Australian WWII pilot remembered in unusual way

RAAF Flying Officer Geoff Waugh served with the Royal Air Force’s 247 Squadron during the Second World War. On 11 November 1943 he was flying a Hawker Typhoon – a powerful fighter-bomber – that was carrying a 1000-pound bomb on each wing. Unfortunately, when he’d tried to drop it over the target in northern France, one of the bombs had ‘hung up’, meaning it hadn’t properly detached from the wing mounting. It was now a major liability.

Large fighter bomber parked with five men in uniform working on it

Geoff tried to dislodge the bomb but failed. As he was approaching his base – RAF Merston in West Sussex in southern England – the tower ordered him to abort the landing, fly out to sea and bail out. But unable to swim, and perhaps wanting to save the aircraft, Geoff decided to risk a landing.

Sadly, just as the plane made contact with the runway, the bomb detached and exploded, destroying the Typhoon and killing Geoff. He was 28.

Geoff was buried with full military honours in Brookwood Military Cemetery – the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom.

The bomb’s explosion also badly damaged a nearby pub he and other airmen frequented. Remarkably, the phone booth next to the pub was left unscathed.

Now, as we approach the 80th anniversary of Geoff’s death, the phone booth is being restored by a group of British steam and industrial heritage enthusiasts called Vintage Spirit, led by Ken Rimell. They hope to have it ready for display at the nearby Tangmere Military Aviation Museum by 11 November this year as a tribute to Geoff’s sacrifice.

Geoff was the only son of Arthur and Annie Waugh. His next of kin named on the Nominal Roll is Evelyn Waugh. If any relatives or descendants of Geoff would like further information, they can contact Ken at this email address: ken.rimell [at] vintagespirit.co.uk (ken[dot]rimell[at]vintagespirit[dot]co[dot]uk)

Above: a Hawker Typhoon being serviced; below: a fellow Air Force officer gives Geoff the final salute at the latter's graveside funeral service; bottom: the telephone booth being removed for restoration

Young RAF officer salutes near grave
Ancient phone box being loaded onto flatbed truck
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