The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G V Wedlock

Gordon Victor Wedlock, the son of a WW1 RFC pilot, was born in West Hampstead, London in December 1918 but was brought up in Willesden and attended Dudden Hill School and Kilburn Grammar School. On leaving he worked for the Willesden Electricity Department.

He joined the RAFVR in 1937 as an Airman u/t Observer. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and was serving with 235 Squadron at North Coates by 31st March 1940.

On 18th November 1940 Wedlock was in Blenheim Z5732, escorting Beauforts of 22 Squadron on a sortie to the Dutch coast. They engaged two He115's and the pilot, F/Lt. WB Goddard, was badly injured by return fire. Wedlock administered first-aid and assisted the pilot on the return flight to Coltishall, where the aircraft crash-landed and was written off. Wedlock and Sgt. T Dawson were unhurt. Goddard was awarded the DFC and Wedlock the DFM, the citation reading:

This airman has been with the squadron since 1940 and has acted as navigator on almost every operational flight of his section. On the 18th November 1940 the pilot of his aircraft was severely wounded in the leg during an engagement off the the Dutch coast. Sgt. Wedlock managed to put a tourniquet round the pilot's leg, keeping it in place under difficult conditions, and managed to navigate the aircraft back to the nearest aerodrome, a distance of 150 miles. It was chiefly due to Sgt. Wedlock's coolness that the pilot remained conscious during the return flight and that the aircraft and crew landed safely without further damage.

Wedlock received his DFM (gazetted 17th January 1941) from the King in an investiture at Buckingham Palace.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented except that he was commissioned in January 1942.

He married Joan Riddiough in April 1942 in Blackpool.

Wedlock was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader.

He died on 29th March 1963 in Fylde, Lancashire.