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Just heard the sad news that Geoffrey Wellum has died.
If you haven't read First Light, I suggest that you do.
Per Ardua Ad Astra, old chap...
Seconded, absolutely brilliant book. Very sad day, very few of them left.
As above, superb book, blue skies Geoffrey....
Spending your formative years fighting for your countries existence in the sky, astonishing. My 18-22 years weren't spent quite so usefully.
Sometimes it's best to take memories from so long after with a pinch of salt but, in spite of that, I really enjoyed First Light, glad he wrote it. I think James Holland was instrumental in getting the book published.
Tom Neil went a few days ago, were they the last remaining truly articulate BofB veterans?
Interview here:
https://www.acast.com/chalkevalley/jameshollandinterviewsgeoffreywellumdfc
RIP.
So sad to have seen the news this morning.
RIP Mr Wellum.
A fantastic book. The thing that most struck me was his realisation at the end of the war that no matter how long he lived the finest and most important part of his life was behind him. That I think must have been very hard to come to terms with. RIP Geoffrey Wellum.
Can I also recommend Bob Stanford Tuck's biography.
Tuck comes across as natural warrior, and ruthless killer when circumstances dicated. Goeff Wellum seems to have been more like a young man thrown into a horrendous situation and doing whatever it took to survive.
Two remarkable, if different characters.
First Light
What did you do when you were 18?
Thanks for sharing HtS.
Sad news indeed - but a life well lived and he was on good form until the last.
If you enjoyed First Light I can recommend the autobiographical: Flights of Passage by Samuel Hynes, for an American perspective of flight training and combat at age 18/19, right at the end of the war.
And, also autobiographical, the War Diaries of Neville Duke.
Fly For Your Life is good but a tad dated/hero-worshipping for my taste. Although if you're going to do any hero-worshipping then Tuck is a fine candidate...
I agree, Fly For Your Life hasn't aged too well in a "they were all fiercely gay" kind of way . But it was written 60 odd years ago.