Originally Posted by
Pearly White
There but for the grace of God go I.
It is difficult for families to articulate their grief at times like this. Aviators will often reflect that a fellow aviator died doing what they loved and surely that is the case here for both Stephen and James. Contrary to what some have posted, I think we all respect our fellow professionals and their pursuit of the exhilaration of flight whatever the platform and whatever the mission. RIP.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr
Last edited by Chronic Snoozer; 22nd Nov 2023 at 03:38.