Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Dhenin obit
Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Dhenin obit
From today's Telegraph:
Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Dhenin, who died on May 6 aged 93, rose to the top medical appointment in the RAF; earlier in his career, in the 1950s, he distinguished himself during two British nuclear tests, flying a Canberra jet aircraft through the mushroom clouds to gather radiation samples.
In 1953 Britain undertook two atomic bomb test firings in the Australian desert, 300 miles north of Woomera. At the time Dhenin was serving at HQ Bomber Command as principal medical officer responsible for aviation medicine. He was also a pilot, and his appointment required him to fly the latest RAF bombers. In September that year he flew a modified Canberra to Australia in preparation for the tests, Operation Hurricane.
When the first weapon was detonated, on October 13, Dhenin was already airborne at 30,000ft. As soon as the mushroom cloud developed he turned towards it and placed a wing tip, with a sensor attached, into the cloud to obtain radiation readings. Using special instruments, his observer calculated the probable dose rate. Once assured that the rate “would not be suicidal”, Dhenin turned for the centre of the cloud.
It was very dark inside the cloud, and the aircraft was buffeted dramatically, but Dhenin was just able to maintain control. The transit was successfully completed and he made two further passes through the cloud, one through the top and one through the base, before returning to Woomera. It was the first time that an aircraft had flown through a mushroom cloud.
After landing he released the pod with the sensors in a secure area and taxied to the decontamination centre. The sortie ended for him and his crew with an ice-cold shower and a change of clothing. He later remarked: “We have seen Dante’s Inferno.”
The aircraft was found to be highly radioactive, and other tests showed that the crew had exceeded the permitted radiation dose. Dhenin was summoned to the Chief Scientist, Dr William Penney, who congratulated him and then said: “Go home, boy. You have done enough. I cannot authorise such a thing a second time.”
Although Dhenin and his crew had been scheduled to carry out the second nuclear test, they were withdrawn from the operation. Dhenin was awarded an immediate AFC.
But in 1957 Dhenin was again called upon to obtain samples from a nuclear explosion. He flew a Canberra to Christmas Island, where he was “master sampler” for Operation Grapple, Britain’s H-bomb test. Three bombs were dropped by Valiant aircraft and Dhenin took off after the second detonation, on May 31, to fly through the cloud above 50,000ft to obtain radiation samples. For his work at Bomber Command and during Grapple he was awarded a Bar to his AFC.
Geoffrey Howard Dhenin was born on April 2 1918, the day after the formation of the RAF, and educated at Hereford Cathedral School and St John’s College, Cambridge. He completed his medical studies at Guy’s Hospital in London.
He joined the RAF in February 1943 as a junior medical officer and served on bomber stations in Lincolnshire. One night in October 1943, a Lancaster bomber had to return from a raid with an engine failure and crashed near the airfield, disintegrating and catching fire.
Dhenin was immediately on the scene with an RAF Regiment gunner to find the injured rear gunner trapped in his crushed turret. Although there was a high explosive bomb in the blazing wreckage, Dhenin administered medical aid as he and the airman tried to release the man. For 30 minutes they worked in the intense heat before a crane arrived to lift the wreckage. Dhenin then crawled under the raised wreckage and released the gunner, one of only two survivors of the seven-man crew.
Dhenin was later awarded the George Medal; his colleague received a BEM for gallantry.
Two days after D-Day, Dhenin joined a mobile field hospital, and throughout the campaign in north-west Europe was involved in evacuating casualties by air. He was mentioned in despatches.
In 1945 he trained as a pilot, and was one of a few doctors to be employed as a Flying Medical Officer. After serving on bomber stations and at the Institute of Aviation Medicine at Farnborough, in 1950 he joined No 1 Flying College Course for experienced senior aircrew. His ability was recognised when, on graduation, he was appointed to the staff. He then qualified as a senior specialist in radiology and in 1953 went to HQ Bomber Command, where he was the Deputy Principal Medical Officer (Flying).
Dhenin commanded the RAF Hospital in Cyprus from 1960 to 1963 before returning to Britain to take charge of the hospital at Ely. In 1968 he served as Director of Health Research at the MoD and in 1970 was appointed Honorary Physician to the Queen.
For three years from 1971 he was the Principal Medical Officer at RAF Strike Command, and during this period was elected a Fellow of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine. In 1974 he was promoted to air marshal; for four years he served as Director-General of Medical Services (RAF), the first active pilot to hold the post.
He was appointed KBE in 1975 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Dhenin retired from the RAF in 1978 and for two years was Adviser, National Guard, Royal Saudi Air Force.
A keen sportsman, he was president of the RAF’s Sub-Aqua Association and of its Judo Association. In 1981 he was captain of Wentworth Golf Club; he continued to ski until he was in his eighties.
Geoffrey Dhenin was greatly admired by both the medical and flying fraternities in the RAF. His courage and flying skills had been amply demonstrated during the nuclear tests, and he continued to fly bombers for many years.
He married, in 1946, Evelyn Rabut. She died in 1996, and in 2002 he married, secondly, Syvia Howard, who survives him with a son and two daughters of his first marriage. A second son predeceased him.
Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Dhenin, who died on May 6 aged 93, rose to the top medical appointment in the RAF; earlier in his career, in the 1950s, he distinguished himself during two British nuclear tests, flying a Canberra jet aircraft through the mushroom clouds to gather radiation samples.
In 1953 Britain undertook two atomic bomb test firings in the Australian desert, 300 miles north of Woomera. At the time Dhenin was serving at HQ Bomber Command as principal medical officer responsible for aviation medicine. He was also a pilot, and his appointment required him to fly the latest RAF bombers. In September that year he flew a modified Canberra to Australia in preparation for the tests, Operation Hurricane.
When the first weapon was detonated, on October 13, Dhenin was already airborne at 30,000ft. As soon as the mushroom cloud developed he turned towards it and placed a wing tip, with a sensor attached, into the cloud to obtain radiation readings. Using special instruments, his observer calculated the probable dose rate. Once assured that the rate “would not be suicidal”, Dhenin turned for the centre of the cloud.
It was very dark inside the cloud, and the aircraft was buffeted dramatically, but Dhenin was just able to maintain control. The transit was successfully completed and he made two further passes through the cloud, one through the top and one through the base, before returning to Woomera. It was the first time that an aircraft had flown through a mushroom cloud.
After landing he released the pod with the sensors in a secure area and taxied to the decontamination centre. The sortie ended for him and his crew with an ice-cold shower and a change of clothing. He later remarked: “We have seen Dante’s Inferno.”
The aircraft was found to be highly radioactive, and other tests showed that the crew had exceeded the permitted radiation dose. Dhenin was summoned to the Chief Scientist, Dr William Penney, who congratulated him and then said: “Go home, boy. You have done enough. I cannot authorise such a thing a second time.”
Although Dhenin and his crew had been scheduled to carry out the second nuclear test, they were withdrawn from the operation. Dhenin was awarded an immediate AFC.
But in 1957 Dhenin was again called upon to obtain samples from a nuclear explosion. He flew a Canberra to Christmas Island, where he was “master sampler” for Operation Grapple, Britain’s H-bomb test. Three bombs were dropped by Valiant aircraft and Dhenin took off after the second detonation, on May 31, to fly through the cloud above 50,000ft to obtain radiation samples. For his work at Bomber Command and during Grapple he was awarded a Bar to his AFC.
Geoffrey Howard Dhenin was born on April 2 1918, the day after the formation of the RAF, and educated at Hereford Cathedral School and St John’s College, Cambridge. He completed his medical studies at Guy’s Hospital in London.
He joined the RAF in February 1943 as a junior medical officer and served on bomber stations in Lincolnshire. One night in October 1943, a Lancaster bomber had to return from a raid with an engine failure and crashed near the airfield, disintegrating and catching fire.
Dhenin was immediately on the scene with an RAF Regiment gunner to find the injured rear gunner trapped in his crushed turret. Although there was a high explosive bomb in the blazing wreckage, Dhenin administered medical aid as he and the airman tried to release the man. For 30 minutes they worked in the intense heat before a crane arrived to lift the wreckage. Dhenin then crawled under the raised wreckage and released the gunner, one of only two survivors of the seven-man crew.
Dhenin was later awarded the George Medal; his colleague received a BEM for gallantry.
Two days after D-Day, Dhenin joined a mobile field hospital, and throughout the campaign in north-west Europe was involved in evacuating casualties by air. He was mentioned in despatches.
In 1945 he trained as a pilot, and was one of a few doctors to be employed as a Flying Medical Officer. After serving on bomber stations and at the Institute of Aviation Medicine at Farnborough, in 1950 he joined No 1 Flying College Course for experienced senior aircrew. His ability was recognised when, on graduation, he was appointed to the staff. He then qualified as a senior specialist in radiology and in 1953 went to HQ Bomber Command, where he was the Deputy Principal Medical Officer (Flying).
Dhenin commanded the RAF Hospital in Cyprus from 1960 to 1963 before returning to Britain to take charge of the hospital at Ely. In 1968 he served as Director of Health Research at the MoD and in 1970 was appointed Honorary Physician to the Queen.
For three years from 1971 he was the Principal Medical Officer at RAF Strike Command, and during this period was elected a Fellow of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine. In 1974 he was promoted to air marshal; for four years he served as Director-General of Medical Services (RAF), the first active pilot to hold the post.
He was appointed KBE in 1975 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Dhenin retired from the RAF in 1978 and for two years was Adviser, National Guard, Royal Saudi Air Force.
A keen sportsman, he was president of the RAF’s Sub-Aqua Association and of its Judo Association. In 1981 he was captain of Wentworth Golf Club; he continued to ski until he was in his eighties.
Geoffrey Dhenin was greatly admired by both the medical and flying fraternities in the RAF. His courage and flying skills had been amply demonstrated during the nuclear tests, and he continued to fly bombers for many years.
He married, in 1946, Evelyn Rabut. She died in 1996, and in 2002 he married, secondly, Syvia Howard, who survives him with a son and two daughters of his first marriage. A second son predeceased him.
Gentleman Aviator
Just read the obit in the paper myself and wondered if he would feature here.
KBE GM AFC* FRAeS ..... not bad for a "quack"!
RIP and much respect Sir.
KBE GM AFC* FRAeS ..... not bad for a "quack"!
RIP and much respect Sir.
He spoke to the RAF Historical Society a few years ago and illustrated his presentation with film clips, including the actually penetration of the 'cloud' itself. He apologised for the poor colour - which he attributed to the effects of radiation on the film.
He was one of those unassuming and gentle sort of people but his lecture was fascinating and delivered with style.
O-D
He was one of those unassuming and gentle sort of people but his lecture was fascinating and delivered with style.
O-D
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Slight correction to Telegraph obit
I served under AVM Geoffrey Dhenin throughout 1968 when he was Principal Medical Officer at Air Support Command at RAF Upavon. I was a Junior Technician, just qualified as a medical Hygienist, and worked in the main office about three doors down from his. He was a true gentleman, and his achievements as a flying doctor were known to everyone who worked under him. Sad to hear he has passed away, but he certainly left his mark.
I knew of Geoffrey Dhenin when he was CO at RAFH Ely in the 60s through my then future Mother-in-Law. Hence my surprise this week when driving through rural France near Pons I espied a Dassault Flammant on a small country airstrip. Stopping to take some pics, I was greeted in perfect English by a charming Frenchman. We chatted for a bit, and he asked if I had been in the RAF and establishing that I had, asked if I had known GD. He was surprised that I had, and that I knew about the man's somewhat interesting career. He then disclosed that he had in fact been married to GD's daughter. The Flammant, by the way, is airworthy and maintained by an association for that purpose and is flown at airshows and historic aircraft meets.
Last edited by Wander00; 10th Aug 2014 at 13:18. Reason: Typos, again!
