George Unwin

Infobox Military Person
name= George Cecil Unwin
lived= 18 January 1913 - 29 June 2006
placeofbirth= Barnsley Yorkshire, England
placeofdeath= Dorset, England


caption=
nickname= Grumpy
allegiance=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
serviceyears=
rank= Wing Commander
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands=
unit= No. 19 Squadron RAF
battles= World War II:
*Battle of France
*Battle of Britain
*Channel Front
awards=Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross & Bar
laterwork=
Wing Commander George Cecil Unwin DSO, DFM & Bar (January 18 1913 - June 28, 2006), born in the town of Bolton upon Dearne, near Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. He enlisted in the RAF in 1929 as an Administrative apprentice, and in 1935, was selected for pilot training. [Price 1997, p. 68.] Upon completion of training, he was posted to No. 19 Squadron RAF as a Sergeant Pilot.

Military Career

pitfire trials

No. 19 Squadron was the first unit to receive the Supermarine Spitfire in 1938, and Unwin was one of the first to fly the machine (K9792) on 16 August. [Price 1997, p. 70.] Unwin carried out intensive trials in the type, flying 15 different Spitfires. [Price 1997, p. 70.] During these trials, on 3 March 1939, Unwin deliberately crashed a Spitfire following an engine failure, to avoid a children's playground.

Battle of France

Unwin's first combat experience came during the final phase of the French Campaign during the Battle of Dunkirk. During a nine day period of patrols, between the 26 May and 4 June, Unwin claimed three kills and a probable during Operation Dynamo. [Price 1997, p. 70.] Unwin described his first combat as stage fright:

I could see this aircraft diving down in an arc towards me, with what looked sparks lighting up his wings - I then realised he was shooting at me, all I could was sit there in the cockpit and watch him. I was so fascinated! I was shaken from this stupor when two shells hit my aircraft behind the cockpit and I took evasive action. I survived this moment of stage fright and never hesitated again. [Price 1997, p. 70-71.]

The next day Unwin claimed his first kill, a Henschel Hs 126. The German pilot had used his slow speed and high manoeuvrability to evade the attacks of two fellow pilots, while retreating into Belgian airspace. The order was given to give up and the squadron turned away. As they did so Unwin saw the German straighten out. Feigning radio failure, Unwin dived on the Hs 126 and "pumped 240 rounds" into it before it burst into flames and crashed. On 1 June Unwin claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 and a second as a probable. Unwin then claimed a Heinkel He 111 as a probable. [Price 1997, p. 71.]

Battle of Britain

During the Battle of Britain, stationed in 12 Group, he was credited with 14 enemy aircraft shot down by the end of 1940 and awarded with the DFM with bar on 17 September 1940. Two days earlier Unwin had destroyed ("Luftwaffe" records indicate they were Bf 109s from "JG 77" during the famous 15 September raid. On 18 September Unwin added another Bf 110 to his score his 11th victory. [Price 1997, p. 76.] At the end of 1940 he was rested and sent as an instructor to Cranwell. On 27 September Unwin destroyed a Bf 109 21 Wrk Nr 6162 of "JG 52", and on 5 November scored a kill against a "JG 51" Bf 109, Wrk Nr 4846. Unwin had now destroyed eight 109s. [Price 1997, p. 77.] On 5 November Unwin shot down his final personal victory, a Bf 110 over the English Channel. Unwin was in turn attacked by Bf 109s and "Hauptmann" Gerhard Schöpfel claimed Unwin as one of two kills he claimed in that engagement, although Unwin was not shot down. [Price 1997, p. 77-78.]

In July 1941, Unwin served with 16 EFTS and 2 CIS until October 1943. In early 1944 he flew DeHavilland Mosquito fighter-bombers with No 613 Squadron, Part of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force until October 1944.

ervice after the war

He remained in the RAF after the war and transitioned to Bristol Brigand aircraft in 1948. He flew this type during the Malaya conflict in 1952 and was awarded the DSO for his efforts. He retired from the RAF in 1961 as Wing Commander.

Later life

His service-wide nickname was "Grumpy"; received, as the story goes, after he complained about the noise squadron mate Douglas Bader made repairing one of his leg prostheses late at night in late 1939. It kept Unwin awake and he let everyone know about it. Another story says that it was due to his reaction at being left out of the squadron's operations during the Battle of Dunkirk on 26 May, 1940, due to a shortage of aircraft.

Unwin kept himself occupied until the end. In late May 2006 he was presented with a scale model of his Spitfire by Corgi Toys. George Unwin died of natural causes June 28, 2006 at the age of 93.

References

Citations

Bibliography

*Price, Dr Alfred. (1997). "Spitfire Mark I/II Aces 1939-41". Osprey Publishing. London. ISBN 978-1-85532-627-9
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2247807,00.html "Wing Commander George Unwin"] , Obituary, The Times, June 29, 2006.
* "Aces High", Christopher Shores & Clive Williams, Grub Street, 1994