‘High Flight’ continues to travel through time and space

It’s amazing just how far through time and space the poem ;’High Flight’ travels, and this website caught the eye of Ed Neffinger of Oakland, California. He wrote to me, saying: ‘My father was a P-38 pilot in World War 2 in Italy.  My brother was a flyer as well. My father read ‘High Flight’ at my brother’s funeral, and I read ‘High Flight’ at my father’s funeral.  Needless to say, it means a lot to me, and I thank you for your research on the War and for sharing your story.’

‍

‍

The only American fighter aircraft in large-scale production throughout American involvement in the Second World War, from Pearl Harbour to Victory over Japan Day, the  Lockheed P-38 Lightning had a highly distinctive design - twin booms and a central cockpit, which also held the aircraft’s armaments. It was highly effective as a fighter, a fighter-bomber and a night fighter – and when fitted with long-range fuel tanks, it acted as a long-range escort for bomber squadrons. The P-38 was also used as a bomber-pathfinder and a reconnaissance aircraft, being responsible for around 90 percent of the aerial film captured over Europe.  The P-38 also saw service in the Pacific, China and Burma.

‍

‍

‍