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A TRAGIC DEATH
A TRAGIC DEATH
John Magee was inspired to write ‘High Flight’ in early 1941 at RAF Llandow, Wales, whilst test-flying Spitfires at high altitude. Later that year, he was stationed at RAF Wellingore in Lincolnshire – and on the 11th December, with low cloud at around 1,500 feet, he was returning to base, second in line of five Spitfires diving through a hole in the cloud layer.
Without warning, an RAF trainer aircraft appeared out of the cloud and smashed into Magee’s Spitfire. Both planes fell to earth in a blazing inferno of wreckage. By the time Magee escaped his aircraft, there was insufficient time for his parachute to deploy properly. He hit the ground and was killed instantly. The pilot of the other aircraft was also killed.
Without warning, an RAF trainer aircraft appeared out of the cloud and smashed into Magee’s Spitfire. Both planes fell to earth in a blazing inferno of wreckage. By the time Magee escaped his aircraft, there was insufficient time for his parachute to deploy properly. He hit the ground and was killed instantly. The pilot of the other aircraft was also killed.
Pages from 412 Squadron RCAF’s Operations Record Book for December 1941 whilst the squadron was stationed at RAF Wellingore, Lincolnshire. Details include John Magee’s mid-air crash, death and funeral (pp.17 & 18), as well as the names of those pilots flying in Magee’s ‘A’ Flight at the time of the fatal accident. Note the third name on the list: Sgt Linton (following page)
The site of former RAF Wellingore today. Long ago returned to farmland, this field once housed a perimeter road, several runways and a number of buildings.
Marking a former perimeter of RAF Wellingore is Ermine Street, the old Roman road linking London to Lincoln and York.
The front of Wellingore Hall in Wellingore village. This hall once housed aircrew from RAF Wellingore and many other local RAF stations.
Wellingore Hall from the rear. At one time, during the Second World War, there were so many aircrew stationed here that these lawns were full of tents, providing further accommodation for aircrew.
Elevated view from Wellingore village, looking westwards. The nearby RAF Wellingore was on the highest point of Lincolnshire’s Cliff Hills, so as to catch prevailing winds.
The grave of John Magee in the churchyard at Scopwick, just a few miles from both RAF Digby and the former RAF Wellingore. The gravestone quotes lines from his poem, ‘High Flight’.
