My target, concentrate, the target. 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. Geoffrey Wellum married Grace Christian in September 1943. It is 40mph faster, has very good armament and a very high rate of roll". He and his wife Ediths only child was Geoffrey, who attended Forest School, Snaresbrook, where he captained the cricket XI in his last summer. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Wellum remained in the RAF after the war and flew a variety of early jets. The History of 92 Squadron RAF, "Youngest Battle of Britain RAF pilot dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geoffrey_Wellum&oldid=1147204304, 5 August 1941 - Flying Officer Geoffrey Harry Augustus Wellum (42925) of, This page was last edited on 29 March 2023, at 13:16. Quite often youd find yourself surrounded by aeroplanes and then the sky would be empty. He was a writer, known for Witness 1939: When War Broke Out (2014), Battle of Britain (2015) and First Light (2010). Every night, listening to the news on the wireless 'Ten of our Spitfires are missing'.". The film was first shown by the BBC on 14 September 2010 starring Sam Heughan.[19]. As he fought against hordes of enemy fighters he compared the ugliness of his situation set above the beauty of the English countryside he loved. The intention was to engage with the Luftwaffe in combat, and to escort RAF bombing missions. It was like one of those wonderful dreams, a Peter Pan sort of dream". I thought, 'Hold on a minute, this is bloody dangerous! "[4], Soon after Dunkirk, 92 Squadron was transferred from RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire to RAF Pembrey in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Geoffrey Wellum ( right ) and his commanding officer Brian Kingcombe. Wellum witnessed the arrival at Valletta Harbour of the few remaining ships, including, last of all, the desperately-needed oil tanker SSOhio, barely afloat, escorted by two destroyers. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? SimonMorris. In the mid . Please review our, You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. I like the voice-over inserted into the film of the actually pilot Heughan played. Please reset your password. During the summer of 1941 Wellum engaged Bf 109s and claimed one destroyed, one probably destroyed, and a third probably damaged. WELLUM, Geoffrey Harris Augustus - All Spitfire Pilots In May 1940, before his flight training was complete,[4] Wellum was posted to 92 Squadron, which was a combat squadron flying Spitfires. Self: Witness 1939: When War Broke Out. 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. Another Bf 109 was claimed in 1941, and there may have been more, as he was not one greatly concerned with recording such things. When did Fade from Grace happen? At this time he began to develop severe headaches, "a splitting headache pain across my eyes". Geoffrey Wellum - IMDb What a pity, in a way, that an aeroplane that can impart such a glorious feeling of sheer joy and beauty has got to be used to fight somebody.. [11], On Malta, Wellum was diagnosed with severe sinusitis and battle fatigue, after three years' of intensive frontline flying. English By summer 1941, the Germans had invaded the Soviet Union and there would be no more intensive bombing of southern England until the arrival of the V1 flying bombs, or doodle bugs, and V2 missiles in 1944. As the battle came to a close at the end of October he was able to enjoy a rest and some leave with his family, but he missed his time on 92 Squadron, which he recorded as being the pinnacle of his life. A few weeks later Wellum was in his local in Cornwall when the landlady handed him the phone. He later led eight Spitfires from HMS Furious to relieve Malta. First Light (2002), which was made into a BBC drama in 2010, was drawn from notes he had made as a teenage flier in the Battle of Britain. His marriage ended in divorce in 1975 and six years later he retired to Mullion, on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. Geoffrey Wellum, who has died aged 96, was the author of one of the most gripping personal accounts of aerial warfare ever written. It was Holland: Ive been trying to find you in every pub on the Lizard. He told Wellum Penguin was offering a substantial deal They picked me up off the floor and poured more scotch into me and the book, published in 2002 as, I enjoyed the film to a degree, he said later. "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. After the war, Wellum remained in the RAF until 1961. Looking at him through the site, getting larger much too quickly, concentrate, hold him steady, that's it, hold it". It was the German you didn't see who shot you down. People say, 'You've got to forget all this, it was a long time ago'. Geoffrey Wellum (Author of First Light) - Goodreads Within a year, he was sent to join his boyhood heroes in the hellraising 92 Squadron. (modern). Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. First Light: Directed by Matthew Whiteman. "No, darling. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The sun glints on their wings and bellies as they roll like trout in a stream streaking over smooth round pebbles. These are Huns attacking England, our small country, our island, intent upon invasion and eventual occupation. During the recent offensive operations over France he has led his section and flight with great skill and determination. I experience an exhilaration that I cannot recall ever having felt before, he wrote in First Light. The marriage was later dissolved. Not Ooh, this is frightening, but Oh God, this bloke is going to kill me. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. I grieved for my lost friends and I cursed that I had reached the pinnacle of my life before the age of 22. of his instructors, he grew up quickly, although his age and cockiness earned him the nickname Boy. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Geoffrey Wellum, born August 4 1921 died July 18 2018. I was impressed with both actors performance. The movie wasn't so much about Spitfires as it was on the affects the fighting had on the pilots. Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile unit. A medal and a royal handshake didnt seem important any more I felt destroyed by the war.. He found it difficult to appreciate that his days on 92 Squadron were over and he missed the intensely close relationships he had forged with the air and ground crews. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. From the fort a bugle sounds the "Still" and not a soul moves". Wellum was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook, where he captained the school cricket team.[3]. [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. Thereafter he briefly test-flew Typhoons and then saw out the war as a pilot attack instructor. Obituary - Geoffrey Wellum, Battle of Britain pilot and author