Geoffrey Wellum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Wellum DFC (b. 4 August 1921) is a Battle of Britain British fighter pilot and author.

Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2.1 1921-1942 2.2 1943-1961 2.3 1961 onwards 3 Published works

[edit] Early life and education

Wellum was born in Walthamstow, England. An only child, he was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook.

[edit] Career

[edit] 1921-1942

Aged seventeen, he signed up on a short-service commission with the Royal Air Force in August 1939. He led a distinguished career in the World War II, flying Spitfires with 92 Squadron in the Battle of Britain, before being transferred to 65 Squadron in Debden, and being promoted to Flight Commander in March 1942.

Towards the end of 1942, Wellum was transferred to Malta, where he flew in Operation Pedestal, leading a group of nine Spitfires from the carrier HMS Furious to Luqa, to aid the defence of Malta.

[edit] 1943-1961

Wellum suffered severe combat fatigue after three years intense flying, due to the immense strain that frontline British fighter pilots were put under during that period. He returned to Britain, becoming a test pilot on the Hawker Typhoon, based at Gloster Aircraft. He finished the war as a gunnery instructor, staying in the RAF, first as a staff officer in West Germany, followed by a four year tour with 192 Squadron.

[edit] 1961 onwards

Wellum left the Royal Air Force in 1961, working with a firm of commodity brokers in the City of London, before retiring to Mullion, Cornwall.

[edit] Published works

Wellum wrote a widely acclaimed book about his experiences during World War II, entitled First Light: The Story of the Boy Who Became a Man in the War-Torn Skies Above Britain. New York: Viking Books, 2002 (hardcover, ISBN 0-670-91248-4); Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons, 2003 (hardcover, ISBN 0-471-42627-X); London: Penguin Books, 2003 (paperback, ISBN 0-14-100814-8).