As well as being awarded the VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars and DFC, ‘Leonard’ Cheshire was the RAF’s youngest group captain but is perhaps best remembered for founding his philanthropic post-war work concerning the care of the disabled
Geoffrey ‘Leonard’ Cheshire was born in Chester on September 7, 1917 but brought up near Oxford. He then studied law at Oxford University where he enjoyed the hedonistic lifestyle associated with the wealthy students of the era.
However, in 1937 developed an obsession for flying. He joined the Oxford University Air Squadron early that year; he had flown solo by June and on November 16 he received a commission as a pilot officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR).
Cheshire fitted flying in alongside his studies until the outbreak of war when he was sent to 9 FTS at RAF Hullavington, Wiltshire to begin a permanent commission with the rank of Flying Officer.
At the end of further service training on June 6, 1940 Cheshire joined 102 Sqn at RAF Driffield, Yorkshire to fly the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber. He flew numerous sorties over occupied Europe for the next few months and on the night of November 12/13 he was awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) …
