ACM Sir Neil Wheeler

Kyt · Jan 13, 2009

Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler - Telegraph

Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler, who died on January 9 aged 91, enjoyed an outstanding wartime career – at the time of his death he was the RAF's most highly-decorated officer – and later made a notable contribution to the British aerospace industry.

Having been a regular peacetime officer, in the early months of the war Wheeler was instructing on outdated bombers. But in the spring of 1940 he decided he should take a more active part; and, after a highly irregular visit to the Air Ministry, he managed to wangle a posting to the top secret Photographic Development Unit at Heston, the brainchild of the brilliant and unorthodox Sidney Cotton.

Wheeler found himself flying unarmed Spitfires, modified to fly over long ranges to cover distant areas in search of targets, particularly naval ones. Flying at very high altitudes in an unheated aircraft for three or four hours, Wheeler found the cold his biggest enemy. On one occasion, at 28,000ft over Germany, the moisture collecting in his oxygen mask froze and he passed out; he regained consciousness at 1,500ft above Kiel harbour.

The small force of Spitfires modified for photographic reconnaissance was much in demand. Wheeler commanded a flight at Wick which photographed targets in Norway and obtained excellent results, despite bad weather. Later he was one of the pioneers of low-level reconnaissance, specialising in taking photographs of radio and radar sites in France and Holland. Flying from an airfield in Cornwall he photographed Brest harbour from low altitude in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. Having completed 56 operations, he was awarded a DFC.

After recovering from serious injuries sustained in a car crash, Wheeler was promoted wing commander, and in November 1942 took command of No 236 Squadron, equipped with the Beaufighter. One of three squadrons forming the North Coates Strike Wing, No 236 had lost its CO and a flight commander, and been badly mauled attacking a convoy off the Dutch coast. Wheeler recognised the low morale and immediately reviewed and revised tactics.

He recommended that the three squadrons should attack together, and established a period of intense training in which everyone was expected to match his own high standards. He was adamant that a fighter escort was essential, and vowed that no matter how much pressure was put on him he would refuse to lead a Wing attack without one.

Wheeler received an enthusiastic response from his crews, who saw him as strict but fair. And on April 18 1943 his methods were put to the test: an important, heavily-defended convoy had been sighted off the Dutch coast and Wheeler was ordered to attack. He led 21 Beaufighters and their large escort of long-range fighters across the North Sea at 50ft. His timing and navigation were perfect, and despite intense anti-aircraft fire from the escorting flak ships, hits were scored on the major merchant ships; the largest, and the principal, target – the Hoegh Carrier – exploded and sank.

All the Beaufighters returned safely, and the attack represented the turning point in the fortunes of the Strike Wings, which went on to achieve great success along the Dutch and Norwegian coasts. Wheeler was awarded a Bar to his DFC.

Throughout the summer of 1943 he led numerous successful strikes off the Dutch Frisian Islands, sinking many merchant ships carrying raw materials from Scandinavia to Rotterdam. With the introduction of the Rocket Projectile, Wheeler's Strike Wing became an even more effective force.

His arduous and extremely successful tour came to an end in August 1943, when he was awarded a DSO. The citation described him as "an outstanding leader with cool courage and infectious confidence".

The son of a British-born director of music of the South African Police, Henry Neil George Wheeler was born in Pretoria on July 8 1917. He was educated at Waterkloof House School, Pretoria, and at St Helens College, Southsea, in Hampshire, before being awarded a Dominion Scholarship to the RAF College Cranwell, where he trained as a pilot. He earned his lifetime's nickname "Nebby" after an instructor described him as "nebulous" – his reports as a cadet were satisfactory but modest, giving little indication of his subsequent glittering career. On graduation he flew antiquated bombers with No 207 Squadron before transferring to the photographic reconnaissance role.

After attending a course in the United States in 1944, Wheeler served on the strategic planning staff in the Cabinet Office until June 1945. In May 1947 he became responsible for flying at RAF Changi, in Singapore, and at the outbreak of the Malayan Emergency in June 1948 he went to command the RAF task force at Kuala Lumpur. He returned to England in late 1949 and two years later commanded the flying wing of three bomber squadrons at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

In March 1954 Wheeler moved to the Air Ministry to fill an appointment in the Directorate of Operational Requirements. It was to prove an invaluable introduction into this important and specialist arena when he took up senior posts in the organisation in later years. He returned to Cranwell in 1956 as the Assistant Commandant, where his somewhat stern demeanour hid a deep concern for cadet affairs. Once, while he was at a formal dinner, some cadets removed the wheels of his staff car. Wheeler was not amused, and the alleged ringleader was severely admonished (30 years later, however, he would be appointed Chief of the Air Staff).

Wheeler commanded the large RAF airbase at Laarbruch in Germany, and after attending the Imperial Defence College, he served in the Defence and Policy Research Staff at the Air Ministry. When serving as the Senior Air Staff Officer at the Headquarters RAF Germany, his elder brother, Norman, was Chief of Staff at the headquarters British Army of the Rhine. At the end of their tours they attended an investiture together at Buckingham Palace when both were appointed CB.

In 1966 Wheeler returned to Whitehall as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Operational Requirements, and a year later, on promotion to Air Marshal, he became Deputy Chief with the added responsibility of tri-service requirements.

In February 1969 Wheeler returned to Singapore as Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Air Force. This was a sensitive time for international relations in the area as the British government had already announced plans for the withdrawal of military forces from the region. He returned to Britain in 1969 to become a member of the Air Force Board as the Air Member for Supply and Organisation at a time when the RAF was significantly increasing its combat air capability and the infrastructure required to support it.

His experience made Wheeler uniquely qualified for his appointment as Controller Aircraft in the Procurement Executive in June 1973. He had extensive experience in operational requirements, in research and in service engineering and supply support, in addition to his senior command and operational flying appointments. His time in the role coincided with many crucial discussions on European collaborative projects, including the Jaguar strike aircraft and a number of helicopter proposals. But the biggest and most important programme involved the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, later the Tornado. All these had significant political and military dimensions, and Wheeler's knowledge and his negotiating skills proved great assets.

On retirement from the RAF in January 1976, his services were much in demand. He was responsible for military affairs at Rolls-Royce, where his experience and international contacts were invaluable as he travelled widely to promote the company's products.

Wheeler could be a tough man to work for. He demanded the best from his people and would frequently quiz them to ensure they could substantiate their views; but once he had established their worth, he trusted them and was happy to delegate. He also looked after his staff, and his personal pilot in the Far East found that he never interfered with the progress and execution of the flight.

In 1986 Wheeler was appointed Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and was made a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute. He was a vice-president of the Air League.

A devoted fisherman, Wheeler was president of the Flyfishers' Club. He was also a keen supporter of the South of England Agricultural Show and of aviation art – the eminent aviation artist Frank Wootton captured some of his wartime exploits on canvas.

In addition to his three gallantry awards, Wheeler was appointed OBE (1949), CBE (1957), CB (1967), KCB (1969) and GCB (1975). He was awarded the AFC in 1954.

Sir Neil Wheeler married, in 1942, Elizabeth Weightman, then a WAAF officer serving as a photographic interpreter. She survives him with their two sons and a daughter. His nephew General Sir Roger Wheeler was Chief of the General Staff from 1997 to 2000.
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Antipodean Andy · Jan 13, 2009

An excellent obit to an outstanding life. RIP.

It will be interesting to see if he's mentioned in Watson's Last Plane Out of Berlin.

...and a Beau man, oh my!

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