1. Geoffrey Page participated in the Battle of Britain, and was shot down.
43 Facts About Geoffrey Page
1. 2.
Geoffrey Page was badly burned when his aircraft was destroyed, and was lucky to survive.
3.
Geoffrey Page underwent many surgeries on his way to recovery, and was a founding member of the Guinea Pig Club.
4.
Geoffrey Page eventually passed a medical exam and returned to active service, becoming one of Britain's most successful fighter pilots.
5.
Geoffrey Page had developed an interest in aviation by age 5, which intensified as he grew into a young man.
6.
Two weeks after the outbreak of the Second World War, Geoffrey Page received his call-up papers and joined the RAF with the rank of acting pilot officer.
7.
Geoffrey Page received his Initial and Advanced flight training at Cranwell, where he earned a rating of "exceptional".
8.
Geoffrey Page 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.
9.
When Geoffrey Page arrived the squadron was away training at RAF Digby.
10.
Geoffrey Page checked out on the Hurricane and was made operational by the time the squadron returned.
11.
Geoffrey Page looked upon the Hurricane as akin to a bulldog, whereas the Spitfire he viewed more as a greyhound.
12.
Geoffrey Page's squadron arrived over the ships almost the same time as the German dive bombers.
13.
Geoffrey Page followed him in, firing upon the formation as his leader pulled away.
14.
Geoffrey Page was referred to Archibald McIndoe, who was confident he could help, though it would take a bit of work.
15.
Geoffrey Page formed friendships with the patients of the burn unit.
16.
Mclndoe himself was elected life president and Geoffrey Page was the first chairman.
17.
Furthermore, McIndoe felt Geoffrey Page had done his part, and strongly discouraged him from returning to active service.
18.
Geoffrey Page went through a series of operations to remove the scar tissue restricting the use of his hands.
19.
Geoffrey Page promised himself to shoot down an enemy aircraft for each of the operations he had to endure.
20.
In 1942, after 15 operations, Geoffrey Page succeeded in gaining limited-flight permission.
21.
Geoffrey Page forced himself forward, and soon the problems of flying the aircraft pushed his fears to the side.
22.
Geoffrey Page was assigned to No 132 Squadron RAF at RAF Martlesham Heath as a supernumerary flight lieutenant.
23.
Geoffrey Page was posted to the Air Fighting Development Unit at Wittering.
24.
Geoffrey Page was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this action.
25.
Geoffrey Page subsequently died of the injuries he sustained in the crash.
26.
Geoffrey Page returned to East Grinstead to remove further scar tissue from one of his hands, and spent several weeks recuperating there.
27.
Late in 1943 Geoffrey Page joined No 122 Squadron RAF as a flight commander.
28.
Geoffrey Page was there only briefly when in January 1944 the commanding officer of 132 Squadron was killed while returning from a sortie over France.
29.
Geoffrey Page anticipated a bloody air fight with the Luftwaffe over the beaches of Normandy, but this never materialized.
30.
Not realizing the extent of the damage, Geoffrey Page came in to land and was unable to adequately check his speed.
31.
Geoffrey Page struck the middle of the runway hard and the aeroplane broke up.
32.
Geoffrey 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.
33.
Geoffrey Page had to be taken from the wreck on a stretcher, and lost consciousness shortly after being pulled out.
34.
Geoffrey Page was again sent back to McIndoe for a further operation.
35.
Geoffrey Page was taken about town with Joan Fontaine, and was pressed to stay at the home of Nigel Bruce and his wife Violet.
36.
Geoffrey Page became good friends with C Aubrey Smith and Herbert Marshall.
37.
Geoffrey Page was discharged from the RAF in 1946, having achieved the acting rank of wing commander.
38.
In 1946 Geoffrey Page married Pauline Bruce, daughter of actor Nigel Bruce.
39.
Geoffrey Page was made commanding officer of No 64 Squadron RAF, flying the de Havilland Hornet fighter.
40.
In retirement, as well as remaining the driving force of the Guinea Pig Club, Geoffrey Page founded the Battle of Britain Trust.
41.
Geoffrey Page was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his efforts.
42.
In 1981 Geoffrey Page published his autobiography, titled Tale of a Guinea Pig.
43.
Geoffrey Page died on 3 August 2000, survived by his wife Pauline, his daughter and two sons.