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WILDMAN-LUSHINGTON G

Godfrey Edward WILDMAN - LUSHINGTON

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1. Name

2. Date Commissioned

3. Date Retired

4. Rank

5. Awarded Wings

6. Flying Schools

7. Aircraft Types Flown

8. Decorations

9. General

10. RNAS / RAF Rank

Godfrey Edward WILDMAN - LUSHINGTON

22 August 1914

29 November 1950 (Died 3 February 1970)

Major-General C.B C.B.E

R.N.A.S. 1917
F.A.A April 1925

RAF Felixstowe (Flying Boats)
RAF Netheravon 16 June 1924
RAF Leuchars 9 Jan 1925

RNAS. Seaplanes and Flying Boats. Short Seaplanes. F.A.A Spotter/recce types. Seal, Fairey UID DH 9A etc

Mentioned in Despatches 1 January 1919 RNAS.
1914/15 Star.
British War Medal, Victory Medal, Coronation Medal.
C.B.E. 2 June 1944
C.B. 1 January 1947
Special Cravat of the Order of the Cloud & Banner (Chinese) LG. 7 september 1948
1939/45 Star, Burma Star, Defence, War Medal

After service in HMS Swiftsure 1915/16 in which he saw action in the Dardanelles and Suvla Bay he transferred to the RNAS in January 1917 where he had continuous flying duty until 1919. He qualified as a seaplane and flying boat pilot and flew operationally in anti submarine patrols from Calshot, Plymouth Cattewater and Newlyn. He continued with this until the end of the War and received a Mention in Despatches. On one occasion, on 20th December 1917 he was flying a Short seaplane on patrol about 45 miles SW of Plymouth with B.E. Harrison (now Wing Cdr AFC) as Observer. Suddenly an explosion occurred in the engine which burst into flames. With great skill he sideslipped to avoid the flames and alighted on the sea when they succeeded in putting out the fire. For over an hour there was no sign of help when fortunately a Greek cargo ship, S.S. Kanasis appeared. They managed to signal it with their Aldis lamp and after same suspicion they were picked up and taken to Falmouth.

After a period ashore and afloat he returned to the Fleet Air Arm when it was formed in 1924, being one of nineteen R.M. Officers who responded to A.F.O. 1058/24.

Although he was already an experienced pilot of the Great War he took the entire flying training course and gained his F.A.A Wings in 1925. He then served as a Flight Commander in 441 Flight in Eagle and Hermes taking part in the operations in Shanghai. For this he received Their Lordships commendation.
Having returned to Corps Duty he qualified at RAF and RN Staff Colleges and was later on the Directing Staff of the RN Staff College.

On the outbreak of W.W. II he was appointed to' the Command of the 1st R.M. Battalion but in 1941 he joined Lord Louis Mountbatten and in 1942 became Chief of Staff to C.C.O When Lord Louis was appointed Supreme Allied Commander (SEAC) General Wildman-Lushington stayed with him as Assistant Chief of Staff.

For his services in the Far East he was made C.B.E and also was awarded the Chinese Special Cravat of the Cloud and Banner.
In June 1945 he became GOC Commando Group and finally became Chief of Combined Operations himself in 1947 until his retirement in 1950.

In civilian life he became Chairman of the British Sulphur Corporation Ltd. but he also became President of the RM Association and Honorary Colonel Commandant of Portsmouth Group RM from October 1950 to October 1954.
He died on 3rd February 1970 aged 72.

Flying Officer 16 June 1924
Flight Lieutenant 13 October 1926

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