Vashon James Wheeler
Vashon James Wheeler | |
|---|---|
First World War
Russian Civil War Second World War
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| Awards | Military Cross & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russia) |
| Spouse(s) | Josephine Hermione Wheeler |
| Relations | Admiral Sir James Vashon (great-grandfather) |
Early life
Vashon James Wheeler was born in September 1898 near
First World War
Wheeler did not have to wait long to come of age and soon left Eton for the
North Russia intervention
Following the armistice Wheeler decided to remain in the army but reverted to his substantive rank of
Military Cross
Lt. Vashon James Wheeler,. Rifle Bde.,.attd. 45th Bn., Royal Fus, At Vosnesenskoe he was in charge of a flank party in a raid on 2 September 1919. He was surrounded on three sides by the enemy at close quarters. He acted with great courage and determination, and with his small party drove off the enemy and inflicted severe loss on him.[2]
Bar to Military Cross
Lt. (A./Capt.) Vashon James Wheeler, M.C., Rif. Brig, attd. 45th Bn, R. Fus. He did excellent work with his patrols on the 7, 8 and 9 September 1919, always gaining touch with the enemy. He also led his platoon with great gallantry and dash in the raid on Kodema on 8 September, and six hours later led them in a most successful counter-attack.
Wheeler was also honoured by the
Inter-war years
After returning from Russia, Wheeler spent a further 10 months in the army before deciding to leave for pastures new in July 1920, he was granted a small disability pension in compensation for the loss of his two fingers. Wheeler spent the next 10 years of his life in a variety of interesting jobs overseas. He spent a year working in the office of an Indian tea plantation, spent time labouring on an Australian sheep farm and took odd jobs in Rhodesia, eventually taking ownership of his own sheep farm in New Zealand. Wheeler agreed to the sale of this farm when he was offered a very favourable price by a gentleman who wanted a find a place for his son to live, some place where he could keep a low profile. The gentleman's son had supposedly been accused of committing "...a rather nasty crime".
After returning home to England, Wheeler decided to spend a portion of the proceeds gained from the sale of his farm on a course of flying lessons at Heston Aerodrome. The missing fingers on his left hand evidently posed no hindrance as he soon gained his pilots licence and eventually gained a commercial pilots B Licence. This allowed him to fly passengers and make a living from flying as an airline pilot, this he did for the duration of the 1930s.
Second World War
By 1939 Wheeler was working for an Egyptian-based airline, on the outbreak of war he immediately returned home to England with the intention of joining the Royal Air Force. Knowing that his age (41) would likely bar him from any operational flying role, he decided to utilise the same trick that he had used so successfully back in 1915, he lied about it. This resulted in his application being successful, and he was commissioned as a pilot officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in January 1940.
First posting
For his first posting he spent four months acting as the resident staff pilot to a Bombing and Gunnery School in Wales, duties included towing targets, transporting senior officers and performing other routine flights. Wheeler soon tired of this unexciting work and by April 1940 he had applied for and was granted a transfer to No. 271 Squadron RAF which flew the Handley Page Harrow and Bristol Bombay in the transport role. At that time the squadron was heavily involved in supporting the British Expeditionary Force in France, and subsequently assisting in its evacuation after the German Blitzkrieg in May 1940.
Coastal Command
In July 1940 Wheeler was posted to
Fighter Command
In November 1940 Pilot Officer Wheeler was posted to
In September 1941, the by then
Acting Squadron Leader Vashon James WHEELER, M.C. (76594), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 85 Squadron. This officer has performed excellent operational work' during a long period, including convoy patrols and reconnaissance missions over enemy territory. He has also carried out a large number of operational flying hours by night. One night in May, 1941, Squadron Leader Wheeler attacked and probably destroyed a Heinkel 111. The following night he damaged a Junkers 88, setting its port engine on fire. Throughout, Squadron Leader Wheeler has shown great devotion to duty and an intense desire to engage the enemy.
By December 1941 Wheeler was promoted to
On 29 December 1942 Wheeler assumed command of No. 157 Squadron RAF then at RAF Castle Camps flying the de Havilland Mosquito NF MkII in the night fighter role. Wheeler completed 29 defensive patrols with the squadron before flying the units first ever offensive Intruder operation on 23 March 1943 in the Paris area. He went on to fly a further 14 Intruder missions before his time with 157 Sqn came to an end in August 1943. Although he never managed to increase his tally of enemy aircraft further, he had some success at destroying ground targets such as trains during these missions. In recognition of his efforts with 157 Sqn he was awarded a bar to his DFC in September 1943, his London Gazette citation reads:
Acting Wing Commander Vashon James WHEELER, M.C., D.F.C. (76594) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 157 Squadron. This officer has led the squadron on very many sorties during which locomotives and other targets on the ground have been attacked with telling effect. Much of the success achieved can be attributed to Wing Commander Wheeler's inspiring leadership and skill. His courageous example has been worthy of great praise.
Wing Commander Wheeler was then posted as Station Commander to RAF Honiley in Warwickshire. This was a night fighter station which at that time hosted No.63 Operational Training Unit (OTU). This OTU instructed pilots on Airborne Interception techniques using the Bristol Beaufighter and Bristol Blenheim.
Bomber Command
Wheeler soon grew frustrated when it became apparent that Fighter Command was intent on keeping him desk bound due to his advanced years (45). Following a rather one sided argument with his
Following some conversion training and a short spell with No. 20 OTU at
Wing Commander was a fantastic character for a crowd of young lads like us, going on every trip like he did. It was the epitome of leadership but he was still one of the lads; he was all part of what was going on, not standing on the end of the runway seeing us off like a normal CO. He gave us tremendous confidence.[3]
Final flight
Wing Commander Wheeler took off on the night of 22/23 March 1944 in Lancaster serial number ME666, coded EM-A, to join a raid against
References
- ^ "No. 29708". The London Gazette. 15 August 1916. p. 8029.
- ^ London Gazette, 21 January 1920: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31745/supplements/928
- ^ A Man of two Wars by Martin Middlebrook taken from http://justinwheeler.net/vashonfilms/about/about.htm
External links
Further reading
- Bowman, Martin. "Mosquito Fighter/Fighter Bomber Units of World War 2". Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1998.
