John Gillespie Magee

John Gillespie Magee Jr. (born 9 June 1922, died December 11, 1941) is an American poet and aviator who died during World War II serving as a volunteer in the Canadian Air Force.

Curriculum vitae Born in Shanghai in China, as a child of two missionaries - American and British. In 1931 he moved with his mother to England. At a young age, his poetic talent was revealed. Before the outbreak of World War II he went to study in the United States, but in October 1940 volunteered for Canadian military aircraft and in 1941 he returned to England with the 412th RCAF Hunting Squadron. He died at the age of 19 when a V-H helicopter piloted by him crashed into another plane while flying in the clouds over England. He was buried at Scopwick Cemetery, Lincolnshire. Creation

He gained his glory only after his death, thanks to a poem he wrote on September 3, 1941 after the flight, in a letter addressed to his parents. Today is the motto of RAF and RCAF.

In the original form, the line is as follows: 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 winds 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. Translation Oh, I dropped the bonds of stuffy Earth And I screamed in the heavens on the silvered laughter of the wings. I sunbathed to the sun, enjoying the sun-kissed clouds Thousands of things you did not even dream about. I flew and jumped, rocking up In silence, in silence, what is there, I chased through the loud wind zone And I threw my willing ship through the vast air ... above and above towards blue skies. I was on the windy hills with a little grace Likewise, even eagles not available - And when in the silence and uplift of the soul I broke into the impenetrable holiness of space I reached out and touched the face of God. Authoritative control (person):

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