View Full Version : Geoffrey Wellum - First Light
Turned on the TV late last night and saw the program
First Light: The True Story of the Boy Who Became
a Man in the War-Torn Skies Above Britain, about Geoffrey Wellum
on 92 Squadron during WW11.
I thought it was quite interesting, partly because I have an interest in
Psychology but also that whole period.
Also noticed that Roger Bushnell of Great Escape fame was his first CO
I am sure many others have seen it, anyone care to comment ?
finestkind
17th Jan 2013, 03:03
The books out as is the DVD.
A bit more of a realistic look at the stress invovled in those days.
Background Noise
17th Jan 2013, 06:40
Been done I think, search for 'wellum'.
mmitch
17th Jan 2013, 09:44
I bought the book on the last day of a holiday to read on the 'plane. I read 80 pages on the beach that evening! Well worth finding to read properly.
The film was good as far as it went but didn't cover the whole book.
mmitch.
BN
Thanks, found the thread.
Seems the majority liked it.
gijoe
17th Jan 2013, 14:04
Agreed - 'tis a good book written by a very nice gentleman.
I had the pleasure of listening to him speaking at a dining-in.
He summarised the book in 40 minutes and it was very well received.
He raised an interesting point - he was one of the youth in the 1940s and saved the day.
Q. Did he think today's yoof would rise to the occasion?
A. Most certainly, as we see on Herrick every day.
(COIN vs Total War but the point was made).
G
gijoe
Now he is one person I could easily have listened to at a DIN.
Two of the most interesting we had speak at DIN were Nancy Wake
and a Brigadier who served in the Rhodeisan mess. I don't think they
had heard of the Geneva Convention !
1.3VStall
17th Jan 2013, 14:23
I had the pleasure of meeting him at a reunion a number of years ago. He is an absolute gentleman and particularly self effacing. His book is excellent and I also enjoyed the TV programme.:ok:
Hipper
17th Jan 2013, 14:32
The thing I remember most from the book was his description of a dog fight he got in where he was trying every trick in the book to escape. It went on for a fair while and near the end of it he was so exhausted that he was on the point of giving up and accepting death but fortunately his opponent had disappeared and he survived.
I don't recall that on the film and indeed I think it would be very difficult to convey.
Hipper
Wasn't that the 109 and he was surprised the pilot hadn't finished him off ?
It was on the show last night.
Mr_Grubby
17th Jan 2013, 17:52
500N.
I have the book, fantastic, but would like to see the TV prog.
Can you remember the channel it was on ? I might be able to get it again ??
Clint.
Mr Grubby
I am in Australia and it was on what we call SBS.
So not sure that is a help.
i am surprised it hasn't be shown again in the UK since
it was first shown in (I think) 2010.
Mr Grubby
I just found the first part on you tube.
Battle of Britain - First Light 06.09.10 - YouTube
I can see a Part 4 in the list to the right so you might
find the whole thing on you tube in parts.
Tankertrashnav
17th Jan 2013, 22:38
I know I've posted all this on the earlier thread, but it may be of interest to those who haven't seen it before. Geoffrey Wellum lives not far from me in Mullion, Cornwall (he appears in the film at Mullion Cove). Over the years I have seen him and chatted with him from time to time, notably in the last year or two at the local garage where I had a retirement job until recently. Geoffrey still drives, or at least still did up to late last year, as he used to come along to put his car through the car wash from time to time.
Last summer when I saw Geoffrey and asked him what he had been doing since I last saw him, he told me he had been flying a Spitfire. Just for a moment I had the unworthy thought "at 91 the old boy's finally lost it", but he went on to explain he had attended an open day at Kidlington where he and two other Battle of Britain veterans were taken up in the two-seat Spitfire. He said as was if 70 years had just slipped away and there he was back flying his beloved Spit again.
Here's a link with some great photos.
Today I was so proud to have S/L Geoffrey Wellum as my wingman - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums (http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=110810)
(make sure you scroll down to see all the photos, theres a great one where all three veterans signed the inside of the drop-down "door")
That is so cool :ok:
And I love the title "Today I was so proud to have S/L Geoffrey Wellum as my wingman"
Not many can say they have flown as wingman to a BoB pilot !
What struck me and was pointed out in one of the threads was his age.
My GF's eldest has just turned 18 and left home. Spent most of the last 3 years at school, the rest playing computer games 24/7.
To think he is the same age as Geoffrey was when he was fighting
the BoB !