Geoffrey Wellum

Cornersteady
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edited July 2018 in Congratulations, Good Wishes & Kind Thoughts #1

One of my personal heroes Geoffrey Wellum has died at the age of 96

The youngest Spitfire pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain during World War Two has died, it has been announced.

Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Wellum, who was just 18 when he joined the RAF in August 1939, died at his home in Cornwall on Wednesday evening aged 96.

He served with 92 Squadron and his first missions included the "dogfights" above London and the Home Counties for which the battle became known.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said it was "saddened by the news"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-44895703

RIP and thank you

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2018 #2

     We have a lot to thank them for RIP

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #3

    He was on our local news program several times. 

    One of the few. 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #4

    He seems to have been in good health as he was talking about being at Westminster in September for a service. Hopefully that was the case. So few left now 😢. They gave so much, as did their families 😢. Thank you RIP

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #5

    Geoffrey - RIP

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,031 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #6

    It's becoming a very elite little Club now. Bless them all!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #7

    I might try and get a copy of his book "First Light" which has long been on the best seller lists. It no doubt makes a very interesting read, especially when you think the average age of the pilots was just twenty. They made such a huge sacrifice for us. 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #8

    An uncle is in a home with a navigator from a Halifax bomber. His accounts make you shiver and shudder. I wonder would i ever have been that courageous/fearless? They do make him wonder now but he didn't think anything of it at the time just got on with it. Being fired at, being on fire, limping back without all engines, emergency landings without undercarriage  😲😲😲.  So not just one offs. Brave and courageous men. No less the women who flew the planes to where they were needed, who sometimes got attacked. God bless them all.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #9

    May they soar with the eagles.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #10

    agree with all above. Found this trailer for a film called Spitfire and it has Geoffrey Wellum on straight away.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZxgEi8gEsE

    If you need some good summer reading then his book First Light is excellent.

     

  • DEBSC
    DEBSC Forum Participant Posts: 1,362 ✭
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    edited July 2018 #11

    My father in law was a navigator, he left his log book to our son. They were so young. To Geoffrey Wellum, to all of them - Thank you. We owe you so much.

  • trellis
    trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
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    edited July 2018 #12

    Per ardua ad astra ...RIP ,and to you all .Thank you .

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