The book itself is impressive enough, telling as it does the authors personal experiences as a. The film drew many respected british actors to accept roles as key figures of the battle, including sir laurence olivier as sir hugh dowding and trevor howard as keith park. Discover personal stories from the womens auxiliary air force, allied pilots and fighter command who worked on site during the summer of 1940. In this section of the britain express history guide we look at some of the more influential battles in british history.
The failure of the german air force to claim dominance of our skies was their first major reversal and led to the ultimate failure of hitlers attempted invasion of britain. Day after day the raf scrambled their pilots into the sky to do battle often three, four or five times a day. Geoffrey wellum, a veteran of the battle of britain, was the youngest fighter pilot at 18 in the royal air force raf to have fought in that battle. The book is his memoir of what it was like to be an 18yearold spitfire pilot thrust into the gutwrenching. There are a couple of threads running here regarding the battle of britain.
Movies angles one five first light books special thanks to james crate for these detailed recommendations battle of britain. First light battle of britain 1940 various editions. Geoffrey wellum, who was just 18 when he joined the raf in august 1939. They fell in the battle a roll of honour of the battle of. Mayoctober 1940, is inaccurate in as at least half of the book is taken up why, the battle of britain took place. His first commanding officer was roger bushell, later immortalised in the great escape, and his close colleagues included brian geoffrey wellum, a veteran of the battle of britain, was the youngest fighter pilot at 18 in the royal air force raf to have fought in that battle. Jul 10, 2011 at first, they bombed only military and industrial targets. In a way this was a dream come true getting the chance to dramatise for bbc two geoffrey wellum s stunning first light on the 70th anniversary of the battle of britain.
The youngest raf pilot in the battle of britain has died. Sep 30, 2016 movies angles one five first light books special thanks to james crate for these detailed recommendations battle of britain. Geoffrey wellum, who was just 18 when he joined the raf in august 1939, died at his home in cornwall on wednesday evening, the. With france conquered, hitler could now turn his forces on germanys sole remaining enemy. On the cover of yasmin alibhaibrowns new book, the second queen elizabeth is shown not whitedup like her predecessor, but delicately browned, making her a. The battle of britain in world war ii was between britains royal air force raf and the luftwaffe, nazi germanys air force, and was the first battle in. Great britain, which was protected from the formidable german army by the waters of the english channel.
Wellum stayed with the raf until 1960 and wrote his 2002 memoir,first light, which became a bestseller, about his experiences in the war. The roll of honour with the simple, yet intensely elegant, register of the names of the battle of britain s fallen, is at its heart, a collection of inscriptions. He wrote a memoir, first light,of his experiences in the raf, from which he retired in 1961. This book is by far the best ive read on the battle of britain. Aged seventeen, he signed up on a shortservice commission with the royal air force in august 1939.
On july 16, 1940, hitler issued a directive ordering the preparation and, if necessary, the execution of a plan for the invasion of great britain. First light by geoffrey wellum, 9780241984345, available at book. The other half is how, the battle of britain took place. Jul 20, 2018 the youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain has died. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The book details his life from his final days at school up to 1943. The film documented the events of the battle of britain. The battle up to the battle of britain the subtitle of five months that changed history. The film was first shown by the bbc on 14 september 2010.
With sam heughan, gary lewis, ben aldridge, alex robertson. This is a wonderful book of a young man who joined the royal air force before the start of world war two and who later fought during the battle of britain and survived. I really enjoyed geoffrey wellums book first light about the youngest spitfire pilot in the raf during the battle of britain. German heinkel he 111s which went into service in 1937. The battle of britain is at its height and 92 squadron spitfires with geoffrey wellum in g for. The battle of britain ran from july 10 until october 31, 1940, but its climax was september 15. Fluidly and without fuss, it covers all of its dimensions personal, organizational, engineering, tactical. Original edition penguin world war ii collection reprint by wellum, geoffrey isbn. Even now, 70 years after the battle of britain, people still queue round the corner to meet geoffrey wellum. Jul 21, 2018 memories of the youngest raf pilot in the battle of britain, who has died at the age of 96. During the battle of britain, a british pilot describes the combat in the skies.
But of the friends that take to the air alongside wellum. Another busy start to the day at biggin hill in the summer of 1940. Limited edition signed by battle of britain pilot geoffrey wellum and other editions signed by neville duke. In a way this was a dream come true getting the chance to dramatise for bbc two geoffrey wellums stunning first light on the 70th anniversary of the battle of britain the book is. The book, first light, came out in 2002 and sold 400,000 copies. Jul 20, 2018 the youngest spitfire pilot to bravely fly in the battle of britain has died. Geoffrey wellum dead youngest wwii spitfire pilot to fly in. Thousands of pilots and air crews engaged in battle in the skies above britain, germany, and the english channel, each side losing. The roll of honour with the simple, yet intensely elegant, register of the names of the battle of britains fallen, is at its heart, a collection of inscriptions. Raf chaplains diary casts light on pilots who fought battle. The battle of britain ran from july to october 1940. Philip west depicts another busy start to the day at raf biggin hill in the summer of 1940. Some 6000 heinkel he 111s were built but were found to be a poor match for hurricanes and spitfires during the battle of britain. On this day in 1940, the germans begin the first in a long series of bombing raids against great britain, as the battle of britain, which will last three and a half months, begins after the.
Jul 18, 2018 geoffrey wellum, a veteran of the battle of britain, was the youngest fighter pilot at 18 in the royal air force raf to have fought in that battle. The story of the boy who became a man in the wartorn skies above britain is a. This is a wonderful book of a young man who joined the royal air force before the start of world war two and who later fought during the battle of britain and. 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. There have been countless books about the battle of britain. This is a dramatised version of geoffrey wellums biographical book first light. Most battle profile contains at a glance facts about. First light is a fabulous account of the day to day life of a spitfire pilot during the battle of britain.
Geoffrey wellum was just 18 when he was thrown into combat as a fighter pilot in the terrifying air war of the battle of britain. Anyone wishing to know what it was like to fly a spitfire in the battle of britain will find their curiousity satisfied by reading this outstanding book. Geoffrey wellum died at his home in cornwall on wednesday evening, the battle of britain memorial trust said. This is an official report of the british air ministry to the british people now. Now seventy years on and aged 89, he is still haunted by the. First light is one of those books that is destined to be remembered as a classic and rightly so. First light told the battle of britain story with telling. Memories of the youngest raf pilot in the battle of britain. But there are numerous sidebars and asides that cover everything from personalities to tactics to. A daybyday chronicle, 10 july 31 october 1940 by patrick bishop as it says, gives a half page to a few pages on each day depending on activity. First light, battle of britain limited edition print by philip e. The author is topnotch and in my opinion has something worthy to say. A previously unpublished diary by a royal air force chaplain to battle of britain pilots barely out of their teens casts new light on the lives of the young men who fought the conflict. Raf chaplains diary casts light on pilots who fought.
The battle of britain in the words of the pilots who won it 305. Most articles outline battles fought on british soil, but were now adding famous overseas battles as well. This brand new exhibition shines a light on duxfords key role in the battle of britain. The youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain has died. Sep 14, 2010 in a way this was a dream come true getting the chance to dramatise for bbc two geoffrey wellums stunning first light on the 70th anniversary of the battle of britain the book is his memoir. The bbc video brings the book to life, which is saying something since mr. The youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain has died aged 96. The book itself is impressive enough, telling as it does the authors personal experiences as a young pilot in the battle of britain.
The names so handsomely recorded in this book are exactly and precisely those churchill memorably denoted as the few. This is the first american edition of a wartime publication of the official british air ministrys record of the battle of britain. Aged seventeen, he joined the raf on a shortservice commission in august 1939 and served with 92 squadron throughout the battle of britain. They fell in the battle a roll of honour of the battle. Over the coming months he and his fellow pilots play a crucial role in the battle of britain. The late dr alfred prices masterful the hardest day is an essential read i would urge anyone to acquire. Published on sep 7, 2010 the youngest fighterpilot in the battle of britain, squadron leader geoffrey wellum, attended a screening of a new film inspired by his memoir. 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. Battle of britain is a 1969 second world war film directed by guy hamilton, and produced by harry saltzman and s. Jan 01, 2002 first light is one of those books that is destined to be remembered as a classic and rightly so.
Youngest spitfire pilot to fly in the battle of britain. To mark the 70th anniversary of the battle of britain, the bbc commissioned a oneoff drama for tv called first light, based on wellums book of the same name. The battle of britain involved a small number of fighter pilots against a larger number of enemy fighter. Feb 23, 2009 while masons battle over britain was groundbraking when it was published in 1969 its nowadays rather outdated, especially on those daily losses. If one wants to check losses imho the best book still is the battle of britain then and now mk v edited by winston g. Geoffrey wellum was born in walthamstow, and educated at forest school, snaresbrook. I do a lot of book signings, says the 89yearold former spitfire pilot.
Geoffrey wellum, who was just 18 when he joined the raf in august 1939, died at his. The true story of the youngest spitfire pilot to fight in the. The battle of britain was a pivotal moment in wwii and undeniably one of the most significant turning points in british history. 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. 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. But the combination of immediacy geoffrey wellum had jotted down notes in an. The film endeavoured to be an accurate account of the battle of britain, when in the summer and autumn of 1940 the british raf inflicted a strategic defeat on the luftwaffe and so ensured the cancellation of operation sea lion adolf hitlers plan to invade britain. Next day,with no flying experience,he is expected to pilot a spitfire. First light bbc2 was a handsomely mounted docudrama that told the story of the battle of britain through the eyes of a spitfire pilot. It then shifts to his participation in the battle of britain and to his participation in operation pedestal, flying planes to malta off an aircraft carrier. First light by geoffrey wellum goodreads share book. The youngest spitfire pilot to bravely fly in the battle of britain has died.
The battle of britain the british air ministry first. Sep 10, 2010 even now, 70 years after the battle of britain, people still queue round the corner to meet geoffrey wellum. And if we can win this battle of britain, thenjust as in 1940the. Wellum also appeared in the documentary greatest events of world war ii in colour, being interviewed on his experience at the. Having defeated france, germany wanted to invade britain, but in order to do this, germany had to destroy britains raf royal air force. First light wellum book approached in 2000 by author james holland who was researching a fictional novel based during the battle of britain, wellum lent him his unpublished memoir. Wellum was able to put you in the cockpit with his narrative. 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. Youngest raf spitfire pilot in battle of britain passes. Geoffrey wellum, who was just 18 when he joined the raf in august 1939, died at his home in cornwall on wednesday eveni.
Leading the season is first light, an 80minute dramadocumentary that tells the extraordinary story of geoffrey wellum, one of the battles youngest spitfire pilots. Geoffrey wellum dead youngest wwii spitfire pilot to fly. Subsequently known in the uk as battle of britain day, this was when the raf effectively hammered the last nails into the luftwaffe coffin, ending any realistic prospect of operation sealion. In geoffrey wellums book, first light,there is a photo of pat in front of his spitfire. 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. At first, they bombed only military and industrial targets. Youngest raf spitfire pilot in battle of britain passes away. Mar 04, 2018 a previously unpublished diary by a royal air force chaplain to battle of britain pilots barely out of their teens casts new light on the lives of the young men who fought the conflict. Mar 14, 2003 first light was published, not so long ago. It contains the most illuminating description of the raf in 1939 and 1940, from training as a pilot to service on a squadron. Geoffrey wellum was just 18 when he was thrown into combat as a fighter pilot just before the battle of britain.
The battle of britain was a series of conflicts between germany and britain in world war 2. Memories of the youngest raf pilot in the battle of britain, who has died at the age of 96. Also the book by larry forrester,fly for your life,there is quite a lot about pat. This print is dispatched direct from the manufacturer, please see below for more information. First they seemed just a cloud of light as the sun caught the many glistening chromium.