat, escorted by two destroyers.
428:, and in August 1941, Wellum was awarded the
404:were claimed "damaged" during November 1940.
340:Much later, in an unpublished interview with
184:(4 August 1921 – 18 July 2018) was a British
8:
1101:
1099:
1097:
1095:
1131:"Youngest Battle of Britain RAF pilot dies"
1066:'Those Other Eagles' Shores, 2004, page 635
981:
979:
977:
975:
973:
971:
958:
956:
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921:"RAF.mod.uk: 92 Squadron – Geoffrey Wellum"
537:On Malta, Wellum was diagnosed with severe
1074:
1072:
952:
950:
948:
946:
944:
942:
940:
938:
936:
934:
31:
20:
675:, where he flew jet aircraft such as the
481:, superior in all but turn radius to the
1237:Martin Kemp: The Battle of Britain (1/6)
1062:
1060:
828:produced by RDF Media/Channel 4 (2004),
568:
893:
695:. The family settled in Epping, Essex.
362:Wellum saw extensive action during the
1309:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
1012:
1010:
1008:
836:produced by the BBC (September 2011).
792:); Wiley & Sons, 2003 (hardcover,
323:Wellum's first commanding officer was
312:, which was a combat squadron flying
7:
839:To mark the 70th anniversary of the
671:in the Second Tactical Air Force in
464:enters Grand Harbour, 15 August 1942
1264:The Spitfire: Britain's Flying Past
834:The Spitfire: Britain's Flying Past
808:); Penguin Books, 2020 (paperback,
800:); Penguin Books, 2003 (paperback,
374:Wellum's close colleagues included
1190:"Battle of Britain pilot honoured"
832:produced by Channel 5 (2008), and
14:
1171:House, Christian (17 July 2010),
488:In July 1942, Wellum was sent to
16:British fighter pilot (1921–2018)
1344:English male non-fiction writers
1031:Battle of Britain Memorial Trust
901:Humphries, Will (20 July 2018).
869:Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
112:
92:
179:Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum
1088:. 5 August 1941. p. 4516.
1047:Interview with Geoffrey Wellum
1017:Geoffrey Wellum: Prize fighter
46:Geoffrey Harry Augustus Wellum
1:
999:"92 Squadron Royal Air Force"
830:Dangerous Adventures for Boys
770:Approached in 2000 by author
752:Freedom of the City of London
1319:English non-fiction writers
988:Retrieved 25 September 2019
965:Retrieved 25 September 2019
687:. He was also stationed at
492:, where he participated in
1370:
763:
430:Distinguished Flying Cross
168:Distinguished Flying Cross
766:First Light (Wellum book)
685:English Electric Canberra
549:fighter-bomber, based at
327:, (later immortalised in
200:, Wellum was educated at
30:
1329:Royal Air Force officers
192:. Born an only child in
1349:People from Walthamstow
519:on air defence duties.
37:Geoffrey Wellum in 2009
885:
466:
389:
275:
208:before serving in the
1173:"The 89-year-old Boy"
750:. He was awarded the
604:Destroyed, 1/4 share
458:
402:Messerschmitt Bf 109s
384:
355:in Cambridgeshire to
303:RAF Little Rissington
269:
126:Years of service
1133:. BBC. 20 July 2018.
1053:A Willingness to Die
748:Royal Air Force Club
681:de Havilland Vampire
652:Messerschmitt Bf 109
639:Messerschmitt Bf 109
626:Messerschmitt Bf 109
613:Messerschmitt Bf 109
416:) flying escort for
1314:English biographers
1244:on 19 December 2010
865:No. 92 Squadron RAF
643:Damaged, 1/2 share
1149:www.freebmd.org.uk
1145:"FreeBMD - Search"
1085:The London Gazette
986:The Times Obituary
858:Honours and awards
596:27 September 1940
583:11 September 1940
494:Operation Pedestal
467:
390:
276:
270:Flight Lieutenant
1044:(February 2001),
963:Guardian Obituary
841:Battle of Britain
814:978-0-241-98784-1
660:
659:
479:Focke-Wulf Fw 190
445:Hawker Hurricanes
414:Circus offensives
392:Wellum claimed a
364:Battle of Britain
218:Mullion, Cornwall
190:Battle of Britain
173:
172:
158:Battle of Britain
1361:
1283:
1282:
1274:
1268:
1267:
1259:
1253:
1252:
1251:
1249:
1232:
1226:
1225:
1220:, archived from
1212:
1206:
1205:
1203:
1201:
1186:
1180:
1179:
1168:
1153:
1152:
1141:
1135:
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1103:
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1029:
1023:
1014:
1003:
1002:
995:
989:
983:
966:
960:
929:
928:
927:on 2 March 2009.
923:. Archived from
917:
911:
910:
898:
883:
569:
551:Gloster Aircraft
330:The Great Escape
288:Desford airfield
257:Second World War
118:
116:
115:
107:
98:
96:
95:
77:
60:
58:
35:
21:
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1197:
1196:. 23 March 2011
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1020:The Independent
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992:
984:
969:
961:
932:
919:
918:
914:
900:
899:
895:
890:
884:
881:
867:is awarded the
860:
822:
768:
762:
713:
704:
665:
559:
465:
453:
410:
386:
368:RAF Biggin Hill
280:Royal Air Force
264:
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230:
176:Squadron Leader
138:Squadron Leader
120:Royal Air Force
113:
111:
93:
91:
79:
75:
62:
56:
54:
38:
26:
25:Geoffrey Wellum
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1042:Holland, James
1033:
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912:
892:
891:
889:
886:
882:London Gazette
879:
873:
872:
859:
856:
821:
818:
764:Main article:
761:
756:
735:, settling in
712:
709:
703:
700:
677:Gloster Meteor
664:
661:
658:
657:
654:
649:
645:
644:
641:
636:
635:November 1940
632:
631:
628:
623:
622:November 1940
619:
618:
615:
610:
609:November 1940
606:
605:
602:
597:
593:
592:
589:
587:Heinkel He 111
584:
580:
579:
576:
573:
558:
555:
547:Hawker Typhoon
543:battle fatigue
459:
452:
449:
409:
406:
394:Heinkel He 111
376:Brian Kingcome
335:"Great Escape"
296:North American
292:Leicestershire
272:Brian Kingcome
263:
260:
258:
255:
253:
250:
229:
226:
171:
170:
165:
161:
160:
155:
151:
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147:
145:Service number
141:
140:
135:
131:
130:
127:
123:
122:
109:
103:
102:
100:United Kingdom
89:
85:
84:
78:(aged 96)
72:
68:
67:
52:
48:
47:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1228:
1224:on 3 May 2010
1223:
1219:
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1208:
1195:
1191:
1185:
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1177:The Spectator
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848:
846:
842:
837:
835:
831:
827:
819:
817:
815:
811:
807:
806:0-14-100814-8
803:
799:
798:0-471-42627-X
795:
791:
790:0-670-91248-4
787:
783:
782:
777:
776:Penguin Books
773:
772:James Holland
767:
760:
757:
755:
753:
749:
745:
740:
738:
734:
730:
726:
722:
717:
710:
708:
702:Personal life
701:
699:
696:
694:
690:
686:
682:
678:
674:
670:
669:staff officer
663:After the war
662:
655:
653:
650:
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642:
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637:
634:
633:
629:
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624:
621:
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608:
607:
603:
601:
600:Junkers Ju 88
598:
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398:Junkers Ju 88
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349:
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343:
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332:
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325:Roger Bushell
321:
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261:
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242:Forest School
239:
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227:
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223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
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202:Forest School
199:
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186:fighter pilot
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61:4 August 1921
53:
49:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1278:
1272:
1263:
1257:
1246:, retrieved
1242:the original
1236:
1230:
1222:the original
1217:Spitfire Ace
1216:
1210:
1198:. Retrieved
1193:
1184:
1176:
1148:
1139:
1125:
1120:, Chapter 16
1117:
1113:
1108:, Chapter 14
1105:
1083:
1052:
1046:
1036:
1027:
993:
925:the original
915:
906:
896:
875:
849:
844:
838:
833:
829:
826:Spitfire Ace
825:
823:
779:
769:
758:
741:
718:
714:
705:
697:
693:192 Squadron
673:West Germany
666:
648:9 July 1941
564:
560:
536:
531:
521:
517:145 Squadron
511:airfield on
503:
487:
468:
461:
438:
434:
411:
391:
373:
361:
350:
339:
328:
322:
317:
307:
277:
231:
221:
178:
174:
154:Battles/wars
76:(2018-07-18)
74:18 July 2018
18:
1304:2018 deaths
1299:1921 births
1279:First Light
1200:21 December
1118:First Light
1106:First Light
1080:"No. 35238"
1022:4-June-2002
845:First Light
759:First Light
731:peninsula,
721:liquidation
471:65 Squadron
357:RAF Pembrey
353:RAF Duxford
318:First Light
310:92 Squadron
305:with 6FTS.
246:Snaresbrook
234:Walthamstow
222:First Light
206:Snaresbrook
194:Walthamstow
64:Walthamstow
1293:Categories
888:References
820:Television
729:The Lizard
711:Retirement
689:RAF Gaydon
656:Destroyed
591:Destroyed
515:, joining
483:Spitfire V
441:Aston Down
284:Tiger Moth
228:Early life
88:Allegiance
57:1921-08-04
43:Birth name
907:The Times
575:Aircraft
539:sinusitis
502:HMS
473:based at
443:, flying
342:The Times
314:Spitfires
129:1939–1961
83:, England
66:, England
1248:9 August
1194:BBC News
880:—
744:longhand
733:Cornwall
723:and his
683:and the
630:Damaged
617:Damaged
524:Valletta
422:Stirling
418:Blenheim
106:Service/
1334:The Few
877:others.
852:Netflix
737:Mullion
725:divorce
578:Result
528:SS Ohio
504:Furious
490:Glasgow
388:Wellum.
346:Dunkirk
299:Harvard
262:1939-40
214:haulage
81:Mullion
812:
804:
796:
788:
707:1975.
679:, the
572:Dates
475:Debden
426:France
252:Career
164:Awards
117:
108:branch
97:
513:Malta
498:Malta
238:Essex
198:Essex
149:42925
1250:2010
1202:2019
810:ISBN
802:ISBN
794:ISBN
786:ISBN
557:1943
541:and
509:Luqa
462:Ohio
451:1942
420:and
408:1941
134:Rank
71:Died
51:Born
460:SS
301:at
290:in
286:at
210:RAF
182:DFC
1295::
1192:.
1175:,
1157:^
1147:.
1094:^
1082:.
1071:^
1059:^
1007:^
970:^
933:^
905:.
754:.
553:.
534:.
432:.
378:.
337:.
244:,
236:,
224:.
204:,
196:,
1204:.
1151:.
1001:.
909:.
59:)
55:(
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