Geoff Milsom , RAF fighter pilot 100 up
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Geoff Milsom , RAF fighter pilot 100 up
https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/charity-and-community/196773/world-war-two-fighter-pilot-enjoys-100th-birthday-party-at-white-waltham-airfield.html
An RAF veteran enjoyed his milestone 100th birthday party on Saturday where he was based for much of his working life – at White Waltham airfield. Geoffrey Milsom was surrounded by his family, friends, and old colleagues at a special celebratory gathering at the West London Aero Club. He was the chief pilot for the air survey company, Fairey Surveys, later known as Clyde Surveys, on Reform Road for many years after flying Hurricanes and Spitfires for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
Talking about the celebrations, his son, Chris Milsom told the Advertiser: “He was overwhelmed, I guess being 100 years old, he gets a little bit anxious about leading up to the date, but in the end, it went very well with a lot of praise from the people who came along, who said what an enjoyable day it was.”Oaken Grove resident, Geoffrey was born on May 25 1924 and raised in London before moving to Maidenhead in 1964.
Aged 17, he volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1941 and joined a cadet scheme where he trained under the US Air Force before being deployed to active Royal Air Force squadrons. Chris said: “It’s funny because there were three of them, at 17, who went to the recruitment office and… met a burly recruiting sergeant and my dad said, ‘I want to become a pilot’, and he responded, ‘So you shall my boy’. “My dad held out to go on to Fighter squadron so he got deployed in November 1942 to Burma. He was flying Hurricanes and Spitfires for the duration of the war and came back when the war ended and continued flying, becoming chief pilot for Fairey Surveys, and stayed with them for all his career.”
Geoffrey spent most of his working life overseas, on contract projects, including an aerial survey job for the construction of Mount Pleasant airport, which opened in 1985 in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
He loved flying so much, that when he came to retirement age, he was owed approximately three years of accumulated leave.
Geoff Milsom at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands (circa. 1985)
A ‘great turnout’ on Saturday saw more than 50 guests including his two sons, Chris and Geoff Junior, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with many extended family members getting together for the first time in twenty years. One of the Hurricanes based at White Waltham was heading out to Duxford and passed by White Waltham Airfield in homage to the occasion.
“A couple of days before, it was pouring down with rain and on the day itself, it was a great day – nice and sunny,” Chris added. “There were two Hurricanes there – we met up with the guy flying the plane and they took off a little shortly afterwards, and he did a few circuits and that was all very good.”
The West London Aero Club provided the food and drink, and the family provided the balloons for the occasion. Chris said: “I guess his secret [to living to 100] is being active – he’s not in a wheelchair. He walks still at 100. “He’s very switched on mentally – his detail recall is just so good. He’ll tell you all about the stories that happened 50 years ago, projects he was involved in, and times in the war. I’m amazed at his ability to recall stories from the past. “He’s an inspiration to everybody. The folks at Fairey Surveys had such admiration for him.”
An RAF veteran enjoyed his milestone 100th birthday party on Saturday where he was based for much of his working life – at White Waltham airfield. Geoffrey Milsom was surrounded by his family, friends, and old colleagues at a special celebratory gathering at the West London Aero Club. He was the chief pilot for the air survey company, Fairey Surveys, later known as Clyde Surveys, on Reform Road for many years after flying Hurricanes and Spitfires for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
Talking about the celebrations, his son, Chris Milsom told the Advertiser: “He was overwhelmed, I guess being 100 years old, he gets a little bit anxious about leading up to the date, but in the end, it went very well with a lot of praise from the people who came along, who said what an enjoyable day it was.”Oaken Grove resident, Geoffrey was born on May 25 1924 and raised in London before moving to Maidenhead in 1964.
Aged 17, he volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1941 and joined a cadet scheme where he trained under the US Air Force before being deployed to active Royal Air Force squadrons. Chris said: “It’s funny because there were three of them, at 17, who went to the recruitment office and… met a burly recruiting sergeant and my dad said, ‘I want to become a pilot’, and he responded, ‘So you shall my boy’. “My dad held out to go on to Fighter squadron so he got deployed in November 1942 to Burma. He was flying Hurricanes and Spitfires for the duration of the war and came back when the war ended and continued flying, becoming chief pilot for Fairey Surveys, and stayed with them for all his career.”
Geoffrey spent most of his working life overseas, on contract projects, including an aerial survey job for the construction of Mount Pleasant airport, which opened in 1985 in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
He loved flying so much, that when he came to retirement age, he was owed approximately three years of accumulated leave.
Geoff Milsom at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands (circa. 1985)
A ‘great turnout’ on Saturday saw more than 50 guests including his two sons, Chris and Geoff Junior, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with many extended family members getting together for the first time in twenty years. One of the Hurricanes based at White Waltham was heading out to Duxford and passed by White Waltham Airfield in homage to the occasion.
“A couple of days before, it was pouring down with rain and on the day itself, it was a great day – nice and sunny,” Chris added. “There were two Hurricanes there – we met up with the guy flying the plane and they took off a little shortly afterwards, and he did a few circuits and that was all very good.”
The West London Aero Club provided the food and drink, and the family provided the balloons for the occasion. Chris said: “I guess his secret [to living to 100] is being active – he’s not in a wheelchair. He walks still at 100. “He’s very switched on mentally – his detail recall is just so good. He’ll tell you all about the stories that happened 50 years ago, projects he was involved in, and times in the war. I’m amazed at his ability to recall stories from the past. “He’s an inspiration to everybody. The folks at Fairey Surveys had such admiration for him.”
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Happy Birthday
Not wishing to detract from Geoff’s birthday but I also saw that a certain Mr Cruikshank turned 104 recently:
He recently celebrated his 104th birthday.
BV
He recently celebrated his 104th birthday.
BV
Last edited by Bob Viking; 30th May 2024 at 08:26.
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Amazing that these guys have survived 
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No idea - he had /has two sons according to the article so I guess it's possible
