MEMBERS
of the
LEEDS Support Group
A brief introduction to some of our members:
Lieutenant Commander J.W.G. Wellham DSC RN.
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John Wellham flew one of the three 'Stringbags' (Fairey Swordfish) from H.M.S. Eagle which raided the Italian base in Bomba, North Africa in August 1940. Sinking four ships with three torpedoes, they demonstrated the crucial role of air power in modern naval warfare. Then, in November of the same year, John was chosen to take part in the second strike on Taranto from H.M.S. Illustrious. Braving a barrage of AA fire, he flew his badly damaged Swordfish, E5H, into the harbour, fired his torpedo at the battleship Vittoria Veneto and escaped alive. The victory at Taranto humbled forever the great capital ships of the world. Appointed 'Wings' or Commander (Flying) in the escort carrier H.M.S. Biter and then H.M.S .Empress, Lieutenant Commander Wellham faced storms and U-boats in the Atlantic before being sent to the 'Forgotten Fleet' in the Far East for the final struggles with Japan. John now lives in Sunderland and is a very active supporter of the Royal Navy Historic flight, he is a fine lecturer as well as President of the Yorkshire Branch of the Fleet Air Arm Association. He has written two books; With Naval Wings (1995) and (jointly with T.P.Lowry) The Attack on Taranto - Blueprint for Pearl Harbor (1995). Both are currently in print and can be obtained from us - see our merchandise page. |
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ROBERT BLACKBURN, grandson of the pioneer Yorkshire aviator Robert Blackburn (1885-1955), is Professor of Law at King's College London. He is the author and editor of many books including The Electoral System in Britain and (with Lord Plant) Constitutional Reform: The Labour Government's Constitutional Reform Agenda, and he regularly serves as a member of or adviser to public policy think-tanks and official bodies on constitutional and parliamentary affairs. Professor Blackburn is a PhD graduate of Leeds University and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He has a special interest in the early history of aviation in and around Leeds and is a member of the Leeds branch of the Swordfish Heritage Trust. |
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Alex served in the Fleet Air Arm from 1943 to 1946, starting with 766 Sqn. On H.M.S. Nightjar, involved in central maintenance, doing 40 hour inspections on Swordfish aircraft. From here he was moved out to the British Pacific Fleet. He was in the advance party sent to Brisbane to open the Naval Air Station, Archer Field. Following this he was drafted to the Aircraft Carrier H.M.S. Arbiter to join the Mobile Service and Repair Unit No. 5 (MSR5). This carrier, together with four other escort carriers, formed the 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron, based on Manus in the Admiralty Islands. Today, as well as being one of the mainstays if the Leeds Group, Alex is a member of the Leeds Branch of the Fleet Air Arm Association where he has been Secretary for the past six years. He is also a member of the Ponam Association, the Royal Navy Association, the Royal British Legion and an Honorary Life Member of the Shuttleworth Collection. |
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Andrew joined the Merchant Navy in 1954 and, in 1959, he transferred to the Royal Navy, joining the Fleet Air Arm (Aircrew and Diving). Sixteen years later Lieutenant Linsley left the Navy to become a safety engineer in the oil industry. It was while he was in the Royal Navy, however, that he became involved in two separate expeditions, both of which have become topics of two of Andrew's impressive selection of fascinating illustrated talks. In the first, in 1967, he led the scuba diving team that discovered the wreck of H.M.S.Association, recovering three bronze cannons and many silver and gold artefacts. Then, in 1974, he led 'Operation Skua' to recover a Blackburn Skua (shot down in 1940) from the bottom of a Norwegian Lake. The aircraft can now be found in the F.A.A. Museum, Yeovilton. 'Retiring' in 1993, Andrew began his present career, that of tirelessly supporting the Royal Navy Historic Flight by travelling the world giving his presentations, raising money and being a great ambassador both for the F.A.A. and the R.N.H.F. |
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Kevin belongs to the Guild of Aviation Artists and his original oil paintings are enthusiastically received and are represented in many important collections worldwide. He lives in Leeds and his father worked for Blackburn's Aero company from 1935 - 54 and so it was inevitable that Kevin would become a keen and very active supporter of the Leeds Branch of the RNHF. Kevin kindly offered to paint a picture of the Swordfish W5856 - 'The City of Leeds' and the result is the splendid painting 'Coming Home'. It depicts the aircraft flying low over the famous Leeds landmark of the Civic Hall, and it was there in May 1999 that the Lord Mayor of Leeds unveiled the work of art at the Civic Tea Party.
May 1999 Left to Right: Ben Pearce (TAG and Founder member), The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Barry Brand (Chairman) and Kevin Walsh (Artist). We are able to supply artist signed prints of 'Coming Home' |
