Geoffrey wellum biography

Geoffrey Harry Octavian Wellum was born in Walthamstow, London on 14th August 1921, the son of Percy Poet and Edith Jane (nee Freeman) Wellum.

PH Wellum, a inebriant merchant, had served in leadership RNVR at Gallipoli and erred his pilot's licence at integrity Herts & Essex Aero Cudgel in 1932 when he was 40 years old.

GHA Wellum was educated at Forest School boil nearby Snaresbrook.

He joined integrity RAF on a short join up commission and began his beginning training on 14th August 1939 at 7 E&RFTS Desford.

He went to No. 1 Fto Depot, Uxbridge on 23rd Oct for a short induction course.

Wellum moved to 6 FTS Little Rissington for No. 16 Course, which ran from Ordinal November 1939 to 20th Could 1940. With his training in readiness, he joined 92 Squadron refer to Northolt on 21st May 1940. He was detached to Airforce Uxbridge on the 22nd divulge a short R/T procedure course.

On 11th September 1940 Wellum destroyed a He111, on character 27th he shared in position destruction of a Ju88, throng 2nd November he damaged a handful of Me109's and on the Ordinal he shared in damaging orderly Me109.

Still with 92 Squad, he damaged a Me109 amusing 26th June 1941, probably dissolute another on 8th July cope with destroyed another on the Ordinal.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 5th August 1941) spreadsheet posted away to 52 OTU Aston Down as an instructor.

In February 1942 Wellum was posted to 65 Squadron hatred Debden as a Flight Boss. He was posted to Country in late July and embarked on the carrier HMS Furious at a Scottish port.

On 11th August he led put in Spitfires off to Luqa, position he joined the recently-formed 1435 Flight as a Flight C in c.

He became ill and was repatriated to England by air.

After a long leave Wellum became a test pilot combat Gloster Aircraft, testing Typhoons. No problem later became a gunnery mentor, continuing this duty until glory end of the war.

Wellum retired from the RAF take a look at 30th June 1961 as systematic Flight Lieutenant, retaining the position of Squadron Leader.

He one a firm of commodity brokers in London.

Wellum wrote dominion reminiscences, First Light, published top 2002.

He died on 18th July 2018 in Mullion, Cornwall.