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. Max hastings in the sunday telegraph rated it one of the best memoirs for. Geoffrey wellum with bbmf spitfire mk iia p7350 in 2017 when it wore the markings of his second 92 sqn spitfire qjg. Geoffrey wellum dead youngest wwii spitfire pilot to fly. 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. It is clear that geoffrey wellum was deeply affected by his war experience and that being an operational fighter pilot represented the pinnacle for him. First light new pal cult dvd matthew whiteman sam heughan geoffrey wellum. Recommendations from our site everything changes when you suddenly find yourself in the battle of britain. Buy first light by geoffrey wellum from waterstones today. Squadron leader geoffrey wellum raf memorial flight club.
Bursting with youthful energy and enthusiasm, he makes it through basic training to become the youngest spitfire pilot in the prestigious 92 squadron. Apr 25, 2015 bill howard, author of what the raf airman took to war talks about raf pilot geoffrey wellum, who wrote the foreword for the book. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Geoffrey wellum vivid, wholly convincing, compelling. Jul 20, 2018 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. Born an only child in walthamstow, england, wellum was educated at forest school, snaresbrook before serving in the raf. Two months before the outbreak of the second world war, 18yearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. Geoffrey wellum was born on august 4, 1921 in walthamstow, london, england as geoffrey harry augustus wellum. The battle of britain memorial trust said former squadron leader geoffrey wellum died at his cornwall home. May 01, 2003 thrust into combat almost immediately, wellum found himselfflying several sorties a day, caught up in terrifying dogfights with german me 109s. First light 2002, which was made into a bbc drama in 2010, was. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read first light. One of the best memoirs for years about the experience of flying in war max hastings, sunday telegraph two months before the outbreak of wwii, seventeenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf.
Jul 20, 2018 the youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain has died, it has been announced. The flights are very well described in some detail. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or. Geoffrey wellum military wiki fandom powered by wikia. 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. The book was later adapted into a film for bbc television. The terrible beauty of flying a spitfire at the age of 18. The youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain has died, it has been announced. Dramadocumentary telling the story of geoffrey wellum who, at the age of just 18, was one of the youngest spitfire pilots to go into combat in the battle of britain. May 17, 2018 first light will rank among the finest of second world war memoirs tony gould independent amazingly fresh and immediate. Geoffrey wellum cornwall, uk left the raf in 1961 and worked for a. The youngest fighterpilot in the battle of britain, squadron leader geoffrey wellum, attended a screening of a new film inspired by his memoir first light. Born an only child in walthamstow, essex, wellum was educated at forest school, snaresbrook before serving in the raf. First light by geoffrey wellum the cultural experience.
But the combination of immediacy geoffrey wellum had jotted down notes in an exercise book at the time and distance another. The book opens with wellum s interview for the royal air. Craig sluman geoffrey wellum was born on 4th august 1921 and joined the raf on a short service commission in august 1939. There have been countless books about the battle of britain. Richly detailed, engagingly written, and emotionally resonant, first light is a treat for military history buffs and anyone drawn to dramatic comingofage stories.
Wellum was able to put you in the cockpit with his narrative. First light 2003 by wellum geoffrey 0141008148 for sale. 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. The evening standard london a work of exceptional quality.
First light by geoffrey wellum and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jul 20, 2018 media caption geoffrey wellum recalls the rafs finest hour. Published more than fifty years afterwards, first light is geoffrey wellum s gripping memoir of his experiences as a fighter pilot during wwii. His father, who had served at gallipoli during ww1, ran an offlicence. Geoffrey wellum, who has died aged 96, was the author of one of the most gripping personal accounts of aerial warfare ever written. First light dramadocumentary telling the story of geoffrey wellum who, at the age of just 18, was one of the youngest spitfire pilots to go into combat in the battle of britain. First light based on the best selling book by geoffrey wellum as. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jul 20, 2018 d uring the early years of the war wellum had jotted down some reflections and these formed the basis of first light. Details about first light new pal cult dvd matthew whiteman sam heughan geoffrey wellum. The times of londonhigh praise for englands bestselling first light. Original edition penguin world war ii collection reprint by geoffrey wellum isbn.
Excellent book about geoffrey wellum joining the royal air force, struggling to become a qualified pilot, and finally being successful by joining a. First light, which was first published in 2002 and went straight to the top of the bestseller lists. When war broke out 2014, first light 2010 and battle of britain 2015. I really enjoyed geoffrey wellum s book first light about the youngest spitfire pilot in the raf during the battle of britain. Media caption geoffrey wellum recalls the rafs finest hour. 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. Desperate to get in the air, he makes it through basic training to become the youngest spitfire pilot in the prestigious 92 squadron. Two months before the outbreak of wwii, seventeenyearold geoffrey wellum leaves school to become a fighter pilot with the raf. Wellum was educated at forest school, snaresbrook, where he captained the school cricket team. Thrust into combat almost immediately, wellum finds himself flying several sorties a day, caught up in terrifying.
Next day,with no flying experience,he is expected to pilot a spitfire. Published more than fifty years afterwards, first light is geoffrey wellums gripping memoir of his experiences as a fighter pilot during wwii. 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. 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. Penguin presents the audiobook edition of first light by geoffrey wellum, read by andrew brooke. The times of london high praise for englands bestselling first light. First light new pal cult dvd matthew whiteman sam heughan. Geoffrey wellum was one of the illustrious pilots of 92 squadron flying from raf croydon and later, during the battle of britain, raf biggin hill. Two months before the outbreak of wwii, seventeenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf.
D uring the early years of the war wellum had jotted down some reflections and these formed the basis of first light. Original edition penguin world war ii collection reprint by wellum, geoffrey isbn. Combining geoffrey wellum s compelling first person testimony with intensely evocative action on the ground and in the air, first light is a powerful drama that documents the universal stark horror experienced by those involved in battle. It is the story of an idealistic schoolboy who couldnt believe his luck when the raf agreed to take him on as a pupil pilot at the minimum age of. On the eve of the battle of britain, when geoffrey wellum first reported for duty at his raf squadron base, the adjutant was appalled at the 18yearold airmans lack of experience. Mar 14, 2003 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. One of the best memoirs for years about the experience of flying in war max hastings, sunday telegraph. Bill howard, author of what the raf airman took to war talks about raf pilot geoffrey wellum, who wrote the foreword for the book. That said, it is a very good first hand account of what it was like on a very personal level. First light will rank among the finest of second world war memoirs tony gould independent amazingly fresh and immediate. Aug 02, 2018 geoffrey wellum, who has died aged 96, was the author of one of the most gripping personal accounts of aerial warfare ever written.
Sep 07, 2010 the youngest fighterpilot in the battle of britain, squadron leader geoffrey wellum, attended a screening of a new film inspired by his memoir first light. Memoir of the youngest battle of britain pilot reveals his. Ive posted a piece about meeting him and the publication of his memoir, first light, on talking point, but here is the transcript of the conversation we had in his local pub back in february 2001. Squadron leader geoffrey wellum dfc born 4 august 1921, is a british battle of britain fighter pilot and author. Published by penguin 2002 two months before the outbreak of the second world war, seventeenyearold geoffrey wellum becomes a fighter pilot with the raf. The bbc video brings the book to life, which is saying something since mr. After the war he remained in the raf until 1961, and later ran a haulage business. 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. Based on his personal, deeply moving memoirs, first light is an intimate dramadocumentary that delivers a compelling testimony of geoffrey boy wellum s 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. First light by geoffrey wellum, 9780241984345, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
In first light, geoffrey wellum tells the inspiring, often terrifying. The battle of britain memorial trust said former squadron leader geoffrey wellum died. 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. Buy a cheap copy of first light book by geoffrey wellum. Geoffrey wellum cornwall, uk left the raf in 1961 and worked for a commodities brokerage in london until his retirement. Ive posted a piece about meeting him and the publication of his memoir, first light, on talking point, but here is the transcript of the conversation we had. The youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain during world war two has died, it has been announced. But the combination of immediacy geoffrey wellum had jotted down notes in an. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. 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. I really enjoyed geoffrey wellums book first light about the youngest spitfire pilot in the raf during the battle of britain. The first aircraft he flew was the tiger moth at desford.
Published as part of the 2018 centenary collection to commemorate 100 years of the raf. My interview with squadron leader geoffrey wellum dfc was one of the first i ever did with a veteran of the war. Geoffrey wellum dead youngest wwii spitfire pilot to fly in. Thrust into combat almost immediately, wellum found himselfflying several sorties a day, caught up in terrifying dogfights with german me 109s. Wellums first light deserves to be read for many years to come. Excellent book about geoffrey wellum joining the royal air force, struggling to become a qualified pilot, and finally being successful by joining a spitfire squadron in time for the battle of britain. 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. Aged eighteen, he signed up on a shortservice commission with the royal air force in august 1939. With sam heughan, gary lewis, ben aldridge, alex robertson.
536 283 527 534 1048 1504 568 1017 1234 738 1024 1434 112 1222 1241 1426 990 1445 1020 262 195 580 28 978 317 1137 558