First Light (Wellum book)
Encyclopedia
First Light: The Story of the Boy Who Became a Man in the War-Torn Skies Above Britain is a 2002 memoir
by Geoffrey Wellum, a British fighter pilot
in World War II
.
and his training. 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. It then closes with him being grounded, recovering from sinusitis
, and then returning to duty as a test pilot.
.
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
by Geoffrey Wellum, a British fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Synopsis
The book opens with Wellum's interview for the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and his training. It then shifts to his participation in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
and to his participation in Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
, flying planes to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
off an aircraft carrier. It then closes with him being grounded, recovering from sinusitis
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may be due to infection, allergy, or autoimmune issues. Most cases are due to a viral infection and resolve over the course of 10 days...
, and then returning to duty as a test pilot.
Adaptation
It was adapted in 2010 as a drama documentary, premiered at 9pm on 14 September 2010 on BBC 2 as part of the BBC's commemorations of the seventieth anniversary of Battle of Britain, with Wellum himself narrating and the young Wellum played by Sam HeughanSam Heughan
Sam Heughan was born in New Galloway, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in 1980. He is an actor who studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow....
.