Date of birth:

December 20th, 1908 (Bo'ness/West Lotian/Scotland, Great Britain)

Date of death:

June 15th, 1997 (Bo'ness/West Lotian/Scotland, Great Britain)

Service number:

90190

Nationality:

British

George Denholm studied economics at Cambridge University, serving briefly in the Territorial Army before finally deciding to join the RAAF. He served for approximately six years with 603 Squadron (City of Edenborough) before he was drafted in August 1939. At the time he was Flight Commander and saw action as early as October 16th, 1939 against German bombers over the British mainland.
June 4th, 1940 he took command of the squadron. August 30th, he was shot down over Deal in Kent by Me 109’s but he managed to bail out. September 15th, when he had shot down a Me 109 and was firing at two Do 17’s he was hit again and forced to bail out. May 1941, he was involved in shooting down Rudolf Hess.
In the prelude to D-Day he and his squadeon were tasked with firing upon German units in the area of Pas-de-Calais. Later on he was named commander of North Weald Air Field, the homebase of an Norwegian and a Danish Wing.
He was discharged in 1947 and went to work for the familybusiness (J & J Denholm) and during the fifties he briefly was a member of Bo’ness Municipal Council.

Promotions:
June 27th , 1933: Pilot Officer
December 27th, 1934: Flying officer
January 9th, 1939: Flight Lieutenant
September 1st, 1940: Squadron Leader (Temporary)
March 1st, 1942: Wing Commander (temporary)
October 30th, 1943: Wing Commander (war sub)
?: Group Captain

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 603 (City of Edinburgh), Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

October 22nd, 1940

Citation:
"Since the commencement of hostilities, Squadron Leader Denholm has led his squadron, flight or section in innumerable operational patrols against the enemy. His magnificent leadership has contributed largely to the success of the squadron, which has destroyed fifty-four enemy aircraft in about six weeks; four of these aircraft were destroyed by Squadron Leader Denholm himself."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Group Captain

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Group Captain

Awarded on:

April 18th, 1947

• Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
• - ROSS, D. e.a., The Greatest Squadron of them All Volume I Formation to the End of 1940, Grub Street, London, 200.
  - The London Gazette Issue 34976 published on the 22 October 1940
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36866 published on the 29 December 1944
  - The London Gazette Issue 37934 published on the 18 April 1947
  - The Independent
  - The Battle of Britain London Monument