"I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day.  It started at 30,000 feet, and was finished soon after I landed.  I thought it might interest you."

- John Gillespie Magee, Jr. in the letter to his parents which contained "High Flight"

copyright Keith Ferris

John Gillespie Magee, Jr. and HIGH FLIGHT

Being a pilot, I have always had a particular fascination with the poem HIGH FLIGHT.  How could somebody describe so well how I felt about flying?  Somehow or other, 19-year old John Gillespie Magee, Jr. captured the essence of flying in creating this poem.  He also created something that has touched a chord in many people, both pilots and non-pilots.

In 1988, I started wondering about the author.  I found that there was a lack of hard information concerning the origin of the poem, as well as its author.  The information that was out there seemed to be very contradictory, so I set out to find out the truth.

And the truth was... amazing.

I started doing in-depth research on John Magee with the intent on writing a biography.  Along the way I have encountered many people with the same interest; truly, Magee & HIGH FLIGHT are internationally known.  I have found many applications of his poem, many of which I have collected.

Magee in a 412 Squadron (RCAF) Spitfire (recognizable from the "VZ" marking)

Other interesting facts about John Magee

Every once in awhile I will post something interesting about John Gillespie Magee, Jr.  Keep checing back, for you never know what new information you might find!

Item #1: After joining the RCAF, Magee trained at several air bases.  Among these was No. 2 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) located at Uplands, Ottawa.  While John was there, part of the movie Captains of the Clouds was filmed there.  I have the movie, and I think that I have spotted John in one of the scenes!  How do I know about this?  John sent a letter to his parents - this particular letter contained the poem High Flight.  On one page, John writes about news and things in general - he also gives a list of films that, if his parents get a chance to see, should see.  One of the films listed is Captains of the Clouds.  John says about the film: "(American) This I think is a film made at Uplands in which I took part (formation, etc.)."  www.IMDB.com does, indeed, mention that the film was filmed entitrely in Canada and at Uplands in particular.  (More trivia: the film stars Jimmy Cagney and Alan Hale.  Alan Hale was the father of the Alan Hale who starred as The Skipper in the television series Gilligan's Island.)

Item #2: Magee wrote High Flight shortly after being assigned to No. 53 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) in Llandow, Wales (thanks to alert reader Alex for correcting my earlier mention that Llandow was in England).  According to the letter to his parents in which Magee enclosed High Flight, he started writing it at 30,000 feet and completed it shortly after landing.  The airfield at Llandow is still there, albeit not quite like it used to be.  Thanks to a fantastic piece of software called Google Earth, I zoomed in on the location of the field; lo and behold, there it is!  Click the link to the left to take a look at it.

Item #3: Magee attended Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut.  While there, an instructor by the name of Paul Child became one of Magee's mentors.  You don't think you know who Paul was, but you might.  Paul left Avon and embarked on many an adventure.  Along the way, he met and married a certain Julia McWilliams.  Julia adopted Paul's last name and became... Julia Child.  Yes, *the* Julia Child.

Item #4:  Ah, the Spitfire.  Pilot Officer John Magee flew three different marks of the Spit: MkIa, MKII, and MkVb.  On his inspirational high flight up to 33,000 feet on August 18th, 1941, Magee flew a Spitfire MkIa, serial number R6976.  Research indicates that this particular aircraft served with 610 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and was used to down a couple of enemy aircraft.  I wonder if John Magee knew the history of his plane?

Some basic facts about
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

During my research, I encountered many inconsistencies and misconceptions about the origin of the poem, and about the life and death of its author.  Here are some of the basic facts:

• Magee wrote the famous peom High Flight starting on August 18th, 1941, when he made a flight to 33,000 feet in a Spitfire MKI (NOT a MKV or an "advanced" model).  This was his seventh flight in a Spitfire.
• Magee included High Flight in a letter dated September 3rd, 1941, to his parents.  This letter is in the Library of Congress.
• Born June 9th, 1922, in Shanghai, China.
• Mother was British, father was American, both missionaries.
• Was educated in China, Japan, England, the United States, and Canada.
• Was an American serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, rose to the rank of Pilot Officer.
• Died on December 11th, 1941 (NOT during the Battle of Britain).
• Perished as a result of a mid-air collision during training (NOT in combat).
• He is buried in Scopwick, England.

Getting his Wings

This painting hangs in Rugby School in England, where Magee attended.

"Official" RCAF Photograph

Magee with "Brunhilde" ... "Climbed to 36,000 - crashed - Poor Brunhilde" (notation in Magee's logbook)

My Project

News/Logs

John's mother Faith Magee recites High Flight.
(courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force)

Here's a link to "The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor" for the week of December 19, 2005.  If you scroll down to the entry for December 20, you'll see... High Flight!  Mr. Keillor recites High Flight in his wonderful voice.  (You will need RealPlayer to listen.) 

All News and Log items have been moved to a Blog.  Here's the link:

The Poem
(very carefully copied from the original manuscript):

Website © 2007 High Flight Productions - All rights reserved.

In my mind, Magee and the Supermarine Spitfire are inextricably linked.  I believe that the Spitfire, combined with Magee the poet-pilot, produced High Flight.  Click on the above link the hear a wonderful song by Ivor and Kevan Bundell: "Mr. Mitchell's Angel" (RJ Mitchell was the designer of the Spitfire).

I was asked to assist in the production of a radio story about John Magee and High Flight.  Here is the roughly half-hour program.  I must admit that it's strange to hear my own voice!