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| Battle of Britain RAF Spitfire pilot Geoffrey Wellum dies | Battle of Britain RAF Spitfire pilot Geoffrey Wellum dies |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The youngest Spitfire pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain during World War Two has died, it has been announced. | 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. | 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. | He served with 92 Squadron and his first missions included the "dogfights" above London and the Home Counties for which the battle became known. |
| The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said it was "saddened by the news". | The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said it was "saddened by the news". |
| More news from Cornwall | More news from Cornwall |
| Sqn Ldr Wellum was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was later promoted to flight commander with 65 Squadron. | Sqn Ldr Wellum was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was later promoted to flight commander with 65 Squadron. |
| He later led eight Spitfires from HMS Furious to relieve Malta. | He later led eight Spitfires from HMS Furious to relieve Malta. |
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| 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'." | 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." | "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. | He remained in the RAF until 1960. |
| Patrick Tootal, secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, said members of the charity's staff and volunteers had been "much saddened by the news". | Patrick Tootal, secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, said members of the charity's staff and volunteers had been "much saddened by the news". |
| "Only this week Sqn Ldr Wellum had been talking enthusiastically about attending the Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey on 16 September," he said. | "Only this week Sqn Ldr Wellum had been talking enthusiastically about attending the Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey on 16 September," he said. |
| Battle of Britain: July to October 1940 | Battle of Britain: July to October 1940 |