High Flight: The Life and Poetry of Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee

by Roger Cole

Overview

When Second World War Spitfire pilot John Gillespie Magee penned his poem ‘High Flight’, little did he know that his words would inspire legions of aspiring aviators who had a similar wish to fly their ‘eager craft through footless halls of air’. Founded on years of detailed research, Roger Cole’s book High Flight tells John Magee’s extraordinary story, describing hitherto-unknown details of his short life, and providing insight into the inspiration for the poems that have found a unique place in history.

Born of an English mother and American father in Nanking in China, Magee grew up and was educated in different parts of the world, proving to be a highly accomplished student. Through his experiences, he developed principles that made him determined to defend the rights of those he loved and respected. Exhilarated by flight and finding unique language in poetry, John was able to use words to express the emotions and sentiments of all who fly in a manner that is acknowledged and applauded throughout the world. The outbreak of war in Europe violated his beliefs, and, determined to fight for freedom, John left America and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, qualifying as a pilot and traveling to England to fight Nazism. Tragically, John would lose his life, aged 19 years, in an accident, so never know how his words would serve posterity.

Roger Cole’s High Flight traces the path of John Magee’s achievement, revealing an incredible story of human endeavor, vision, determination and self-sacrifice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780993415241
Publisher:	Fighting High Publishing
Publication date:	01/19/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	228
File size:	18 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Preface, Acknowledgements and Note on the Text xi

1 The Fertile Fields of Lincolnshire 1

2 Faith Backhouse 4

3 Education: St Clare and Rugby Schools 8

4 Crossing the Adantic to America 14

5 Learning to Fly 25

6 Leaving Home 41

7 Elinor and Rugby 46

8 Wellingore: Administrative HQ 52

9 Leave with Elinor 54

10 Close to the Edge 59

11 Royal Visit 64

12 December Dawns 68

13 Week Commencing 7 December 1941 72

14 Disaster in the Air 77

15 Preparation for the Funeral 83

16 Funeral 85

17 Back at The Grange 87

18 Hugh and Elinor at Rugby 91

19 Wellingore, the Woodshed (1990) 94

20 Cape Canaveral 99

Poems published by John Magee in 1939 106

Other Poems, Published and Previously Unpublished 124

Bibliography 164

Unpublished Sources 165

Notes 166

Index 172