Vashon James Wheeler
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
Vashon James 'Pop' Wheeler, MC
& Bar
, DFC
& Bar
(16th September 1898 – 23rd March 1944), was a former British Army
and Royal Air Force
officer who served as an infantry officer in both World War I
and the North Russia Intervention and then as a fighter and bomber pilot in World War II
.
, Shropshire
. His father, James Volant Wheeler, a landowner and barrister, named his son Vashon after his great grandfather Admiral Sir James Vashon
. His mother was Sybil Grace Wheeler (nee Tyrrwhit). Vashon received his early education from a private school in Bournemouth before moving on to the prestigious Eton College
. During his time at Eton the young Vashon enrolled in the school Officer Training Corps unit and received his first taste of military life. He evidently enjoyed the military way as following the annual OTC summer camp of 1915, Vashon went missing and was eventually tracked down by his father and housemaster
at the Guards Depot Caterham
, Surrey
. He had lied about his age in order to enlist as a soldier in the British Army
, the Guards were soon convinced to release their eager young recruit and return him to his studies. The story goes that a comedic Drill Sergeant dismissed the under age and now ex Guardsman
Wheeler from the parade square with the words "Your nanny has come to take you home". Wheelers father, sported at the time, a rather long and goat like beard.
, where due to the expediencies of war, he completed a much shortened course of officer training. He was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
in The Rifle Brigade on 16th August 1916 and shipped out to the Western Front
where he served with the 1st Battalion as part of the 11th Brigade British 4th Division. Wheeler was wounded on three separate occasions, although not seriously. At the time of the armistice he had been promoted to Captain
.
. He transferred to The Royal Fusiliers and became a platoon commander in the 45th Battalion. This unit was sent to Russia to support the anti communist White Movement
in the Russian Civil War
. Wheeler landed at Arkhangelsk
with his battalion on 6th June 1916 and was soon in action. The 45th Battalion war diary records 230 enemy killed, 350 enemy wounded and 1200 enemy captured for the loss of only 2 officers and 5 men from the unit between June and the end of August. The tide soon turned however, and the battalion was involved in some vicious fighting with the communist forces in early September before being evacuated on September 10th. It was in this short time space that Wheeler distinguished himself repeatedly in combat, gaining two awards for gallantry in the space of seven days. He received the Military Cross
for an action on the 2nd September and shortly afterwards was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross
for collective actions on the 7th,8th and 9th of September. His London Gazette citations for the awards were published on 21st January 1920 and read as follows:
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 the 2nd September, 1919. He was surrounded on three sides by the enemy at close quarters. He acted with great courage and determination, and with is small party drove off the enemy and inflicted severe loss on him.
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 7th, 8th and 9th September, 1919, always gaining touch with the enemy. He also led his platoon with great gallantry and dash in the raid on Kodema on 8th September, and six hours later led them in a most successful counter-attack.
He was also honoured by the White Movement
for his efforts, receiving The Order of Saint Stanislaus
. Wheeler paid for these awards with his own pound of flesh, losing two fingers on his left hand due to a painful wound received during the fighting. By the end of the campaign Wheeler had again been promoted to Captain.
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 1930's.
. 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.
which flew the Handley Page Harrow
and Bristol Bombay
in the transport role. At that time the squadron was heavily involved in supporting the BEF
in France, and subsequently assisting in its evacuation after the German Blitzkrieg in May 1940.
at RAF Detling
, flying the Avro Anson
in the general reconnaissance role. Over the next four months he flew the Anson on 22 convoy escort and anti U-Boat patrols over the English Channel and the North Sea. During this time he had two memorable encounters with the Luftwaffe
. On the first he managed to successfully chase a Junkers Ju 88
away from the convoy he was escorting, on the second he narrowly escaped death after being attacked by several Messerschmitt Bf 110
heavy fighters.
Wheeler was posted to Fighter Command and No. 85 Squadron RAF
at RAF Gravesend
, which at that time was a night fighter unit under the command of Squadron Leader Peter Townsend. Wheeler flew 71 combat missions with 85 Sqn and flew the Hawker Hurricane
, Douglas Havoc and Bristol Beaufighter
during this time. He claimed two aerial victories whilst flying the Douglas Havoc with 85 Sqn. A Heinkel He 111
on 6th May 1941 and a Junkers Ju 88
two nights later on the 8th May 1941. Both combats were over the sea off Felixstowe
.
In September 1941, the by then Acting Squadron Leader
Wheeler was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
. His London Gazette citation reads:
Distinguished Flying Cross. 30 SEPTEMBER, 1941
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 in. 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 he was promoted to Acting Wing Commander
and took command of No. 219 Squadron RAF
at RAF Tangmere
flying the Bristol Beaufighter
. From June 1942 he was 'rested', taking the post of Station Commander at RAF West Malling
until Wing Commander
Cathcart Wight-Boycott
assumed the role in December 1942.
On 29th December 1942 he 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 23rd 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:
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. 24 SEPTEMBER, 1943
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. This OTU instructed pilots on Airborne Interception techniques using the Bristol Beaufighter
and Bristol Blenheim
.
Commander, Air Vice Marshal Leslie Norman Hollinghurst
, Wheeler decided to offer his services to Bomber Command
instead. As the bombing campaign against Germany was reaching its peak, his services were gratefully received.
Following some conversion training and a short spell with No. 20 OTU at RAF Lossiemouth
to pick up a crew, Wheeler took command of No. 207 Squadron RAF flying the Avro Lancaster
from RAF Spilsby
in Lincolnshire
on February 26th 1944. Wheeler, in his typical lead from the front manner, flew with the squadron on its very next mission. This was a raid on Stuttgart
on 1st March 1944. And so he continued, unlike some squadron commanders who only flew on the easy raids, Wheeler flew on every single mission that 207 Sqn was tasked for. This did not go unnoticed by the aircrews, Navigator Flight Sergeant
Jack Briggs sums up the general feeling towards Wheeler at this time:
"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"
. It was to be his 158th operational mission. Arriving at the target area a little ahead of schedule Wheeler began flying circuits until the Pathfinder
force had marked the target. Just as the target markers were falling, Wheelers Lancaster was hit by a large calibre flak shell. Immediately engine power was lost and some of the control surfaces became unresponsive. Struggling to maintain control, Wheeler ordered the crew to bale out, only the Navigator, Rear Gunner and Mid-upper Gunner managed to escape the stricken aircraft before one of the wings fell off and the aircraft exploded. The wreckage came down in woodland near to the small town of Bad Schwalbach
, about 25 miles West of Frankfurt
. The bodies of Wing Commander Wheeler and his crew are buried in the British Military Cemetery at Durnbach in Bavaria.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Vashon James 'Pop' Wheeler, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(16th September 1898 – 23rd March 1944), was a former British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer who served as an infantry officer in both World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the North Russia Intervention and then as a fighter and bomber pilot in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Vashon James Wheeler was born in September 1898 near LudlowLudlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. His father, James Volant Wheeler, a landowner and barrister, named his son Vashon after his great grandfather Admiral Sir James Vashon
James Vashon
Sir James Vashon was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was first captain of HMS Dreadnought, between 1801 and 1802...
. His mother was Sybil Grace Wheeler (nee Tyrrwhit). Vashon received his early education from a private school in Bournemouth before moving on to the prestigious Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. During his time at Eton the young Vashon enrolled in the school Officer Training Corps unit and received his first taste of military life. He evidently enjoyed the military way as following the annual OTC summer camp of 1915, Vashon went missing and was eventually tracked down by his father and housemaster
Housemaster
In British education, a housemaster is a member of staff in charge of a boarding house, normally at a boarding school . The housemaster is responsible for the supervision and care of boarders in the house and typically lives on the premises...
at the Guards Depot Caterham
Caterham
Caterham is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is geographically divided into two sections: Caterham on the Hill and Caterham Valley - the main town centre. The town lies close to the A22, a few miles south of Croydon, in a valley cut into the dip slope of the North Downs...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He had lied about his age in order to enlist as a soldier in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, the Guards were soon convinced to release their eager young recruit and return him to his studies. The story goes that a comedic Drill Sergeant dismissed the under age and now ex Guardsman
Guardsman
Guardsman is a rank used instead of Private in some military units that serve as the official bodyguard of a sovereign or head of state. It is also used as a generic term for any member of a Guards unit of any rank....
Wheeler from the parade square with the words "Your nanny has come to take you home". Wheelers father, sported at the time, a rather long and goat like beard.
World War One
Wheeler did not have to wait long to come of age and soon left Eton for SandhurstRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, where due to the expediencies of war, he completed a much shortened course of officer training. He was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in The Rifle Brigade on 16th August 1916 and shipped out to the Western Front
Western Front
Western Front was a term used during the First and Second World Wars to describe the contested armed frontier between lands controlled by Germany to the east and the Allies to the west...
where he served with the 1st Battalion as part of the 11th Brigade British 4th Division. Wheeler was wounded on three separate occasions, although not seriously. At the time of the armistice he had been promoted to Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
.
The North Russia Intervention
Following the armistice Wheeler decided to remain in the army but reverted to his substantive rank of LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He transferred to The Royal Fusiliers and became a platoon commander in the 45th Battalion. This unit was sent to Russia to support the anti communist White Movement
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
in the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
. Wheeler landed at Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
with his battalion on 6th June 1916 and was soon in action. The 45th Battalion war diary records 230 enemy killed, 350 enemy wounded and 1200 enemy captured for the loss of only 2 officers and 5 men from the unit between June and the end of August. The tide soon turned however, and the battalion was involved in some vicious fighting with the communist forces in early September before being evacuated on September 10th. It was in this short time space that Wheeler distinguished himself repeatedly in combat, gaining two awards for gallantry in the space of seven days. He received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for an action on the 2nd September and shortly afterwards was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for collective actions on the 7th,8th and 9th of September. His London Gazette citations for the awards were published on 21st January 1920 and read as follows:
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 the 2nd September, 1919. He was surrounded on three sides by the enemy at close quarters. He acted with great courage and determination, and with is small party drove off the enemy and inflicted severe loss on him.
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 7th, 8th and 9th September, 1919, always gaining touch with the enemy. He also led his platoon with great gallantry and dash in the raid on Kodema on 8th September, and six hours later led them in a most successful counter-attack.
He was also honoured by the White Movement
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
for his efforts, receiving The Order of Saint Stanislaus
Order of Saint Stanislaus
The Order of Saint Stanislaus , also spelled Stanislas, was an Order in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and The Kingdom of Poland between 1765 and 1831 and of Russian Empire from 1831 to 1917.-History of the Order of Saint Stanislaus:Stanisław August Poniatowski, King of Poland, established the...
. Wheeler paid for these awards with his own pound of flesh, losing two fingers on his left hand due to a painful wound received during the fighting. By the end of the campaign Wheeler had again been promoted to Captain.
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
Heston Aerodrome
Heston Aerodrome was a 1930s airfield located to the west of London, UK, operational between 1929 and 1947. It was situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex...
. 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 1930's.
The 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 ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. 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
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
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 RAFNo. 271 Squadron RAF
No. 271 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was operational for two periods; a few brief months between 27 September 1918 and 9 December 1918 operating flying boats to protect shipping from German U-boats, and between 28 March 1940 and 1 December 1946 No. 271 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was...
which flew the Handley Page Harrow
Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. Handley Page Aircraft since 1907. London: Putnam Publishing, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-803-8.* Clayton, Donald C. Handley Page, an Aircraft Album. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1969. ISBN 0-7110-0094-8....
and Bristol Bombay
Bristol Bombay
|-See also:...
in the transport role. At that time the squadron was heavily involved in supporting the BEF
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied 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 Coastal Command and No. 500 Squadron RAFNo. 500 Squadron RAF
No. 500 Squadron AAF was formed in 1931 as a Special Reserve squadron and in 1936 became part of the Auxiliary Air Force. It served in a number of roles before being disbanded in 1957.-Formation and early years:...
at RAF Detling
RAF Detling
RAF Detling was a station of the Royal Naval Air Service in World War I and the Royal Air Force in World War II. Situated 600 feet above sea level, it is located near Detling, a village about three miles north-east of Maidstone, in Kent....
, flying the Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
in the general reconnaissance role. Over the next four months he flew the Anson on 22 convoy escort and anti U-Boat patrols over the English Channel and the North Sea. During this time he had two memorable encounters with the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. On the first he managed to successfully chase a Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
away from the convoy he was escorting, on the second he narrowly escaped death after being attacked by several Messerschmitt Bf 110
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten...
heavy fighters.
Fighter Command
In November 1940 Pilot OfficerPilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
Wheeler was posted to Fighter Command and No. 85 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:...
at RAF Gravesend
RAF Gravesend
RAF Gravesend was a Fighter Airfield during the Battle of Britain, and was home to the following Squadrons during the Battle:*No. 610 Squadron RAF from 26 May 1940*No. 604 Squadron RAF from 3 July 1940*No. 501 Squadron RAF from 25 July 1940...
, which at that time was a night fighter unit under the command of Squadron Leader Peter Townsend. Wheeler flew 71 combat missions with 85 Sqn and flew the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
, Douglas Havoc and Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
during this time. He claimed two aerial victories whilst flying the Douglas Havoc with 85 Sqn. A Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
on 6th May 1941 and a Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
two nights later on the 8th May 1941. Both combats were over the sea off Felixstowe
Felixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
.
In September 1941, the by then Acting Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Wheeler was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. His London Gazette citation reads:
Distinguished Flying Cross. 30 SEPTEMBER, 1941
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 in. 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 he was promoted to Acting Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
and took command of No. 219 Squadron RAF
No. 219 Squadron RAF
No. 219 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was originally founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1957 after four separate periods of service. During the First World War it served as a coastal defence unit, and through most of the Second World War and the 1950s it operated as a night fighter air defence...
at RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
flying the Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
. From June 1942 he was 'rested', taking the post of Station Commander at RAF West Malling
RAF West Malling
RAF West Malling was a Royal Air Force station near West Malling in Kent, England.Originally used as a landing area during the first World War, the site opened as a private landing ground and in 1930, then known as Kingshill, home to the Maidstone School of Flying, before being renamed West Malling...
until Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Cathcart Wight-Boycott
Cathcart Wight-Boycott
Air Commodore Cathcart Michael Wight-Boycott CBE DSO and bar MA, RAF R’td was a British fighter pilot during the Second World War and a senior Royal Air Force officer during the post-war years...
assumed the role in December 1942.
On 29th December 1942 he assumed command of No. 157 Squadron RAF
No. 157 Squadron RAF
No. 157 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was active as a night fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No. 157 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 14 July 1918 at RAF Upper Heyford and was eventually equipped with Salamander aircraft for ground support duties,...
then at RAF Castle Camps
RAF Castle Camps
-World War II:RAF Castle Camps was listed as being in Cambridgeshire as it is close to its namesake Cambridgeshire village. It is very near the Suffolk border and the airfield straddled the Essex and Cambridgeshire county border. Construction of the station was started in September 1939...
flying the de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
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 23rd 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
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in September 1943, his London Gazette citation reads:
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. 24 SEPTEMBER, 1943
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
RAF Honiley
RAF Honiley is a former Royal Air Force station located in Wroxall, Warwickshire seven miles southwest of Coventry, England. The station closed in March 1958, and after being used as a motor vehicle test track, is presently subject to planning permission from the Prodrive Formula One team for...
in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. This was a night fighter station which at that time hosted No.63 Operational Training Unit. This OTU instructed pilots on Airborne Interception techniques using the Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
and Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
.
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 No. 9 Group RAFNo. 9 Group RAF
-History:No. 9 Group RAF was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. The next month it was transferred to South-Western Area and then disbanded on 15 May 1919....
Commander, Air Vice Marshal Leslie Norman Hollinghurst
Leslie Norman Hollinghurst
Air Chief Marshal Sir Leslie Norman Hollinghurst GBE, KCB, DFC , was a British First World War Flying Ace who later became an Air Chief Marshal in the RAF.-Involvement in the First World War:...
, Wheeler decided to offer his services to Bomber Command
Bomber Command
Bomber Command is an organizational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. Many countries have a "Bomber Command", although the most famous ones were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for Strategic bombing , and is composed of bombers...
instead. As the bombing campaign against Germany was reaching its peak, his services were gratefully received.
Following some conversion training and a short spell with No. 20 OTU at RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
to pick up a crew, Wheeler took command of No. 207 Squadron RAF flying the Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
from RAF Spilsby
RAF Spilsby
-Units and aircraft based at Spilsby:-References:*Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2 -External links:*...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
on February 26th 1944. Wheeler, in his typical lead from the front manner, flew with the squadron on its very next mission. This was a raid on Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
on 1st March 1944. And so he continued, unlike some squadron commanders who only flew on the easy raids, Wheeler flew on every single mission that 207 Sqn was tasked for. This did not go unnoticed by the aircrews, Navigator Flight Sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure...
Jack Briggs sums up the general feeling towards Wheeler at this time:
"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"
Final Flight
Wing Commander Wheeler took off on the night of March 22/23 1944 in Lancaster ME666 EM-A to join a raid against FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. It was to be his 158th operational mission. Arriving at the target area a little ahead of schedule Wheeler began flying circuits until the Pathfinder
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
force had marked the target. Just as the target markers were falling, Wheelers Lancaster was hit by a large calibre flak shell. Immediately engine power was lost and some of the control surfaces became unresponsive. Struggling to maintain control, Wheeler ordered the crew to bale out, only the Navigator, Rear Gunner and Mid-upper Gunner managed to escape the stricken aircraft before one of the wings fell off and the aircraft exploded. The wreckage came down in woodland near to the small town of Bad Schwalbach
Bad Schwalbach
Bad Schwalbach is the district seat of Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany.- Geographic Location :Bad Schwalbach is a spa town some 20 km northwest of Wiesbaden. It lies at 289 to 465 m above sea level in the Taunus, along the small river Aar...
, about 25 miles West of Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. The bodies of Wing Commander Wheeler and his crew are buried in the British Military Cemetery at Durnbach in Bavaria.
The crew of ME666
| Crew Position | Rank | Name | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Wing Commander | V.J. Wheeler | KIA |
| Navigator | Flight Lieutenant | G.G. Edwards | POW |
| Bombardier | Flying Officer | D.R. Barham | KIA |
| Radio Operator | Flying Officer | R.A. Milne | KIA |
| Mid Upper Gunner | Flight Sergeant | J. Dunseath DFM Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active... |
POW |
| Rear Gunner | Sergeant | T.J. McCarthy | POW |
| Flight Engineer | Sergeant | G.H. Witney | KIA |
External links
- http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31745/supplements/928
- http://justinwheeler.net/vashonfilms/about/about.htm
Further reading
- Bowman, Martin. "Mosquito Fighter/Fighter Bomber Units of World War 2". Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1998.