As we mark 85 years since the Battle of Britain, we look back at the flying career of Geoffrey Ware (OQ 1937), whose flying helmet and goggles were gifted to the Queen’s College archive by his family.

Geoffrey joined the RAF Voluntary Reserve in December 1940, aged 20. After basic training at Paignton, he spent most of the following year in what is now Zimbabwe for elementary training on Tiger Moths, before service flying training on Harvards which led to being awarded his Wings.

Back in the UK, he flew Wellingtons and Stirlings with Bomber Command, and went on an operational tour from 1942-3 with XV Squadron at Bourn, after which he was awarded Wing Commander. Geoffrey gained the Distinguished Flying Cross in May 1943, and eventually became an instructor at an operational training unit. He was mentioned in dispatches in June 1944. 

After the war, Geoffrey transferred to Transport Command and spent the rest of his time in the RAF flying Liberators. It was not easy to give up flying completely, and he remained with the RAFVR and the RAux AF until they closed.

If you have any Queen’s College memorabilia that you would like to donate to the school archive, please get in touch with us at development@queenscollege.org.uk