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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.
Sqn Ldr Wellum, speaking in 2013, said: "Somebody said: 'Here's a Spitfire - fly it, and if you break it there will be bloody hell to pay'."
"Looking at my life now, I had peaked at about 21 or 22. It was just lovely blokes, all together in Fighter Squadron."
He remained in the RAF until 1960.
"Only this week Sqn Ldr Wellum had been talking enthusiastically about attending the Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey on 16 September," he said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e96nZX7pwAw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WqVppfopMY
https://vimeo.com/45585260
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Wellum
1943–1961
Wellum suffered severe sinusitis and battle fatigue after three years' intensive frontline flying. He returned from Malta 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. He married Grace, his wartime girlfriend, and they had three children.[3]