Australia honours 54 Squadron RAF, flew Spitfires in combat at Darwin — news story

Story taken from the the Waler horse society…..Excerpt from P-219 of “Lion & Swan (54 Sqn RAF Records

30.6.1943 -A raid of 27 Betty’s and at least 18 fighters – “Zekes” and a few “Haps” was made this morning at Fenton. We lost 4 aircraft and one pilot, P/O.Wellsman, is still missing. Apart from P/O Wellsman of whom nothing is known, two pilots baled out and the third forced-landed, all being subsequently found on the ground.
15.7.1943 – Fourteen days having elapsed, it must with great regret be assumed that P/O James Charles Wellsman, missing from the operations of June 30th., has not survived. “Jimmy”, as everyone called him, was 21 years of age and lived in Twickenham, Middlesex. He joined the Squadron direct from Operational Training Unit on 28th April, 1942; was promoted to F/Sgt. and finally received his commission on 28th February last. He was well liked and his loss is generally regretted.
21.8.1943 – We learn that P/O Wellsman’s aircraft has been found by a military patrol on the border of the Renolds River swamp about 30 miles west of Batchelor, and a party from No. 7 Repair and Salvage Unit is going to investigate. There is no report of the finding of any body.
1.10.1943 – The funeral of P/O Wellsman took place this afternoon at Berrimah and was conducted by F/Lt.Begbie. The party was under the command of F/Lt.Foster, and full honours were paid, the bearers being six pilots of the Squadron. ..Also here is an eyewitness acount from the same page…”Much combat overhead Welltree. Old Harry Sergeant, Tommy Skewes, Winnie Sergeant and a number of Aboriginal stockmen were out mustering at Welltree and being harassed by a Betty Bomber which was apparently strafing the musteres on horseback causing them to take cover in the thick scrub. The Betty turned north, when attacked by a Spitfire, along what is now known as the old Welltree road towards what is now the homestead at very low level being chased by the Spitfire. In pressing home his attack the Spitfire pilot failed to pull completely out of his last attack on the bomber. His aircraft hit the trees and subsequently crashed a few kilometres to the north into the Greater Reynolds Swamps. The Betty bomber crashed a few kilometres from where Welltree homestead is located today.”