Group Captain GDL Haysom

Links of Long Standing

Several joined well before war was declared including amongst others, TH Archbell, AS Ainslie, I Bocock, CBE Burt-Andrews GL Cruickshanks, G Chater, IB Difford, FA Harte, GDL Haysom, CB Hull, GLB Hull, AG “Sailor” Malan, EJ Morris, MT Pattle, H Rosofsky, JF Roulston RN Selley, HWL Sheahan CR Taylor and FL Watson.

Links of Long Standing

Geoffrey David Leybourne Haysom travelled to England to study medicine but after a few months at the University of Edinburgh, took to the idea of flying. He joined the RAF in March 1937, completed his initial flying training at Brize Norton and was one of an estimated 170 South African airmen serving in the RAF when Chamberlain declared war on September 3rd, 1939, “…This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note, stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o’ clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and that consequently this country is at war with Germany”.

The First Ten Months

The Hawker Hurricane did not share the Fairey Battle and Blenheim’s performance and armament weaknesses but their pilots in France, including South African’s Flight Lt GDL Haysom, Flying Officer’s EJ Morris, Brian Van Mentz, PH Hugo, BP Young and Pilot Officer’s JJ le Roux and AG Lewis endured a baptism of fire against experienced Me 109 Luftwaffe pilots and intense combat conditions.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Geoffery David Leybourne Haysom, Durban born and DHS educated where he was a few years behind Edwin Swales and WS Bowyer, commissioned in 1937 at the age of 20 and flew Hurricanes in France. Haysom served with No 79 Squadron during the “Battle of Britain”, accounted for two enemy aircraft in August, crash landed after combat on September 1st but back flying two days later. A page from his RAF “Pilots Flying Logbook” offers some insight as to what young airmen endured at the time.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Six days after over 400 Luftwaffe bombers had all but destroyed Coventry, Haysom shot down a JU 88 suspected of photographing the damage and was tracked down by the Mayor of Coventry to express his gratitude.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Awarded the “Distinguished Flying Cross” in 1941, he flew Hurricanes and Kittyhawks in the Western Desert, commanded No 79 squadron and awarded the “Distinguished Service Order” in 1943. Haysom devised “Rover David”, using superimposed grids on photographic maps and mobile ground units to direct aircraft to targets. Released from service in 1946, Group Captain GDL Haysom DSO DFC died in Durban in 1979.