On Wings Of Verse

Product description An Omnibus of two books of poems written by a WWll bomber pilot. The first book is an account in verse of his training, his first solo flight and both the hardship and comradeship in the RAF. The second book depicts the nerve-wracking events of a nighttime bombing mission. From finding that rats had chewed his flying jacket to coming home on a wing and a prayer with one eye on the fuel gauge and the other looking out for the enemy. The stress of being responsible for the lives of his crew is obvious in his verses. These poems reflect the thoughts of one young man, who left University for the cockpit of a bomber and clearly show his poignant thoughts of home. About the Author The Poetic Pilot George Hadley Templeton Eades. Middle child of three sons, born 28th December 1915. Parents both School teachers. Lived In Blaby Leicester. Went to Wyggeston Grammar School Leicester. He showed his early literary talents by editing the school magazine, and becoming the secretary of the literary and debating society. He was also an enthusiastic sportsman, particularly excelling at Cricket and swimming. In 1934 went to Pembroke College, Cambridge and graduated in 1937 with a degree in English. He was a part time tutor/student at Leicester University when he joined the Volunteer Air Force. George joined the 431 (Iroquois) Squadron of the RAF Volunteer Reserve. After learning to fly, he was sent to Canada to learn to be a bomber pilot. On his return he was stationed near Oxford. He had been destined for an Academic Teaching life and had also started to write plays and poems while at university. From accounts of his early life, he was a quiet studious man, who loved cycling, and walking holidays either with his elder brother [my father] or alone. All three brothers enlisted Frank, [my father] RAF and their brother Roger chose the Army. The neighbors tell us, that in 1941/42, their mother was dying of breast cancer, she worried about George flying. He was not allowed to tell her when he came home safely, so where possible he flew over the house to reassure her. Anecdotally “he flew up the garden path and over the house, she then knew he was safe home again” In his poem “A letter from home, this may account for his “garden being in a mess” At the time of his death George was a Flight Lieutenant, he died on a bombing raid on the 27th March, 1943 along with all the crew of the aircraft. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey. His remains were never recovered.