Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Wellum DFC was a distinguished British fighter pilot and author, renowned for his courageous service during the Battle of Britain and his subsequent contributions to aviation history. As a young RAF pilot he displayed extraordinary courage and skill, earning recognition for his pivotal role in defending Britain against the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940
Early Life and RAF Service
Born in Walthamstow, Essex, Wellum was an only child. At 18, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in August 1939, just before World War II escalated. After completing his initial training, he was posted to No. 92 Squadron, flying the iconic Supermarine Spitfire.
His squadron was part of the RAF’s fierce defense against the German Luftwaffe’s attacks, which aimed to weaken Britain’s ability to fight and pave the way for a possible German invasion.
He quickly became one of the youngest pilots to engage in active combat during the Battle of Britain, earning the affectionate nickname “Boy” from his comrades .
Battle of Britain
Wellum’s combat experience began almost immediately as the Luftwaffe launched a relentless bombing campaign against British airfields and cities. In the early days of the battle, he was involved in fighting off German bombers and fighters that were attacking southern England, often engaging in intense dogfights at altitudes above 20,000 feet. Wellum’s natural aptitude for aerial combat quickly became evident. He flew numerous sorties, contributing to the protection of vital British targets such as RAF airfields and radar stations, which were crucial to the RAF’s defensive efforts.
One of Wellum’s most significant moments came when, during a particularly fierce engagement, he found himself in the thick of a dogfight with multiple German aircraft. His skill in handling the Spitfire and his ability to stay calm under pressure were central to his own survival, and contributed to the overall success of the RAF’s fighter command.
By the end of the battle, Wellum had shot down and damaged several enemy aircraft gaining the respect of his fellow pilots for his ability to stay focused and determined. The efforts of Wellum and his peers were integral to the RAF’s ability to maintain air superiority and repel the German attacks. Despite the personal toll of constant combat, Wellum’s performance earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1941, marking him as one of the battle’s young heroes.
Wellum’s service during the Battle of Britain is a testament to the courage and resilience of the RAF pilots, who, often outnumbered and outgunned, fought tirelessly to defend their homeland against overwhelming odds. His story has become a symbol of the broader effort of “The Few”, the group of pilots who were credited with securing Britain’s victory in the Battle of Britain and turning the tide of World War II.
1941-1942
In the summer of 1941 Wellum was taken off active duty, and assigned to a training squadron: No 52 Operational Training Unit at Aston Down, flying Hawker Hurricanes. Disappointed to be leaving frontline service, Wellum initially found the experience to be “almost unbearable”. Eventually, Wellum relaxed: “I found a new peace and…gradually I seemed to unwind. I even began to enjoy [teaching] pupils”.
By February 1942, Wellum had been reassigned back to combat duties. Transferring to 65 Squadron based at Debden he was appointed a Flight Commander in March 1942.
In air combat over France, Wellum’s number two, Freddie Haskett, was killed by a Fw 190. This newly introduced German fighter aircraft outclassed the Spitfire 5B’s in many areas that the squadron was flying.
Wellum himself survived only by “throwing the Spit all over the sky without really looking round”. At this time he also began to develop severe headaches, “a splitting headache pain across my eyes”. No doubt a result of prolonged front line service and the, by now, increased G-forces of aerial combat.
Operation Bellows and Malta
Operation Bellows was a crucial element of the broader Allied effort known as Operation Pedestal, which took place in August 1942. As Malta faced critical shortages due to an Axis siege, Operation Pedestal aimed to deliver desperately needed supplies to the island by sea. However, for the convoy to succeed, Malta’s air defenses had to be reinforced ahead of the arrival of the supply ships. This is where Operation Bellows came into play.
On August 11, 1942, aircraft carriers, including HMS Furious, positioned themselves south of Sardinia, within flying range of Malta. From these carriers, thirty-seven Supermarine Spitfire fighters were launched, flown by RAF pilots directly across the Mediterranean to bolster the island’s defensive capabilities. This risky maneuver ensured that additional aircraft would be available to help repel the inevitable Axis attacks on the incoming convoy.
Among the pilots involved in this operation was Flight Lieutenant Wellum. In his book First Light he recalls the surreal experience of standing on the deck of a warship in full flying gear, his Spitfire chained down just feet away. The roar of the carrier’s engines and the reality of being in the middle of a naval war zone heightened the tension.
On the morning of 11 August, Furious steamed within launch range of Malta, just south of Sardinia. Once released from the deck Wellum’s aircraft had only a short runway to gather enough speed for liftoff. Fortunately, his takeoff was smooth—a relief, considering that others had been lost in similar operations due to technical issues or launch failure.
The flight was long, hot, and mentally taxing. Pilots flew alone, out of radio contact for much of the journey, trusting in their navigation, compass headings, and fuel calculations. Wellum reflected on this flight as one of the most surreal and personally demanding of his career—not for the combat, but for the mental discipline of flying solo across vast ocean in wartime conditions.
Hear Wellum talk about his flight to Malta here.
After successfully landing at RAF Ta Kali on the island was temporarily assigned to No. 1435 Flight RAF. This unit was tasked with defending Malta’s skies during one of the most intense periods of the siege. He flew combat sorties against German and Italian aircraft, helping to protect both the island and the incoming convoy.
Although his time on Malta was relatively brief—cut short by worsening health—his contribution came at a critical moment. The arrival of the convoy, particularly the survival of the tanker SS Ohio, was essential to keeping Malta in the war as a base for Allied operations in the Mediterranean.
Post-War and Continued Service
Following his time in Malta, Wellum continued his service with the RAF, but his operational flying gradually decreased. As the war progressed, pilots like Wellum were often rotated out of frontline duty and placed in more administrative roles, where their experience could be used to train younger pilots. Wellum eventually left active service in 1946 after the war ended, but his legacy as a skilled fighter pilot and a member of the legendary RAF fighter groups remained intact.
Contributions Beyond Combat
After World War II, Wellum continued his association with the Royal Air Force, but his focus shifted from direct combat to other roles. He was assigned to various training and administrative positions, where he worked to pass on the lessons he had learned during the war to the next generation of RAF pilots. This mentoring role was essential in ensuring that the RAF maintained a strong cadre of trained pilots, even as the nature of air combat was evolving with the advent of newer technologies and aircraft.
Wellum retired from the RAF in 1961 with the rank of squadron leader, having completed a total of over 150 operational sorties during the war. His post-service life saw him transition into the civilian world, where he ran a haulage business, but his experiences as a pilot and his historical perspective on the war would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Obtaining his signature
We were fortunate to have Wellum’s neighborhood priest, Rev. Shane Griffiths, forward our request onto Mr Wellum’s daughter, Deborah Scarfe who graciously facilitated his signing in March 2017.
We are thrilled to have this highly accomplished and decorated pilot from 92 Squadron – Spitfires autograph the book. It was of such men that Winston Churchill wrote the immortal words “never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”.
Just 4 months later, in July 2017, we were deeply saddened to learn of Mrs Scarfe’s passing from an illness she had been battling for some time. At no point during her very cordial and warm correspondence with us did she indicate that she was ill.
Mr Wellum was a gracious public figure for many years, but the inevitable toll of age had slowed him considerably. We are therefore all the more indebted to him for signing. Approaching anyone over 90 as a complete stranger, thousands of miles away is not an exact science.
Often we have to follow up various leads before getting any feedback. We are there also so very grateful to Sara Liddle at The Old Inn at Mullion. Without her informative replies we would most likely have given up in pursuing Mr Wellum’s signature.
The inevitable sadly occurred, on Wednesday 18 July 2018, Geoffrey Wellum passed away at his home in Cornwall….fittingly, a place he sacrificed everything to defend, over 70 years ago.
His son Neil Wellum summed it perfectly:
The greatest tribute we can pay to him and those he flew with, is to never take for granted the freedoms they fought to protect.
Neil Wellum
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