Issue by issue, build the legendary spitfire mk ia in 1. Watch as your spitfire mk ia model comes to life, simulating takeoff, flight, night battle, landing and much more. 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. Mar 24, 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. The spitfire first flew in 1936 and when war broke out three years later the spitfire squadrons of the raf were among the first to engage the enemy. 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. Magnificently told in lipbiting detail daily mail the red line the perfect complementary narrative to the bestselling memoir by geoffrey wellum first light. In his evocative memoir, first light 2002, he wrote.
The true story of the youngest spitfire pilot to fight in the battle of britain. The history and janes fighting aircraft of world war ii general characteristics crew. It is a stark, honest and thrilling account of life as a. With sam heughan, gary lewis, ben aldridge, alex robertson. Revell 2 spitfire mk i first light large scale planes. He explained that his first battle was one of the most harrowing of all the conflicts hed entered into. I look into the far distance, the vast panorama of sky.
The book is his memoir of what it was like to be an 18yearold spitfire pilot thrust into the gutwrenching, eardeafening, life and death struggle of the most violent aerial combat ever. On may 24, 2018 may 24, 2018 by thescalemodelhangar in warbird. 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. A great shame that many of the spitfire pilots interviewed as part of this book are no longer with us, but this book certainly does its fair part in keeping a good balance of the historical and human story elements, so that you wont find yourself missing details of the planes many variants, nor frustrated by a dry recounting of.
All of the markings are painted on and it represents the first spitfire to be flown by geoffrey wellum, the youngest pilot to fly spitfires during the battle of britain, qjk k9998. It was like one of those wonderful dreams, a peter pan sort of dream. Ii kit and adding enhancements to improve the quality and accuracy of the model. Did the spitfire or the messerschmitt 109 do better in the. First light was a dramatisation of geoffrey wellums book about his experiences as a battle of britain pilot. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. Early models of the spitfire before the battle of britain. Wellum stayed with the raf until 1960 and wrote his 2002 memoir,first light, which became a bestseller, about his experiences in the war. It is my favourite book and i never tire of reading it. Geoffrey wellum was born on august 4, 1921 in walthamstow, london, england as geoffrey harry augustus wellum.
Book a spitfire flight experience biggin hill fly a. First light bbc drama documentary supermarine spitfire. After successfully completing the course he then went on to fly the north american harvard at raf little rissington with 6fts. It was at 92 squadron that he first encountered a spitfire, and flew the aircraft for the first time. It was written by geoffrey welland who served, as a young man, as an raf fighter pilot in the battle fo britain and in combat through to 1943. Wellum puts you up there in the cockpit with his masterful command of. Long admired by me, my wife bought me geoffrey wellums book first light some years ago and i was transfixed by his descriptions of learning to fly, first flight in a spitfire, being vectored by radar at night onto an enemy aircraft at the very limits of radio. Published as part of the 2018 centenary collection to commemorate 100 years of the raf. His book, first light was his memoir of his experiences as a fighter pilot in 92 squadron during wwii and is now recognised as one of the most definitive first hand accounts of the battle of britain.
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. 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. Wellum puts you up there in the cockpit with his masterful command of language and fantastic descriptive prowess. Led spitfire recessed emergency light key features bright 2w. But what happened to the redoubtable fighter and its crews beyond the battle of britain, and why is it still so loved today.
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. May 23, 2015 this is the revell spitfire mk ii finished as a mk i. Jan 01, 2002 first light is a fabulous account of the day to day life of a spitfire pilot during the battle of britain. Synopsis the firsthand account of a 17yearold englishman who became an ace fighter pilot with the raf, the youngest at the time, and flew spitfires during the battle of britain. The sunday times non fiction bestseller the best book you will ever read about britains greatest warplane. 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. Leading the season is first light, an 80minute dramadocumentary that tells the extraordinary story of geoffrey wellum, one of the battles youngest spitfire pilots. But what happened to the redoubtable fighter and its crews beyond the battle of britain, and why is.
First light 2010 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. Jul 20, 2018 in his evocative memoir, first light 2002, he wrote. Messerschmitt me 262 schwalbe first flight over berlin after 61 years, historical footage. 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. The bbc video brings the book to life, which is saying something since mr. Produced specifically for the 70th anniversary of the battle, first light is the adaptation of wellums acclaimed book under the same title, which first appeared in 2002. But what happened to the redoubtable fighter and its crews beyond the battle of britain, and why is it. I really enjoyed geoffrey wellums book first light about the youngest spitfire pilot in the raf during the battle of britain. The iconic spitfire found fame during the darkest early days of world war ii. There it all is, the whole arena for bloody battle, and there they are, the enemy. He tells of several of his actions against the luftwaffe fighters and bombers. When war broke out 2014, first light 2010 and battle of britain 2015. He later set down his memories in what is now known as one of the finest accounts of the battle of britain in his book first light. Actually, my respect and admiration for them grows.
The book was later adapted into a film for bbc television. Sep 14, 2010 the book is his memoir of what it was like to be an 18yearold spitfire pilot thrust into the gutwrenching, eardeafening, life and death struggle of the most violent aerial combat ever. Wellum himself appeared from time to time and offered comments on what was happening. Book a spitfire flight experience biggin hill fly a spitfire. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This book records how they won their spurs in the battle of britain and, in the years that followed, they flew in theatres as farflung as the pacific and in campaigns as historic as dday. Youngest raf spitfire pilot in battle of britain passes. First light is a fabulous account of the day to day life of a spitfire pilot during the battle of britain. Next day,with no flying experience,he is expected to pilot a spitfire.
Youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain. As for so many, the supermarine spitfire is a thing of beauty as well as worldfamous for its historical achievements in ww2. Popular folklore has it that the first flight of the spitfire was 5 march 1936 but i flew mutt to eastleigh for the particular purpose of making that first flight on 6 march. Sep 15, 2010 first light was a dramatisation of geoffrey wellums book about his experiences as a battle of britain pilot. I will then display the finished model on a display base with figures to capture a moment from history when brave raf pilots prepared to fly into combat at first light. The book details his life from his final days at school up to 1943. Reflections on first light a memoir by a spitfire pilot. I experienced an exhilaration that i cannot recall ever having felt before. 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. May 24, 2018 this build will start with back dating the 2 revell spitfire mk. Many variants of the spitfire were built, using several wing configurations, and it was produced in greater numbers than any other british aircraft. Geoffrey wellums first light is another wonderful read and after the battles massive battle of britain then and now continues to be very useful decades on from when i bought my copy in 1980. While awful for the civilian population in london and other cities, this gave the raf a. The ezyfit led spitfire is a recessed battery backup emergency light.
The perfect complementary narrative to the bestselling memoir by geoffrey wellum first light. The first flight of the spitfire k5054 pprune forums. It is the story of an idealistic schoolboy who couldn t believe his luck when the raf agreed to take him on as a pupil pilot at the minimum age of seventeen. First light by geoffrey wellum i was fascinated by this book because although i knew about the spitfires i had never read a book about them and their pilots. I quote from jqs book, spitfire a test pilots story as follows. May 27, 2016 ageoffrey wellum was the youngest raf pilot during the battle of britain. From the inside flap never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. It is quick to install and will save you in both electricity costs reduced power consumption and maintenance costs longer lasting led technology. Book a spitfire flight experience from the iconic biggin hill airport. A rich and heartfelt tribute to this most iconic british machine. After the war he remained in the raf until 1961, and later ran a haulage business. The book was optioned and adapted by the bbc into a feature film for bbc television.
Revell 2 spitfire mk i first light by darren mcguinness first light flying officer geoffrey wellum dfc supermarine spitfire mk ia, 92 squadron, royal air force summer 1940. A brilliantly written and well researched book on this, the most iconic of aircraft, and it will find an eager readership amongst a world wide group of aviation enthusiasts in general, and spitfire enthusiasts in particular. This is the revell spitfire mk ii finished as a mk i. An intimate dramadocumentary that delivers a compelling testimony of geoffrey boy wellums wartime. Youngest raf spitfire pilot in battle of britain passes away. The first aircraft he flew was the tiger moth at desford airfield in leicestershire.
Commando, fighter pilot and the true story of australias first purple heart. Born an only child in walthamstow, essex, wellum was educated at forest school, snaresbrook before serving in the raf. By focussing on the men and women who flew the spitfire, john nichol has brought a fresh and powerful perspective to the story. Reflections on first light a memoir by a spitfire pilot, geoffrey wellum as i grow more and more disenchanted with the myths about world war two, what do i think about those, such as my own father, who took part in it and endured hardship and danger in defence of this country. Spitfire book by john nichol official publisher page.
Wellum was able to put you in the cockpit with his narrative. This model is my tribute to geoffrey wellum and the few the kit is the revell 2 mk. Patrick bishop, bestselling author of fighter boys. Original edition penguin world war ii collection reprint by wellum, geoffrey isbn. This gives an insight into how a young pilot coped with the second world war as a spitfire. Memoir of the youngest battle of britain pilot reveals his.
737 1076 1047 1086 1472 1224 776 942 750 939 1214 628 1223 1044 542 804 319 830 277 88 810 1253 830 454 1170 1319 31 745