FIRST LIGHT
The True Story of the Boy who became a Man in the War-torn Skies above Britain
Signed by Geoffrey Wellum DFC
Signature of Geoffrey Wellum on the title page
& signed by 6 of ‘The Few’
Paul Farnes ~ 501 Squadron
Archie McInnes ~ 238 Squadron
Bob Hughes ~ 23 Squadron
im Elkington ~ 1 Squadron
Tom Neil ~ 249 Squadron
Keith Lawrence ~ 234 Squadron
Published by Viking. First edition, fourth printing, 2002. 338 pages and well-illustrated with photographs.
A Fine condition hardback book and Fine condition clipped dustjacket. A clean, tight copy which feels unread.
An exceptional autobiography of life in the air in WWII. Geoffrey Wellum’s RAF commission came through in 1939 and he was posted to No 92 Squadron, aged just 17 and became one of the youngest participants in the Battle of Britain. In March 1942 he went to No 65 Squadron at Debden, and from there to Malta. Returning to England he became a Typhoon test pilot and stayed in the RAF after the war as a staff officer.
‘A work of exceptional quality….a passion and immediacy which makes it compelling reading’ ~ Max Hastings
‘Startlingly vivid recollections… this is the air war at its most intense’ ~ The Spectator
‘An extraordinarily gripping and powerful story’ ~ The Evening Standard
The first print run of this book was very small, but the book quickly became a bestseller and there were at least 14 later impressions of the hardback before it went into paperback.
‘First Light‘ is a true modern classic, totally compelling reading and ranks alongside Hillary’s ‘The Last Enemy‘ as a testament to ‘The Few’.