Michael Welchman: No ordinary man

Michael Welchman: No ordinary man

8 September 1920 – 5 February 2021

Writer Nelly Roodt

Dr Michael Welchman passed away on Friday 5 February at Kidbrooke Place, five months after celebrating his 100th birthday. He was no ordinary man.

He was an adored husband, father and grandfather, a radiologist of note, overseeing the first scanner EMI brought to South Africa, a South African Air Force pilot during WWII – a period in his life he never tired talking about – and, post-retirement, a successful artist.

Michael was born and raised in Johannesburg. His father had been a surgeon and he decided to follow in his footsteps. WWII broke out

when he was a second-year medical student at Wits. In 1940 he joined the SAAF and obtained his wings a year later, flying Hurricanes and Tomahawks.

Subsequently sent to North Africa, he was posted to No 40 Squadron. As a reconnaissance pilot Michael flew operational sorties in extremely dangerous situations. Squadron members had to fly unescorted single or double aircraft missions over enemy concentrations to gather photographic and tactical information.

After the war, Michael completed his medical studies. He joined the colonial service and was posted to Uganda

– a country the Welchmans grew to love. It was there that Michael had the opportunity to work with lepers. He travelled to the UK intermittently to study tropical medicine and then to specialise in radiology.

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