Geoffrey wellum primary author only author division. Born an only child in walthamstow, essex, wellum was educated at forest school, snaresbrook before serving in the raf. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. The sheer joy of flight infiltrates the very soul and from above the earth, alone, where the mere thought in ones mind seems to transmit itself to the aeroplane, there is no longer any doubt that some omniscient force understands what life is all about. Author, pilot, example of gallantry and courage in the battle of britain.
He begins first light as a freshfaced, rather obnoxious public schoolboy keen to blag his way into the raf in march 1939. Two months before the outbreak of the second world war, eighteenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with t. Published more than fifty years afterwards, first light is geoffrey wellums gripping memoir of his experiences as a fighter pilot during wwii. Geoffrey wellum author geoffrey wellum was born in walthamstow, and educated at forest school, snaresbrook. The story of the boy who became a man in the wartorn skies above britain is a 2002 memoir by geoffrey wellum, a royal air force fighter pilot in the second world war. One of many interesting things about it is that, unlike most of this genre, the first part training takes up more than a third. For a start wellum can write, but more than this he has an instinctive feel for a good story. Geoffrey wellum who flew spitfire in battle of britain. Recommendations from our site everything changes when you suddenly find yourself in the battle of britain.
My godson, however, who was a soldier, not an airman. Penguin picked it up, and since its appearance such luminaries as max hastings have been full of praise. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Im rather an optimist by nature but even i didnt expect to be quite so taken by this book. Desperate to get in the air, he makes it through basic training to. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international. To mark the th anniversary of its creation, penguin are. The flights are very well described in some detail.
Exspitfire pilot geoffrey wellum wrote the book with no intention of ever seeing it published. Discover book depositorys huge selection of geoffrey wellum books online. First light and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. First light by geoffrey wellum the cultural experience. He tells of several of his actions against the luftwaffe fighters and bombers. Geoffrey wellum two months before the outbreak of the second world war, seventeen year old geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. It was a real privelige to read and i dare say that for a now budding reader like myself i shall never quite find anything to rival it. After successfully completing the course he then went on to fly the north american harvard at raf little rissington with 6fts. After the war he remained in the raf until 1961, and later ran a haulage business. Desperate to get in the air, he makes it through basic. Aged eighteen, he signed up on a shortservice commission with the royal air force in august 1939. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. First light by geoffrey wellum, yes, definately a good choice. First light by geoffrey wellum up here the air is pure and clean.
Original edition penguin world war ii collection reprint by wellum, geoffrey isbn. Published by penguin 2002 two months before the outbreak of the second world war, seventeenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Read first light the centenary collection by geoffrey wellum available from rakuten kobo. Geoffrey wellum military wiki fandom powered by wikia. Aged seventeen, he joined the raf on a shortservice commission in august 1939 and served with 92 squadron throughout the battle of britain. Wwii royal air force squadron leader, spitfire pilot and noted author geoffrey harris augustus wellum, has. Next day,with no flying experience,he is expected to pilot a spitfire.
In may 1940 eighteenyear old geoffrey wellum joins the 92 squadron of the royal air force and is taken to the pub,where pilots who have seen action sign their names on a blackboard. The true story of the boy who became a man in the wartorn skies above britain geoffrey wellum on free shipping on qualifying. Penguin presents the audiobook edition of first light by geoffrey wellum, read by andrew brooke. Two months before the outbreak of the second world war, seventeenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. Thrust into combat almost immediately, wellum found himselfflying several sorties a day, caught up in terrifying dogfights with german me 109s. The book opens with wellums interview for the royal air. Squadron leader geoffrey harris augustus wellum dfc 4 august 1921 18 july 2018 was a british fighter pilot and author, best known for his participation in the battle of britain. Thrust into combat almost immediately, wellum finds himself flying several sorties a day, caught up in terrifying. Desperate to get in the air, he makes it through basic training to become the youngest spitfire pilot in the prestigious 92. In first light, geoffrey wellum tells the inspiring, often terrifying true story of his coming of age amid the roaring, tumbling dogfights of the fiercest air war the. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or.
The first aircraft he flew was the tiger moth at desford airfield in leicestershire. Squadron leader geoffrey wellum, who has died aged 96, was flying a spitfire in the battle of britain before he was 19 years old. The first aircraft he flew was the tiger moth at desford. Two months before the outbreak of the second world war, 18yearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. Geoffrey wellum dead youngest wwii spitfire pilot to fly. Geoffrey wellum is currently considered a single author. Geoffrey wellum, who was given the nickname boy as he signed up in august 1939, famously said his life peaked at 21 after helping the raf saw off hitlers luftwaffe in 1940. The centenary collection by geoffrey wellum two months before the outbreak of the second world war, seventeenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. Squadron leader geoffrey wellum dfc born 4 august 1921, is a british battle of britain fighter pilot and author. Bursting with youthful energy and enthusiasm, he makes it through basic training to become the youngest spitfire pilot in the prestigious 92 squadron. Geoffrey wellum was the youngest spitfire pilot to serve in the battle of britain in 1940 during world war two.
First light 2002, which was made into a bbc drama in 2010, was drawn from notes he had made as a teenage flier in the battle of britain. I cant even begin to tell you how difficult it was, physically and mentally, to fly three times a day in those sorts of conditions knowing that any moment might be your. First light is the poster boy of the genre and is the memoir of the modern day that has impacted the general public in a way i wish all aircrew books could. The centenary collection by geoffrey wellum in 1918, the raf was established as the worlds first independent air force. Mr wellum stayed on in the raf until 1960 and went on to write a bestseller about his experiences in the war his 2002 memoir first light. Based on his personal, deeply moving memoirs, first light is an intimate dramadocumentary that delivers a compelling testimony of geoffrey boy wellums sam heughan any human heart wartime experiences, revisiting the stark emotions and fiery action that dazzled and terrified him as a young man and changed his life forever.
In first light, geoffrey wellum tells the inspiring, often terrifying true story of his coming of age amid the roaring, tumbling dogfights of the fiercest air war the world had ever seen. Desperate to get in the air, he makes it through basic training to beco. Two months before the outbreak of the second world war, eighteenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. First light tells the story of wellums time as a pilot during the war. First light by geoffrey wellum and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
This is a great book about the authors experience as a spitfire pilot during wwii, from fresh faced 19 year old to seasoned pilot, flight commander, fighting in the battle of britain, and in lifting the siege of malta. During the fierce air battles over northern france in may 1940. Thrust into combat almost immediately, wellum finds himself flying several sorties a day, caught up in terrifying dogfights with. In, the raf was established as the worlds first independent air force. Geoffrey wellum, who has died aged 96, was the author of one of the most gripping personal accounts of aerial warfare ever written. Born an only child in walthamstow, england, wellum was educated at forest school, snaresbrook before serving in the raf. Does anyone know what happened to him after the war. Here, he is remembered and his life as a fighter pilot.