Alan Geoffrey Page, (16 May 1920 – 3 August 2000), known as Geoffrey Page, was an officer in the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
who served during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
. He participated in the Battle of Britain, and was shot down. He was badly burned when his aircraft was destroyed, and was lucky to survive. He underwent many surgeries on his way to recovery, and was a founding member of the
Guinea Pig Club
The Guinea Pig Club, established in 1941, was a social club and mutual support network for British and allied aircrew injured during World War II. Its membership was made up of patients of Archibald McIndoe in Ward III at Queen Victoria Hospit ...
. He eventually passed a medical exam and returned to active service, becoming one of England's most successful fighter pilots.
Early life
Page was born on 16 May 1920 in
Boxmoor
Boxmoor is part of Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. It is within the district of Dacorum and comprises mainly 19th-century housing and meadowland, with transport links from London to the Midlands. At the 2011 Census, the population of Boxmoor wa ...
, England.
His parents divorced while he was very young. He had developed an interest in aviation by age 5, which intensified as he grew into a young man. Page was educated at
Dean Close School
Dean Close School is a public school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school is divided into pre-prep, preparatory and senior schools located on separate but adjacent sites outside Cheltenham town centre, occupying the largest privat ...
,
Cheltenham. For his college studies, his desire was to go to the RAF college at
Cranwell and make a career of the RAF. His father strongly opposed a career in the air force, and pressed him to pursue a career in engineering instead.
His father's brother, the engineer and aircraft manufacturer,
Sir Frederick Handley Page, aided in discouraging him, telling him that pilots were plentiful but engineers were not.
Thinking of it later in life, Page suspected they discouraged him because they had suffered the loss of their brother, who had been a fighter pilot in the
Great War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
Complying with his father's wishes, he went to London to pursue engineering at the
Imperial College. While there, he joined the
University Air Squadron
University Air Squadrons are training units under the command of No. 6 Flying Training School RAF of the Royal Air Force and their main role is to attract students into careers as RAF officers. Primarily its goal is achieved through offering ba ...
, which flew training aircraft out of
Northolt
Northolt is a town in West London, England, spread across both sides of the A40 trunk road. It is west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the seven major towns that make up the London Borough of Ealing. It had a population of 30,304 at ...
.
[ By the end of his second year of studies he had become a competent pilot.
]
Second World War
Flight training and the Battle of Britain
Two weeks after the outbreak of the Second World War, Page received his call-up papers and joined the RAF with the rank of acting pilot officer
Acting pilot officer (A/Plt Off) is the lowest commissioned grade in the Royal Air Force. Acting pilot officer is not an actual military rank, therefore acting pilot officers are regraded to pilot officer instead of receiving a promotion. Unl ...
. He received his Initial and Advanced flight training at Cranwell, where he earned a rating of "exceptional". He had always wanted to be a fighter pilot, and chose Fighter Command as the air service he desired to be assigned to, while declining to indicate a secondary choice. To his great disappointment, he was assigned to be an instructor at a flight training school. However, with the German invasion of the Low Countries in May 1940 the Air Ministry changed its mind and he was posted to No. 66 Squadron RAF, flying Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Grif ...
s. With no training on advanced fighters, he and another young pilot were worked up on Spitfires and gained operational status while at 66 Squadron. Before he could fly combat with 66 Squadron, it was discovered that there had been a typo in orders. Page and the other new pilot were supposed to be at 56 Squadron, flying Hurricanes
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
. The two pilots traveled to RAF North Weald
North Weald Airfield is an operational general aviation aerodrome, in the civil parish of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex, England. It was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain, when it was known as the RAF Stat ...
in southern England to join 56 Squadron. The squadron had been in France and suffered losses there. When Page arrived the squadron was away training at RAF Digby
Royal Air Force Digby otherwise known as RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station located near Scopwick and south east of Lincoln, in Lincolnshire, England. The station is home to the tri-service Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the J ...
. He checked out on the Hurricane and was made operational by the time the squadron returned. The squadron ended the campaign by covering the Dunkirk evacuation.
Initially disappointed to be transferred from a squadron flying Spitfires to one flying Hurricanes, his misgivings were soon dispelled. Describing his first flight, Page offered "The Hurricane rose gracefully and easily into the air, and I had the immediate sensation that here was a lady with very few vices." He found the cockpit layout similar, and it was easier to see over the nose of the aircraft, making taxiing and takeoffs less troublesome. In addition, the Merlin engine in the Hurricane was cooled more reliably while on the ground, which meant he no longer had to worry about overheating the glycol
A diol is a chemical compound containing two hydroxyl groups ( groups). An aliphatic diol is also called a glycol. This pairing of functional groups is pervasive, and many subcategories have been identified.
The most common industrial diol is e ...
when taxiing and preparing to take off. Retracting the wheels was far easier, as in the Hurricane the function was motorized, whereas in the Spitfire the pilot had to work a hand screw. The Hurricane did not have the speed of the Spitfire, but handled very well, was more rugged and could tolerate more battle damage. Page found himself happy to fly either aircraft. He looked upon the Hurricane as akin to a bulldog, whereas the Spitfire he viewed more as a greyhound.
Late summer found the squadron heavily involved in the Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...
. The short notice scrambles and constant flying made for an exhausting existence. It was a life lived day to day, marked by occasional victories, the loss of comrades and evening trips to the local public house. On 13 July Page claimed an "He 113" shot down (probably a Bf 109, as the He 113 never saw action) and on 20 July claimed a third share in a reconnaissance Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 is a German World War II ''Luftwaffe'' twin-engined multirole combat aircraft. Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works (JFM) designed the plane in the mid-1930s as a so-called '' Schnellbomber'' ("fast bomber") that would be too fast ...
of 4(F)/122, the crew becoming POWs. On 25 July his squadron was called to the aid of a group of MTBs engaged with German E-boat
E-boat was the Western Allies' designation for the fast attack craft (German: ''Schnellboot'', or ''S-Boot'', meaning "fast boat") of the Kriegsmarine during World War II; ''E-boat'' could refer to a patrol craft from an armed motorboat to a lar ...
s off Dover. Two destroyers were sent to help as well. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe sent a flight of Ju 87s with fighter escorts. Page's squadron arrived over the ships almost the same time as the German dive bombers. Following them down he was credited with the destruction of a Ju 87.[Christopher Shores and Clive Williams, ''Aces High: a tribute to the most notable fighter pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII'', p. 478.]
On 12 August 1940 Page and his squadron were scrambled to intercept a group of German aircraft. Page was flying Hurricane serial ''P2970''. Sighting a large formation of Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17 is a twin-engined light bomber produced by Dornier Flugzeugwerke for the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Designed in the early 1930s as a '' Schnellbomber'' ("fast bomber") intended to be fast enough to outrun opposing a ...
bombers, the squadron's commander closed to attack the formation. Page followed him in, firing upon the formation as his leader pulled away. As he pressed his attack his aircraft was hit several times, and was set afire when the header tank was ruptured. High-octane fuel ignited and spewed into the cockpit, covering Page while he attempted to release from his harness and bail out
A bailout is the provision of financial help to a corporation or country which otherwise would be on the brink of bankruptcy.
A bailout differs from the term ''bail-in'' (coined in 2010) under which the bondholders or depositors of global sy ...
. His uncovered hands and face were badly burnt. As he descended in his parachute he was sickened by the smell of his own burnt flesh. Landing in the channel he managed to get free of his parachute and stay afloat until he was picked up by the boat of a small merchant ship. It marked the end of his initial flying career.
Hospitalization and rehabilitation
After being picked up from the icy sea in near-mortal agony, he was taken to the burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital
The Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH), located in East Grinstead, West Sussex, England is the specialist reconstructive surgery centre for the south east of England, and also provides services at clinics across the region. It has become world-fam ...
in East Grinstead. Both of his hands were burnt down to the bone, and his head was badly swollen. Page had also sustained bullet wounds to both legs. In convalescence scar tissue formed over his hands and contracted, making his hands largely useless. He was referred to Archibald McIndoe
Sir Archibald Hector McIndoe (4 May 1900 – 11 April 1960) was a New Zealand plastic surgeon who worked for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew.
Early life
Archi ...
, who was confident he could help, though it would take a bit of work. It meant a series of surgeries and recoveries, and an ongoing battle with the pain of recovery. Page formed friendships with the patients of the burn unit. Most of them were fliers from the Royal Air Force. They were young men facing physical disfigurement, loss of dexterity, and a great deal of pain. A fellowship formed among the burn patients. In time they formed a drinking club of sorts. Page was a founding member. They called their association the Guinea Pig Club
The Guinea Pig Club, established in 1941, was a social club and mutual support network for British and allied aircrew injured during World War II. Its membership was made up of patients of Archibald McIndoe in Ward III at Queen Victoria Hospit ...
. The name of the club was chosen to reflect the experimental nature of the plastic surgery techniques being developed for the reconstructive work carried out on burn patients at East Grinstead. Mclndoe himself was elected life president and Page was the first chairman. Page recorded the minutes of the first meeting. Wrote Page: "The objects of the club are to promote good fellowship among, and to maintain contact with, approved frequenters of Queen Victoria Cottage Hospital."[
Due to the burn injuries sustained to his hands, it was thought Page no longer possessed the hand strength to fly an airplane, let alone handle a fighter in a dogfight. Furthermore, McIndoe felt Page had done his part, and strongly discouraged him from returning to active service. Page was determined to return. He went through a series of operations to remove the scar tissue restricting the use of his hands. He also underwent reconstructions to his face and eyelids. The process meant enduring a great deal of pain. His anger over it initially was directed against the health staff, but soon became focused on the Germans. He promised himself to shoot down an enemy aircraft for each of the operations he had to endure. At the time of his accident he had been credited with 2 1/2 victories. As time went on and his operation log lengthened, the total number of German aircraft rose to a disconcerting number.
In 1942, after 15 operations, Page succeeded in gaining limited-flight permission. Returning to make his first flight, Page was seized with the fear that he would become trapped in a burning aircraft. The ground crew waited patiently, and his flight instructor was confused by his hesitation, asking if Page could hear him, and was the R/T working. Page forced himself forward, and soon the problems of flying the aircraft pushed his fears to the side. Three months later he was granted full operational status.]
Return to Fighter Command
Page was assigned to No. 132 Squadron RAF
No. 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.
History
Formation and World War I
No. 132 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 ...
at RAF Martlesham Heath as a supernumerary flight lieutenant. At the time the squadron's main duty was flying convoy patrols. Though he had returned to fly Spitfires, he was disappointed in not being able to engage in air combat. A call was made for volunteers to fly in North Africa, and Page took this opportunity to get back into combat flying. Once there the heat of the African sun proved too hard on his grafts, and after 3 months he requested a return to the UK. Page was posted to the Air Fighting Development Unit
The Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) was an air technical intelligence part of the Royal Air Force which developed tactics and tested captured enemy aircraft. It was based at Royal Air Force Stations Northolt, Duxford and Wittering.
The AF ...
(AFDU) at Wittering.[ The unit was set up to compare aircraft types, Allied and German.
]
While at the Air Fighting Development Unit Page met Squadron Leader James MacLachlan
James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan (1 April 1919 – 31 July 1943) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. MacLachlan was credited with 16 German and Italian aircraft shot down in approximately 250 mis ...
, a pilot who had lost his left arm after an air-battle over Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
in 1941. Like Page, he had overcome his disability and returned to fly operationally. The AFDU had in their inventory an Allison powered North American Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
Mark I. MacLachlan came up with the idea of flying an early morning solo low level patrol over occupied France to attack unsuspecting German aircraft from below as they returned to base. His first effort was unsuccessful, but on returning Page asked to try himself. Encouraged by the interest, MacLachlan seized upon the idea of using two aircraft. They set about acquiring a second Mustang, and waited for the correct weather to allow their mission to succeed. On their first sortie south of Paris on 29 June 1943, the pair accounted for six enemy aircraft in ten minutes; three Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft of JG 105, along with a Ju 88 of KG 6
KG, Kg, kG or kg may refer to:
Units of measurement
* kg, the kilogram, the SI base unit of mass
* kG or kGs, the kilogauss, a unit of measurement of magnetic induction
People
* KG (wrestler), ring name of Syuri (born 1989)
* K. G. Cunningham ( ...
. Page was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this action. On their second attempt on 18 July MacLachlan's aircraft was hit as they crossed the coast and he had to make a crash landing. He subsequently died of the injuries he sustained in the crash. Page returned to East Grinstead to remove further scar tissue from one of his hands, and spent several weeks recuperating there.
Late in 1943 Page joined No. 122 Squadron RAF as a flight commander. He was there only briefly when in January 1944 the commanding officer of 132 Squadron was killed while returning from a sortie over France. Page was ordered to take over command.[ 132 Squadron was sent to Scotland to rest while Page was sent to join a group of flight and squadron commanders who had been gathered at ]RAF Milfield
Royal Air Force Milfield or more simply RAF Milfield is a former Royal Air Force station which operated during the Second World War, located near Milfield, Northumberland, England.
History
The airfield opened on 26 January 1942, hosting No. 5 ...
to do special training in ground attack. After rejoining 132 Squadron in Scotland the remainder of the rest passed quickly, and the squadron was posted to RAF Ford
HM Prison Ford (informally known as Ford Open Prison) is a Category D men's prison, located at Ford, in West Sussex, England, near Arundel and Littlehampton. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
Air Force and Navy use
The ...
. There Page trained the squadron in dive bombing, and they put the skill to use attacking V-1 sites in the Calais region. On 29 April Page led a flight from his squadron on an afternoon sweep across the Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
. A Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often known unofficially as the Me 110,Because it was built before ''Bayerische Flugzeugwerke'' became Messerschmitt AG in July 1938, the Bf 110 was never officially given the designation Me 110. is a twin-engine (Des ...
was spotted below them. Page's flight attacked, but as the first Spitfire flew past its target it came under the guns of the twin 30 mm cannons of the night fighter
A night fighter (also known as all-weather fighter or all-weather interceptor for a period of time after the Second World War) is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility. Night fighters began to be used i ...
, was set fire and crashed into the ground. The German aircraft happened to be flown by ''Experte'' Major Hans-Joachim Jabs
Hans-Joachim Jabs (14 November 1917 – 26 October 2003) was an officer in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Jabs was the rare case of a pilot who found success in two distinctly different forms of aerial combat. He was one of the few pilo ...
of NJG 1
1 (NJG 1) was a German night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 1 was formed on 22 June 1940 and comprised four (groups). NJG 1 was created as an air defence unit for the Defence of the Reich campaign; an aerial war waged by the ...
, who had taken the aircraft up on a test flight prior to that evening's operations. Caught out, he immediately tried to get down to his nearby airfield at Deelen
Deelen is a hamlet in the Netherlands, Dutch province of Gelderland. It is largely in the municipality of Ede, Netherlands, but a small part lies in the municipality of Arnhem.
It was first mentioned in the 13th century as Deijle, and means "parce ...
in Gelderland
Gelderland (), also known as Guelders () in English, is a province of the Netherlands, occupying the centre-east of the country. With a total area of of which is water, it is the largest province of the Netherlands by land area, and second by ...
. A second Spitfire attempted a head-on attack, but it too was hit by the heavy guns of the Messerschmitt and crash-landed in a grassy field. Coming over the airfield, flak harassed the Spitfires, but Page managed to put several hits on the airplane as Jabs made a hard landing and escaped, with his crew.
In June the long-awaited invasion of occupied Europe arrived. Page and his squadron were tasked with providing air superiority over the invasion convoy and beaches. At age 24 he felt an old man compared to the young pilots around him. He anticipated a bloody air fight with the Luftwaffe over the beaches of Normandy, but this never materialized. After a week his squadron was transferred to a newly set up airfield in Normandy. Their air time now was centred on ground support attacks. The dust of the dirt field tended to get into the machinery and occasionally caused their guns to jam. This worked as an excuse Page used to take his aircraft out with one or two companions to do "gun checks", resulting in many strafing attacks on German traffic and occasional air fights.
In September 1944 Page and his squadron were operating from a forward airfield flying ground support missions for the 1st Airborne Division at the Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a battle of the Second World War at the vanguard of the Allied Operation Market Garden. It was fought in and around the Dutch city of Arnhem, the town of Oosterbeek, the villages Wolfheze and Driel and the vicinity f ...
. On a late afternoon sortie Page's aircraft was hit from ground fire and its ailerons damaged. Not realizing the extent of the damage, Page came in to land and was unable to adequately check his speed. He struck the middle of the runway hard and the aeroplane broke up. Page's face struck the gun-sight with enough force to break it free from its mounting, and he suffered a fracture to one of his vertebra as well. Page had to be taken from the wreck on a stretcher, and lost consciousness shortly after being pulled out.
Page was again sent back to McIndoe for a further operation. By this time Page had reached his goal of 15 "kills" (10 solo, 5 shared, and 3 damaged). In addition, he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...
and twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Later he was made an Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau by Wilhelmina, Queen of The Netherlands for his part in the Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a battle of the Second World War at the vanguard of the Allied Operation Market Garden. It was fought in and around the Dutch city of Arnhem, the town of Oosterbeek, the villages Wolfheze and Driel and the vicinity f ...
. The citation for his DSO read, in part: "Apart from his individual exploits, Wing Commander Page has infused the entire wing with his fighting spirit. Under his command 60 enemy aircraft have been destroyed."
After Page was released from hospital in early 1945 he was sent on a lecture tour of the United States to boost Anglo-American relations.[ The trip brought him to ]Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
, where he was adopted by those members of the film industry with British roots. He was taken about town with Joan Fontaine
Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland (October 22, 1917 – December 15, 2013), known professionally as Joan Fontaine, was a British-American actress who is best known for her starring roles in Hollywood films during the "Golden Age". Fontaine appeared ...
, and was pressed to stay at the home of Nigel Bruce
William Nigel Ernle Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953) was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of films and in the radio series ''The New Adventures of Sherlock ...
and his wife Violet. He became good friends with C. Aubrey Smith
Sir Charles Aubrey Smith (21 July 1863 – 20 December 1948) was an English Test cricketer who became a stage and film actor, acquiring a niche as the officer-and-gentleman type, as in the first sound version of ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1937) ...
and Herbert Marshall
Herbert Brough Falcon Marshall (23 May 1890 – 22 January 1966) was an English stage, screen and radio actor who starred in many popular and well-regarded Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. After a successful theatrical career in the Uni ...
.
In the spring of 1945 Page underwent further surgery before being attached to Vickers-Armstrongs
Vickers-Armstrongs Limited was a British engineering conglomerate formed by the merger of the assets of Vickers Limited and Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Company in 1927. The majority of the company was nationalised in the 1960s and 1970s, w ...
as a test pilot. He returned to England just as Germany surrendered. He was discharged from the RAF in 1946, having achieved the acting rank of wing commander
Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...
. Later that same year he was accepted into the RAF as a regular officer, with the permanent rank of flight lieutenant.
Life after the war
In 1946 Page married Pauline Bruce, daughter of British actor Nigel Bruce
William Nigel Ernle Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953) was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of films and in the radio series ''The New Adventures of Sherlock ...
. The ceremony was held in California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
, with C. Aubrey Smith acting as best man.
Page was made commanding officer of No. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.
History
1916 to 1919
No. 64 Squadron Royal Flying Corps w ...
, flying the de Havilland Hornet
The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet, developed by de Havilland, was a fighter aircraft driven by two piston engines. It further exploited the wooden construction techniques that had been pioneered by the de Havilland Mosquito. Development of the ...
fighter. In 1947 he was appointed personal assistant to Sir Guy Garrod
Air Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Guy Roland Garrod, (13 April 1891 – 3 January 1965) was a senior British Royal Air Force officer.
RAF career
He was born the third eldest son of Herbert Baring Garrod, barrister-at-law and educated at Bradfield Co ...
, the senior RAF officer at the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
Military Staff Committee
The Military Staff Committee (MSC) is the United Nations Security Council subsidiary body whose role, as defined by the United Nations Charter, is to plan UN military operations in New York. In 1948 he resigned his commission with the RAF and took a job with Vickers-Armstrongs
Vickers-Armstrongs Limited was a British engineering conglomerate formed by the merger of the assets of Vickers Limited and Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Company in 1927. The majority of the company was nationalised in the 1960s and 1970s, w ...
as a sales executive. Later he worked as an aviation consultant internationally, with his home base in Switzerland.
In retirement, as well as remaining the driving force of the Guinea Pig Club, Page founded the Battle of Britain Trust. This raised more than £1 million, with which the Battle of Britain memorial was erected overlooking the Straits of Dover, to commemorate those who kept Nazi Germany at bay. He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his efforts.
In 1981 Page published his autobiography, titled ''Tale of a Guinea Pig''. The book carried the dedication "To Archie McIndoe, whose surgeon's fingers gave me back my pilot's hands." In 1999 a revised edition was released, titled ''Shot Down in Flames''.
Geoffrey Page died on 3 August 2000, survived by his wife Pauline, his daughter Shelley and two sons, Nigel and Jamie.
Awards
* : Distinguished Flying Cross 30 July 1943
* : Distinguished Flying Cross 22 August 1944
* : Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...
29 December 1944
* : Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau (Netherlands) 23 January 1948
* : Officer of the Order of the British Empire 17 June 1995
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
*
*
*
External links
The Times
Imperial War Museum Interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Page, Geoffrey
1920 births
2000 deaths
Alumni of Imperial College London
Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
People educated at Dean Close School
Royal Air Force wing commanders
The Few
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Members of the Guinea Pig Club
People from Hertfordshire
Wing leaders