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Geoffrey Wellum
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First Light Paperback – 1 May 2003

by Geoffrey Wellum (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 5,130 ratings
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'An extraordinary, deeply moving and astonishingly evocative story. Reading it, you feel you are in the Spitfire with him, at 20,000 feet, chased by a German Heinkel, with your ammunition gone' INDEPENDENT

Two months before the outbreak of WWII, seventeen year old Geoffrey Wellum left school to become a fighter pilot with the RAF. He made it through basic training to become the youngest Spitfire pilot in the prestigious 92 Squadron. Thrust into combat almost immediately, Wellum found himselfflying several sorties a day, caught up in terrifying dogfights with German Me 109s.
Published more than fifty years afterwards, FIRST LIGHT is Geoffrey Wellum's gripping memoir of his experiences as a fighter pilot during WWII.

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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin
  4. Publication date
    1 May 2003
  5. Dimensions
    12.9 x 2.5 x 19.9 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0141008148
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0141008141
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

'An extraordinary, deeply moving and astonishingly evocative story. Reading it, you feel you are in the Spitfire with him, at 20,000 feet, chased by a German Heinkel, with your ammunition gone' Independent

About the Author

Geoffrey Wellum joined the RAF in 1939 when he was just seventeen years old and served with 92 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. In 1942 he went to 65 Squadron at Debden as a Flight Commander and from there to Malta later that year. He led eight Spitfires off HMS Furious to Luqa during Operation Pedestal. He now lives in Mullion in Cornwall and has three children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin; Trade Paperback edition (1 May 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141008148
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141008141
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 2.5 x 19.9 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 5,130 ratings

About the author

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Geoffrey Wellum

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
5,130 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the writing quality fabulous, vivid, and compelling. They also describe the narrative as incredibly powerful, beguiling, and unpretentious. Readers find the content inspirational, gripping, and brave. They describe the characters as remarkable and colorful. Customers also find the emotional impact moving and interesting. They mention the book is well-written, casual, and conversational. They find the personal account outstanding and real.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Writing qualityReadabilityInspirational contentNarrativeAuthenticityContentEmotional impactCharacters
391 customers mention ‘Writing quality’391 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book fabulous, incredible, and vivid. They also say it's infinitely better on every conceivable level.

"...Its a fabulous read and one that every child should read to get an understanding of WW2." Read more

"Geoffrey Wellum's 'First Light' is the most vivid, compelling portrayal of life as a front line allied fighter pilot during WW2 that I have ever read..." Read more

"...after the event, this book has a measured maturity that makes for compelling reading from a brave man that was actually there in the thick of it and..." Read more

"...For this alone it's a brilliant book. But simply as an account of war this book is extremely good...." Read more

175 customers mention ‘Readability’168 positive7 negative

Customers find the book well-written, captivating, witty, and vivid. They also appreciate the thoughtful, informative, and casual writing style. Readers also mention the book is amusing at times, but also sad and poignant.

"...its set in that time when the UK was at most risk, it is not a dry hard to read thing...." Read more

"...This is a remarkably honest, well written classic account and an absolute must-read for anyone interested in the Royal Air Force during the Battle..." Read more

"...beginning to end went into the experiences of those times in a great level of detail" Read more

"...A very well spoken & down to earth gentleman who took time to chat about his time as a Spitfire pilot...." Read more

128 customers mention ‘Inspirational content’128 positive0 negative

Customers find the book gives a wonderful insight into the lives of young fighter pilots during WWII. They say it provides a detailed, imaginative, and visceral account of what it was like to be a fighter pilot. They also appreciate the details about feelings and emotions. Readers mention that the innocence, decency, and honesty shine through, making compelling reading and bringing back vivid memories. They describe the book as gripping and a remarkable account by a brave young man.

"...There is no abstract moralising, purely an honest account of how Wellum felt...." Read more

"...man experienced so much in such a short period of time and fascinating insight into the man" Read more

"...1. He's an astonishingly brave man who, with many others, placed his own life on the line in defence of the island that we call home and 2...." Read more

"...The details are included where relevant. The biographical element is selective and the historical context is in perspective...." Read more

95 customers mention ‘Narrative’95 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative incredibly powerful, interesting, gripping, and detailed. They also say it's an amazing and gripping account of the Battle of Britain from the perspective of a young man. Readers also describe the writing style as simple and unpretentious, yet it gives a remarkably thrilling story that keeps them on tender hooks throughout.

"...It is an incredibly powerful narrative that keeps the pages turning and the brow continually moist...." Read more

"...First of all, it's an amazing and gripping account of the Battle of Britain from the perspective of a spitfire pilot...." Read more

"this is an excellent book. Really interesting story and an amazing man...." Read more

"I loved everything about First Light. It is an absorbing story, recounted by a boy who goes straight from school via a summer holiday in Cornwall..." Read more

56 customers mention ‘Authenticity’56 positive0 negative

Customers find the book real, honest, and humanistic. They also say the story is well-told and includes very human moments.

"...aviation enthusiast, any world war history buff as it gives a superb account of his life, as a very young man, through the early years of the conflict" Read more

"...Calm, honest, and genuinely decent...." Read more

"...This is a remarkably honest, well written classic account and an absolute must-read for anyone interested in the Royal Air Force during the Battle..." Read more

"...It follows his training, his thoughts and experiences in great detail...." Read more

34 customers mention ‘Content’34 positive0 negative

Customers find the content outstanding, excellent, and honest. They also say it's a first-hand account by a Battle of Britain fighter ace.

"...This awesome book is the authoritative account of a young Battle of Britain pilot...." Read more

"...That said, it is a very good first hand account of what it was like on a very personal level. The flights are very well described in some detail...." Read more

"...Superb account, God bless you Boy Wellum." Read more

"...a thoroughly likeable and endearing character, and this is an honest and open account of a boy's traumatic passage from youth to manhood in a matter..." Read more

28 customers mention ‘Emotional impact’28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very moving, transporting them to a grimmer world. They also describe it as a can't-put-down book that takes them right there.

"...that does better than any other book I've read in its ability to transport you to grimmer - but in most ways simpler and better - times...." Read more

"...this book immensely, and found it evocative, interesting and very moving in places...." Read more

"...I find it utterly moving, interesting, stunning, precise in both technic and life...." Read more

"...It’s an unpolished account of war in the air and a very moving one… People that call footballers ‘heroes’ should be made to read this book!" Read more

27 customers mention ‘Characters’27 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book remarkable, human, and compelling. They also describe the book as an excellent book for men with an interest in flying and a colorful portrait of men and machines in a time of crisis.

"...Its a colourful portrait of men and machines in a time of crisis that does better than any other book I've read in its ability to transport you to..." Read more

"Geoffrey Wellum's 'First Light' is the most vivid, compelling portrayal of life as a front line allied fighter pilot during WW2 that I have ever read..." Read more

"...An excellent book about an excellent man." Read more

"this is an excellent book. Really interesting story and an amazing man...." Read more

Could not out it down Brilliant! 5 stars plus!
5 out of 5 stars
Could not out it down Brilliant! 5 stars plus!
I simple could not put this book down! Without question one of the finest books I have ever read (and vicariously) enjoyed flying a Spitfire and training as a WWII pilot. Anyone reading this book will find themselves in the cockpit of a Spitfire over London or Kent during WWII chasing and shooting down German aircraft...and fighting for your life being shot at by German fighters and bomber aircraft! Absolutely brilliant book
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

Howard Woodcock
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing reading 😁
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 June 2024
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I recalled Geoffrey Wellum from various historical TV shows and his all too short accounts of flying Spitfires in world war 2. When I found this book on Amazon I snatched at the chance to buy it

This book is an amazing!

An extension of the documentarys I've watched, Geoffrey Wellum engages the reader almost to the point where, for me, I certainly felt as though I was living his life back then, experiencing his emotions, fears and excitement of flying

I highly recommend this book for any aviation enthusiast, any world war history buff as it gives a superb account of his life, as a very young man, through the early years of the conflict
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Mark Chisholm
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Book of Incredible Poignancy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 September 2018
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I very much doubt that I can add anything new or insightful about this book by Geoffrey Wellum that is now one of the great classic books of WW2 history. However, having read it I feel moved to add a few lines simply because at the end of it I felt drained and elated at the same time. The generation that fought through WW2 were really the 'Greatest Generation' and this book reinforces it. For me, I am of an age where I had no direct experience of WW2 but my grandfather who was in the RAF (groundcrew) did and I was incredibly close to him because he was such a wonderful embodiment of a human being. Calm, honest, and genuinely decent. Very much how Wellum comes across as well as his comrades in arms, many sadly whom lost their lives fighting the Germans.

Whilst of course a historical book because its set in that time when the UK was at most risk, it is not a dry hard to read thing. Its a colourful portrait of men and machines in a time of crisis that does better than any other book I've read in its ability to transport you to grimmer - but in most ways simpler and better - times.

Wellum, despite the fact that he did have success in the air comes across as a modest man whom takes no pleasure from the act of shooting down a Luftwaffe aircraft. He gets caught up in the excitement of course but very much writes about the sadness of the act afterwards. I contrast this with a book I've read recently about the Luftwaffe perspective with many interviews of German pilots and they come across as far more arrogant and dismissive. Not all of course, but the contrast between the two sides when reading first hand accounts is a stark one.

For me, having enjoyed a wonderful childhood with my grandfather - a man of similar attributes to Wellum - this book is a wonderful tribute to that best of generations.

I can't say enough good things about this book and I'm sure that thousands feel the same. Its a fabulous read and one that every child should read to get an understanding of WW2.
25 people found this helpful
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Tim Fouraker
5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest airman's story I've ever read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 January 2013
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Geoffrey Wellum's 'First Light' is the most vivid, compelling portrayal of life as a front line allied fighter pilot during WW2 that I have ever read. What makes it so different to the other great WW2 pilot's stories such as J.Johnson's 'Wing Leader', Clostermann's The 'Big Show', or Guy Richie's 'Fighter Pilot', is the way the author, writing solely in the present tense, is able to place the reader firmly in the cockpit of his spitfire as he plays the game of Russian roulette in the skies with the enemy. You feel the vibration of the aircraft each time the guns are fired, and you see the sea racing up towards you as your Spitfire flirts with oblivion. It is an incredibly powerful narrative that keeps the pages turning and the brow continually moist.

What the author conveys brilliantly are the extreme emotional and psychological pressures that all fighter pilots had to overcome if they were to survive the next sortie. He candidly reveals his own frailties and misgivings about his ability to survive in a way that makes it easy to imagine what these young men must have been going through as they faced the real possibility of death day after day, and his frequent musings with himself and with God are not, as one reviewer has commented, " pointless religious and naive philosophizing ", but an entirely understandable way of counter balancing the knowledge that each day,each hour,could well be his last.

The futility and barbarism of war affected Geoffrey Wellum deeply,and he recalls feeling sickened upon an occasion when witnessing the horrifying spectacle of a German bomber crew member being dragged to his death like a puppet behind a parachute that had become entangled on the tail of his stricken aircraft. Wellum was fighting to save his country from a hostile invader, but he grieves for the young men on both sides whose lives were so tragically cut short.

It is because Geoffrey Wellum was able to overcome his misgivings and intrinsic abhoration of war to become one of the RAF's top fighter pilots that makes 'First Light ' such a fascinating read. Quite how he survived is difficult to say, but he was obviously a brilliant pilot with an innate survival instinct, whose bravery, tenacity, and prowess saw him through.

'First Light' really is a book in a million, and I think we can all be grateful that Geoffrey Wellum decided, albeit so many years after the war had ended, to collate the journals he had written at the time, because he has an incredible story to tell. Personally, I would like to see this book on every school curriculum for generations to come, so that our children and their children after them will be able to fully appreciate the enormous significance that men like Geoffrey Wellum had when the lives of millions and the future of Western democracy hung in the balance. The heroism, bravery, and sacrifice of the young pilots who threw themselves at the enemy during the Battle of Britain and throughout the remainder of the war is captured nowhere better than in this book. In many ways, this book changed my life, which sounds cliched, but it is true.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mike Morgulis
5.0 out of 5 stars gritty and honest - one of the best I’ve read
Reviewed in Canada on 31 December 2022
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I’ve read many autobiographical accounts of fighter pilots, but this one did a phenomenal job of taking me into the cockpit, along for the ride. It is candid, open and honest, very relatable and the humour very British. His thoughts during ab-initio training put into words what I felt when I learned to fly. His humour reminds me of my late father’s friend, our Uncle Mike from Golders Green, the same trademark wit. I sure as hell didn’t sound that mature when I was his age, my biggest concern was if the girl I liked fancied me as well, not worried about a looming war. Highly recommend it, could not put it down.
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Brian Halma
5.0 out of 5 stars Flat out great WW2 aviation memoir
Reviewed in the United States on 18 September 2022
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Just flat out an outstanding aviation memoir from WW2. There are a couple of elements that make this an excellent memoir. One of the things Wellum does is to focus on a few training days, missions, and off days instead of going back through each day of his log book. In the process he's able to offer a remarkably descriptive discussion of the training or combat mission and really help you understand what he was feeling and thinking as opposed to a blow by blow recap. He is an excellent, evocative writer who is able to bring a mission to life - is it being ambushed by a 109 while trying to finish off a Heinkel 111, or going out for convoy escort duty in highly questionable weather, or being dumped as a freshly trained cadet onto a squadron in the midst of combat. It also helps that he joined a Spitfire squadron as the Battle of Britain was ramping up.
A great, insightful read.
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vasquez francisco
5.0 out of 5 stars Tal cual la foto y en excelente estado
Reviewed in Spain on 28 April 2024
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Muy bueno!
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2leu
5.0 out of 5 stars Bon bouquin
Reviewed in France on 30 December 2023
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Conforme à sa réputation
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lm7
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Couldn’t stop reading.
Reviewed in Germany on 14 August 2020
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For all who like flying, even if that’s only a sim, and enjoy games like il2, history, then this is the book you might want to check. It is just unbelievable how tough the training was and despite of all efforts, accidents still happened, people were lost. Not mentioning the war which had own price, on both sides. Thoughts giving book on a nonsense of a war. It is definitely a book written from FPP (first person perspective) - what brings you, as a reader, directly into the cockpit, feelings, etc.
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