ABPic

This picture is © Alan Kilham and may not be used or published without permission.

Registration: P7350

Construction Number: CBAF.14

Code Number: QJ-G

Military Unit: BBMF

Model Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa

Operator: Royal Air Force

Airport: RAF Fairford (FFD / EGVA), UK - England

Airshow: Fairford - RIAT - 2017

Photographer: Alan Kilham

Date Taken: 14/07/2017

Date Submitted: 10/05/2022

This Spitfire was painted with these code letters to celebrate a Battle of Britain fighter pilot, Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC. Applied in a special temporary paint, covering the existing markings, the these code letters can easily be removed when required. Sqn Ldr Wellum flew his personal 92 Sqn Spitfire, with the code letters ‘QJ-G’, from 11th September 1940 after his first Spitfire, ‘QJ-K’, had been badly damaged in a combat with a Bf109 that morning. Geoffrey was 19 years old during the Battle of Britain, one of the youngest pilots who flew combat missions during the Battle. During the war he was officially credited with three enemy aircraft destroyed, four ‘probables’ and several damaged. He was awarded the DFC in July 1941 and retired from the RAF as a Squadron Leader.

Picture ID:1790715

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