"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. He left the service in 1960 with the rank of Squadron Leader. After the war, Wellum remained in the RAF until 1961. Thereafter he briefly test-flew Typhoons and then saw out the war as a pilot attack instructor. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and damaged several others. The marriage was later dissolved. In the mid-1980s he retired and moved to Mullion,Cornwall, where he wrote down his wartime memoirs. ", He's a natural writer, I say, so how about another book? '", 'First Light' is published by Viking, 16.99, Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Wellum eventually became the deputy harbourmaster. Oops, something didn't work. He enlisted in the RAF in 1939 at the age of 18 and became the yougest fighter pilot to serve in the Battle of Britain, leading to his nickname "Boy". Wellum joined a family haulage business, but this went bust and afterwards he worked as a sugar broker in the City. He is survived by two children, Anna and Neil. The family settled in Epping, Essex.[3]. [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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Geoffrey Wellum (219366673)? It is 40mph faster, has very good armament and a very high rate of roll". The following day, four of the squadrons pilots, including Bushell, failed to return from a combat over Dunkirk. In a documentary to mark the 100th anniversary of the RAF he recalled seeing Spitfires at a fly-past. In August 1941 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He married Grace, his wartime girlfriend, and they had three children. His marriage and business collapsed. From the fort a bugle sounds the "Still" and not a soul moves". Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The marriage was later dissolved. The book, First Light, ends here and the reader hopes for a happy ending. Read about our approach to external linking. The series aired on Netflix in 2019, after his death, and the episode "Battle of Britain" is dedicated in his memory. "[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. cemeteries found in Mullion, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [3][10], 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. It should have been. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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. He was posted to an operational training unit and did not return to squadron service until February 1942, when he became a flight commander with 65 Squadron, at Great Sampford in Essex. Wheres everybody gone? It was then that you were in danger. Recent Battle of Britain Association visits of schools revealed that virtually no children were aware of the events of 1940. He and his wife Ediths only child was Geoffrey, who attended Forest School, Snaresbrook, where he captained the cricket XI in his last summer. Three loves emerged from Wellums account of that fateful summer: his country, his comrades and flying a Spitfire. 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.
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