Lorne Welch
Encyclopedia
Patrick Palles Lorne Elphinstone Welch, (12 August 1916 — 15 May 1998), known as Lorne Welch, was a British engineer, pilot and Colditz
prisoner of war.
He was educated at Stowe School
and became an engineer and then an engine test flight observer at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
, Farnborough
. He also learned to fly gliders
at the London Gliding Club
. He took up power flying becoming an instructor in 1939. He moved on to multi-engined aircraft and trained pilots on Wellington
bombers. In order to improve morale 'Thousand Bomber' raids were organised using every available pilot, including instructors, but Welch was shot down on his fourth raid. He gave himself up at Amsterdam station when the Germans began firing at civilians.
He was sent to Stalag Luft III where he assisted in "The Great Escape" by building the ventilation pump for the tunnel through which 76 prisoners escaped. Later Welch also escaped with Walter Morison
, during the Delousing Break
attempt and planned to steal a German aircraft while wearing fake German uniforms. After two attempts they were re-captured and sent to Colditz. The Colditz Cock glider was already under construction, and Welch performed vital stress calculations. Although the original glider never flew, a replica was successfully flown in February 2000.
While at Colditz, entered a competition by the Royal Ocean Racing Club
for prisoners of war to design an offshore yacht of 32-35ft waterline length. Via the Red Cross, he submitted detailed drawings and calculations and won the first prize of £50.
He was liberated in 1945. He returned to Farnborough to work on rocket motors before becoming chief instructor of the Surrey Gliding Club at Redhill
, a test pilot for new aircraft for the British Gliding Association
and a British team pilot in four world championships
.
After the war, he became the first pilot twice to soar a glider
across the English Channel
: first from Redhill to Brussels in a Weihe, and then made the first crossing in a two-seater glider with Frank Irving
.
His retirement was spent sailing and working on his boat. He married Ann Douglas
, also a pilot and sailor, in 1953. She and their daughters survived him.
Colditz Castle
Colditz Castle is a Renaissance castle in the town of Colditz near Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz in the state of Saxony in Germany. Used as a workhouse for the indigent and a mental institution for over 100 years, it gained international fame as a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II for...
prisoner of war.
He was educated at Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
and became an engineer and then an engine test flight observer at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
. He also learned to fly gliders
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
at the London Gliding Club
London Gliding Club
The London Gliding Club is a private members' club, and was set up primarily to train pilots in powerless flight, and the skills necessary to fly cross country using nature's sources of energy. Aerobatics and instructor training is also available. The club provides gliding courses, one day courses...
. He took up power flying becoming an instructor in 1939. He moved on to multi-engined aircraft and trained pilots on Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
bombers. In order to improve morale 'Thousand Bomber' raids were organised using every available pilot, including instructors, but Welch was shot down on his fourth raid. He gave himself up at Amsterdam station when the Germans began firing at civilians.
He was sent to Stalag Luft III where he assisted in "The Great Escape" by building the ventilation pump for the tunnel through which 76 prisoners escaped. Later Welch also escaped with Walter Morison
Walter Morison
Flight Lieutenant Walter McDonald Morison was a Royal Air Force pilot who became a prisoner of war and was sent to Colditz for attempting to steal an enemy aircraft during the Second World War.-Royal Air Force service:...
, during the Delousing Break
Delousing break
The Delousing break was a mass escape attempt by British, American and Allied Aircrew Officer Prisoners of War during the Second World War. It occurred on 12 June 1943 from the North Compound of Stalag Luft III POW camp in Germany- Main Party :...
attempt and planned to steal a German aircraft while wearing fake German uniforms. After two attempts they were re-captured and sent to Colditz. The Colditz Cock glider was already under construction, and Welch performed vital stress calculations. Although the original glider never flew, a replica was successfully flown in February 2000.
While at Colditz, entered a competition by the Royal Ocean Racing Club
Royal Ocean Racing Club
The Royal Ocean Racing Club also called RORC was established in 1925 as a result of a race to the Fastnet rock from Cowes and finishing in Plymouth. The RORC is the principal organiser of offshore yacht races in the UK, including the Fastnet race, the Admirals Cup and the Commodore's Cup...
for prisoners of war to design an offshore yacht of 32-35ft waterline length. Via the Red Cross, he submitted detailed drawings and calculations and won the first prize of £50.
He was liberated in 1945. He returned to Farnborough to work on rocket motors before becoming chief instructor of the Surrey Gliding Club at Redhill
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
, a test pilot for new aircraft for the British Gliding Association
British Gliding Association
The British Gliding Association is the governing body for gliding in the United Kingdom. Gliding in the United Kingdom operates through 85 gliding clubs which have 2,310 gliders and 9,462 full flying members , though a further 17,000 people have gliding air-experience flights each year.-History:A...
and a British team pilot in four world championships
World Gliding Championships
The World Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere....
.
After the war, he became the first pilot twice to soar a glider
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
: first from Redhill to Brussels in a Weihe, and then made the first crossing in a two-seater glider with Frank Irving
Frank Irving
Frank Irving was a British aeronautical engineer, glider pilot, author and university Senior Lecturer.- Early life and education :...
.
His retirement was spent sailing and working on his boat. He married Ann Douglas
Ann Welch
Ann Courtenay Welch OBE, née Edmonds, was a pilot who received the Gold Air Medal from Fédération Aéronautique Internationale for her contributions to the development of four air sports - gliding, hang gliding, paragliding and microlight flying.As a child, Ann Welch kept a diary listing every...
, also a pilot and sailor, in 1953. She and their daughters survived him.