Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire
Wing Commander, 617 Squadron.. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
- Register No.
- 209 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Wing Commander (register: Squadron Leader) all Wing Commanders →
- Unit
- 617 Squadron.. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (register: No. 35 Squadron RAF, No. 76 Squadron RAF, No. 617 Squadron RAF) all No. 35 Squadron RAF, No. 76 Squadron RAF, No. 617 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 1940–1944 all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 8th September 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Born
- 7th September 1917 at Chester
- Died
- 31st July 1992 at Cavendish, Suffolk
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
From June 1940 when his operational career began, until the end of his 4th tour in July 1944, when he had completed a total of 100 missions Wing Commander Cheshire displayed the courage and determination of an exceptional leader. During his 4th tour he pioneered a new method of marking enemy targets, flying in at a very low level in the face of strong defences. In four years of fighting against the bitterest opposition he maintained a standard of outstanding personal achievement, his successful operation being the result of careful planning, brilliant execution and supreme contempt for danger
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CHESHIRE, Geoffrey Leonard. (reg No. 209)
Wing Commander. 617 Squadron.. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
London Gazetted on 8th September 1944.
Born on 7th September 1917 at Chester.
Died on 31st July 1992 at Cavendish, Suffolk.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: From June 1940 when his operational career began, until the end of his 4th tour in July 1944, when he had completed a total of 100 missions Wing Commander Cheshire displayed the courage and determination of an exceptional leader. During his 4th tour he pioneered a new method of marking enemy targets, flying in at a very low level in the face of strong defences. In four years of fighting against the bitterest opposition he maintained a standard of outstanding personal achievement, his successful operation being the result of careful planning, brilliant execution and supreme contempt for danger..
Additional information:. Group Captain Cheshire also held the Order of Merit (0M), the Distinguished Service Order and two Bars (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross. (DFC). He wrote several books including, Bomber Pilot, Pilgrimage to the Shroud and The Face of Victory. He was the founder of the first Cheshire Home, a hospice for the incurable. His Citation for the Victoria Cross, covered his four years of active service.
Additional information
Group Captain Cheshire also held the Order of Merit (0M), the Distinguished Service Order and two Bars (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross. (DFC). He wrote several books including, Bomber Pilot, Pilgrimage to the Shroud and The Face of Victory. He was the founder of the first Cheshire Home, a hospice for the incurable. His Citation for the Victoria Cross, covered his four years of active service.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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