John Gillespie Magee Jnr , anniversary of his death

Today is the anniversary of the death of John Gillespie Magee on the 11 December 1941 . I’ve pinched this reminder off another aviation forum but I thought it of interest ;

11 December 1941

Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., an American serving in 412 Squadron
of the Royal Canadian Air Force, is killed when his Spitfire collides with
another aircraft during a training mission. Magee is best known as the
author of the sonnet, “High Flight”, one of the most famous poems of the
Second World War.

“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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gillespie_Magee