With Naval Wings : The Autobiography of a Fleet Air Arm Pilot in World War II

by Wellham, John

• ISBN13: 9781862272279
• ISBN10: 1862272271
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-02-01
• Publisher: Spellmount Ltd Pub

Summary

Young John Wellham faced a dilemma: should he make his career in the Royal Navy or in the Royal Air Force?

Author Biography

John Wellham was born in the Isle of Bute, and educated in Scotland. He was commissioned in the RAF in 1936, and transferred to the Fleet Air Arm in 1939. He served in the China Fleet, in the Mediterranean, the Western Desert, the Battle of the Atlantic and the East Indies. The successful torpedo raid on Bomba gained him the DSC, and for service at Taranto, Calabria and the Red Sea he was three times Mentioned in Despatches. After retiring from the Active List in 1953, he worked as a Finance and Investment Consultant for 20 years. Married, with a son and daughter and two grandchildren, he enjoys sailing, swimming and, in winter, water colour painting and lecturing. He lives in Sunderland

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. v
Preface	p. vii
In the Beginning	p. 11
They Taught me to Fly	p. 16
Front Line Squadron	p. 21
The Best of Both Worlds?	p. 26
China Fleet Carrier	p. 39
We go to War	p. 51
Four for the Price of Three	p. 60
No Longer Alone	p. 70
The Famous Victory	p. 77
The Aftermath	p. 99
Return to Routine	p. 104
Operation Red Sea	p. 116
South Atlantic Station	p. 124
The Road Home	p. 131
The Home Front	p. 138
Back to the Sand	p. 145
Escort Carrier	p. 155
Last Lap	p. 170
Plan of Attack on Bomba	p. 191
Plan of Operation MB8 & Attack on Taranto	p. 193
Aircrew at Taranto	p. 194
Carrier & Maritime Aircraft of WWII	p. 196
East Indies Fleet--August 1945	p. 198
East Indies Fleet--Area of Operations	p. 199
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