The
Signatories
Primary
Edition
Signed by Flt. Lt. Geoff Wellum DFC
Artist
Proofs and Remarques
Signed by Flt. Lt. Geoffrey Wellum DFC
and
Geoff’s
Commanding Officer, the highly distinguished
Group Captain Allan R. Wright DFC* AFC
(Just look at his remarkable achievements below.)
Squadron
Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC joined the RAF with
a Short Service Commission in August 1939. He joined
no 92 Squadron flying Spitfires in June 1940 at the
time of Dunkirk. He flew throughout the Battle of
Britain, later completing over 50 fighter sweeps and
escorts over northern France and Belgium until August
1941. He then joined 65 Squadron as Flight Commander
in March 1942 operating over northern France and flew
off Aircraft Carrier Furious on operation Pedestal,
to Malta. (Geoff was a Flt. Lt. during “Operation
Pedestal”) He returned to the UK as a test pilot
Gloster Aircraft and finished the war as a Pilot Attack
Instructor.
Geoffrey was credited with three destroyed, four probables
and several damaged and was awarded the DFC in July
1941.
Group
Captain Allan Richard Wright DFC* AFC was born
Devon 12 Feb 1920. He entered RAF College Cranwell
as Flight Cadet April 1938. After training Allan was
posted to 92 Sqdn at Tangmere on 27 October. Over
Dunkirk on 23 May 1940 he destroyed a Me110 and possibly
two more, on the 24th a possible He111 and on 2 June
a confirmed Me109. During the Battle of Britain he
destroyed a He111 on 14 August, a He111 at night over
Bristol on 29 August, a He111 and Me109 on 11 Sept,
a He111 on the 14th, a Me109 on the 15th, a Ju88 on
the 19th, a Do17 on the 26th, a Ju88 on the 27th plus
damaging a He111, a Do17, two Ju88’s, two Me109’s
on the 30th.
On
30 Sept he was shot down wounded near Brighton and
hospitalised. An award of the DFC was made on 22 October
1940. On 6 December 1940 he destroyed a Me109. By
July 1941 Wright had destroyed 6 more Me109’s
and received a bar to the DFC on 15 July. Service
at HQ Fighter Command and as an instructor followed
until being posted to 29 Squadron at West Malling
in March 1943 where he destroyed a Ju88 on 3 April.
Further command postings saw him through the war and
post-war till 12 February 1967 when he retired as
a Group Captain.
