Geoff Wellums' Spitfires Pt 2

[Peter Roberts]

Absolutely - unfortunately we only have records to work with in the absence of confirmed photographic evidence. So records have to be the guide here, with all their faults.

 

Nice work there with the theoretical progression of Geoffs' aircraft - his logbook would possibly help confirm whether he maintained the 'G' code, but perhaps a reasonable assumption to assume he kept 'G'? At the end of the day, in the absence of hard evidence, assumptions have to be drawn on official records as best options.

Edited July 23, 2020 by Peter Roberts

[Mark Harmsworth]

This doesn't really answer any of the questions but I think it's rather nice. A BBC tribute on his death.

Mark

 

 

[Peter Roberts]

Thank you for sharing your find - a wonderful tribute.

[85sqn]

Hi chaps,

 

a friend of mine has a collection of drawings of Spitfires purportedly flown by Geoff. He has K9998 as ‘K’ and another one with P9372 as ‘G’.

 

Does anyone have any further information about this aircraft? Geoff flew it once in August as per the above and it looks like this gentleman had a rather rough time whilst flying her:

 

http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Watling.htm

[Peter Roberts]

Wellum also flew it on 7 September.

 

Looks like P9372 joined 92 Squadron on 6 March. It was damaged on ops on 24 May and would have been written off on 9 September when P/O Watling baled out of it after being attacked by a 109, as per your link. 

 

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/production.html

 

No info on code letter.

Edited July 27, 2020 by Peter Roberts

[Rafwaffe]

8 hours ago, Peter Roberts said:

Wellum also flew it on 7 September.

 

Looks like P9372 joined 92 Squadron on 6 March. It was damaged on ops on 24 May and would have been written off on 9 September when P/O Watling baled out of it after being attacked by a 109, as per your link. 

 

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/production.html

 

No info on code letter.

Link to Picture when coded 'GR-G:'
 

https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/P9372

 

Not the post K9998 ‘G' we all seem to be looking for unfortunately! 

 

Edited July 27, 2020 by Rafwaffe
Edited

[85sqn]

Thanks for that chaps. Looking again, he flew it three times. July, Aug and Sep. Its another option for people to do.

 

On this site: https://www.aviationclassics.co.uk/p7s-new-colours/

 

If you scroll down there is a photo that is what is supposedly K9998. If so, it confirms the early pole type aerial.

[Peter Roberts]

15 hours ago, 85sqn said:

Thanks for that chaps. Looking again, he flew it three times. July, Aug and Sep. Its another option for people to do.

 

On this site: https://www.aviationclassics.co.uk/p7s-new-colours/

 

If you scroll down there is a photo that is what is supposedly K9998. If so, it confirms the early pole type aerial.

Great article, and interesting quote from the article:

 

"Geoffrey was flying Spitfire I K9998 coded QJ-K. This was the first Spitfire that he flew to convert to the type after he joined the squadron and by now it had become his personal aircraft."