The Airmen's Stories - P/O G W Varley

George Wallace Varley was born on 11th May 1921 and joined the RAFVR about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 15 FTS Brize Norton, was commissioned and arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 22nd September 1940.

After converting to Hurricanes Varley was posted to 79 Squadron at Pembrey on 5th October. He moved to 247 Squadron at Roborough on the 26th.

In mid-1941 Varley was with the MSFU at Speke. On 1st November he was launched from the Empire Foam on an Atlantic crossing. A Fw200 Condor was sighted as Varley became airborne. Sighting the Hurricane, the German pilot broke away, went down to sea level and then escaped into a cloud.

Varley returned to circle the convoy and after patrolling for an hour spotted another four-engined aircraft ahead of the convoy. It turned out to be a Liberator. With his fuel nearly exhausted Varley baled out, not without some difficulty. Within a few minutes of going into the sea, he was rescued.

In December 1941 he made another voyage in the Empire Flame. He married Jean Christine Lewis in January 1942 in Northampton before another voyage in March/May 1942.

Varley later instructed at the MSFU Training Flight and 761 (FAA) Squadron until December 1942, when he was posted to HQ Fighter Command. In July 1943 Varley went to 57 OTU Eshott, as an instructor, until November, when he returned to Fighter Command.

In January 1944 he joined 222 Squadron at Woodvale, as a Flight Commander. On 10th June he destroyed a Fw190 in the Normandy beachhead area, on 2nd March 1945 Varley destroyed a Me109 and an Ar234 and shared another Ar234 and on 25th March he destroyed a Fw190 SW of Quackenbrück.

In April 1945 he went to 56 OTU Millfield as an instructor. In May he did a gunnery course at CGS Catfoss.

Varley was awarded the DFC (gazetted 29th June 1945) as a Flight Lieutenant with 222 Squadron.

He was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He died on 11th February 1982.