TL_Ward · 22 July 2000

In January or February of 1961, our Keesler Male Chorus was fortunate to record a choral version of HIGH FLIGHT; I still have an original copy signed by Kay Carron, music writer. Years after, I discovered Kay’s music version as background to an air force jet soaring through the clouds; I was pleasantly stunned. Even more years later, I learned that President Reagan dedicated HIGH FLIGHT to the memory of the CHALLENGER crew…Whenever we performed the work in public, I could just feel that I was lucky to be one individual to to help promote the memory of John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Thanks for letting me share….Ted Ward

Rudy Morales · 13 January 2001

I had heared this poem recited some years ago and I dont know where. But, it stuck in my brain and well, I love it so much that I plan to have it read as part of Eulogy whenever that is. I hope not soon. I was glad to finally find it on the net-
Thanks to the author and you for its availability. Rudy Morales

Ken Pelfrey · 9 September 2001

I was raised in Dayton, Ohio in the “50s”. Dayton was considered the birthplace of powered flight. Each night when one of the local TV stations went off the air they would show a short reel of an F-100 flying through clouds and performing various maneuvers as the poem “High Flight” was read. I recall my mother writing the station and getting a nicely printed copy that we hung on a wall for many years. It was very inspiring and I joined the USAF in 1958. K.R. Pelfrey, Pea Ridge, AR

NancyBakerCA · 18 March 2002

My husband, Joe Baker, was a Marine pilot during WWII and this became a favorite of ours. I am so glad to see it again and will frame it in his memory. Thank you.

rs3kids · 28 March 2002

Does anyone remember many years ago when a tv station went off the air for the night they would play this video?

Louise Kershaw · 7 April 2002

I have always loved this poem. Would love to have the audio narrative, maybe the one that was on tv, or by anyone for that matter. If anyone knows where I can get the wav, would appreciate the info. Thanks

Dr Wilson Flood · 12 April 2002

I was in the museum in Bamburgh Castle in England two days ago where they have dedicated part of it to wrecks of planes salvaged from the North Sea and I saw this poem for the first time. I immediately recognised Reagan’s Challenger words. I do not remember ever seeing in UK newspaper or television any reference to the poem in connection with Reagan’s speech. I think most people in the UK think the last sentence was original. Different peoples make different connections. The Challenger means more to Americans. The Spitfire means more to the British. For those who really know history, they know that, had it not been for the Spitfires and the incredibly brave men who flew them, Hitler would have conquered Britain and it is likely that the light of the world would have gone out. Everything would have been different. The world may not be that great for many now but it would have been even worse had there been no Spitfires. The poem describes well the heady excitement/terror that those times must have given to those who flew in combat and the exultation that the possibility of a noble death could result at any instant.

W Flood

ray · 15 July 2002

Hello…

My name is Ray Haas, and I am producing a biography on John Gillespie Magee, Jr., author of the poem HIGH FLIGHT. For more information, you are welcome to visit my
website:

www.HighFlightProductions.com

Regards,
Ray Haas

Jaswant Madhavan · 4 January 2003

Hi,
I saw your comments on “High Flight” and that you had a choral version of the poem. I’d be grateful if you could please let me know where I can find a copy. What a beautiful work of art… Thank you
Sincerely

Jaswant Madhavan

Bell Jim · 12 January 2003

You say you have an early 1961 recording of the Keesler Male Chorus singing High Flight? I think your date is a little off, because I was in the Keesler Chorus from October of 1961 through August of 1962, and I distinctly remember our director Lt. Gene Deweese introducing us to that arrangement sometime early in ‘62.

I remember he also had the lady who did the choral arrangement there to see us perform it. The first public performance was at a Memorial Day event at the VA hospital in Biloxi, and I believe it was recorded. Maybe that’s the recording you have. We had a very good tenor soloist who did the solo work that day, and to my everlasting regret I can’t remember his name. I remember we did that concert outdoors at the hospital.

If you have that recording, I would give my right arm to have a tape copy of it.

By the way, if you’re still at Rice U, we’re neighbors. I work across town from you at KUHF Radio, the NPR affiliate at the University of Houston.

Jim Bell

mpalmer · 16 January 2003

yes…growing up in Spokane…..i loved that closing of the station late at night…… i wish we could find a copy of it for all to enjoy. it was incredible.
mike
i am 56..but still remember it as if it were yesterday.

A. Sobota · 1 February 2003

I recall the poem HIGH FLIGHT from my childhood. If there is any way to obtain the choral version, pls. advise. Thank you.

lebing.xie · 1 February 2003

I am a chinese student in germany,and i readed thie poem in chinese in 1986, when the challenger was gone. I was 10 years old.Today comed the Clumbia, i recalled the poem soon. The schuttle is not only a US speaceship,it is a part of my dream 2.

ur Lebing
www.cs.tu-berlin.de/~pingp

Kathee Brewer · 3 February 2003

My father, a career Air Force officer and a fighter pilot for many years, was given this poem in the form of a bronze plaque by one of his squadrons. It hung in a special place of honor in all the homes we occupied while I was growing up, and it seems like I read it daily from the time I was a little girl. My dad – a wonderful man – passed away three years ago, and I still can’t read or remember this poem without becoming misty eyed. He loved it, and I think it honestly described his, and I’m sure many other pilots’, extreme passion for flying.

Any info anyone can give me about obtaining a copy of that choral version of “High Flight” would be appreciated hugely. Keesler was my dad’s last duty station; he retired there as the deputy base commander after a 35-year career.

Thanks,
Kathee

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

– Edmund Burke

Ken R Kurtz · 4 February 2003

Are you aware there is a slim book on the poem and its creator…called, naturally, High Flight. I have it…somewhere.

ken kurtz
Lexington, Ky

Lee Seamoor · 18 February 2003

The poem is incorrectly quoted on your web page. It is not “unsurpassed” sanctity of space, but is “untrespassed” sanctity of space.

KW · 23 February 2003

I read this poem a couple of years ago and it was one of those rare events that actually got inside of me. It rates as the Air forces equivalent of Flanders Field. I managed to retrieve it via the RAF benevolent association.
K.Woolnough

Heather Yeats · 4 March 2003

I see that Ted Ward and Keesler Male Chorus recorded a version of High Flight in 1961.
I would love to hear a copy. My friends husband flew in WWll and the poem holds a special place in his heart. I managed to locate a copy of a CD called A Pilots Song.
She sent for it and it was ‘Country’ music. Not really a suitable style for a poem of that calibre.
Yours sincerely
Heather

Dewey · 18 March 2003

My name is Dwayne Dutcher. I am a former Cadet from the class of ‘91 at the United States Air Force Academy. During my brief cadet career, my favorite pasttime was singing in 2 of the chorale groups. We sang a version of “High Flight” as well as had the poem memorized. I would say that it was one of the most emotional pieces I ever sang (understandable considering where I was). If you contact the chorale department at USAFA in Colorado Springs, CO, you will probably be able to get more information on the arrangement. God bless us all!

Dave · 30 March 2003

There is one error in the transcript of “High flight” as published on your web page…………

The last but one line should read as follows……

“The high UNTRESPASSED sanctity of space”

regards,

Windhover

Steve Leonard · 4 April 2003

I am an American in northern California and the poem to me means Spitfire and those few.

Steve Leonard

BEVOHOWARD · 23 May 2003

Ok to correct myself, I guess there is more than one old version. I have found on High Flight Productions web site that there was a version with a F 104. I clearly remember staying up late as a boy watching a T 38. In fact it was UHF ch 27 in Portsmouth Virginia. The 700 club was in it’s infancy, and signed off with High Flight

BEVOHOWARD · 23 May 2003

I too have been looking for this original video. Some are mistaken about the type of aircraft on the old original. It is not a F 104, but rather a Northrop T 38
If anybody can help me please email. Regards, Tom

AlMin3 · 6 July 2003

Tom,

The original High Flight spot was a F-104A Starfighter. Later there was a T-38 Talon. In my opinion the F-104 spot was the best.

I, too, have been looking for the clip.

Al
Lt. Col. USAFR

Windell.Driskell · 10 September 2003

I have received a DVD production of the original F-104 “High Flight” TV sign-off from the early 60’s. The reproduction is excellent. Along with the classic black and white video of the F-104, the recitation of the poem is also performed by Cliff Robertson, Russell Crowe, John Denver (singing), Orson Welles, John Glenn and Ronald Reagan. This is from Ray Haas of www.highflightproductions.com

Windell Driskell

Phillip Chapman · 14 October 2003

I, too, remember the “High Flight” signoff from years ago–when TV actually went off the air for the night! Have you ever been able to locate an outlet where I could purchase this film? If so, please advise. My E-mail is Thanks, Phil Chapman

Septemberisgood · 5 November 2003

THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE POEM. I THINK ABOUT IT MOST WHEN I AM STANDING ON THE SHORELINE OF THE OUTERBANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA, THE WAVES LAPPING AT MY FEET, AND I WATCH THE PILOTS, FLYING DOWN FROM NORFOLK. IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF WHAT THEY FEEL …THE FREEDOM…THE SERENITY…THE MAJESTY….WHAT A SHAME I’M TOO OLD TO FLY THAT WAY!!! KIMBA9

Peggy & Con Slusher · 17 November 2003

Hi my name is Con Slusher, I to remember the the end of the broadcast of High Flight. Is there a copy on the enternet that I can hear and try to reproduce in my own way in Church to make the young folks feel about like I do? Thankyou. Sincerly Con Slusher.

The Kings · 19 January 2004

High Flight was the title of our Grade 8 reader and the poem was inside and memorized by the class (1950’s) in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. I will never forget how it moved me then as it still does. I think of it everytime I watch the contrails soaring cloudward. Barbara King, PA, USA

Roman Bogatschow · 26 January 2004

I went to the US Air Force Academy and graduated in 1978. I was in the choir and we sang “High Flight” almost weekly. I wish I had a recording or even a piece of sheet music of the song now, Does anyone know where to get a copy?

Roman Bogatschow

JoAnn · 22 March 2004

Hi - I was doing search in Google on “High Flight” - saw your post in some chat room - I don’t know what date it was, you may not even be at REice anymore - but if you get this message I would like to know if you ever found an audio narrative of “High Flight” - I too would love to have one.

Thanks/Clarence Reece

========================================================================================= I have always loved
this poem. Would love to have the audio narrative, maybe the one that was on tv, or by anyone for that matter. If anyone knows where I can get the wav, would appreciate the info.
====================================================================================================

WILLIAM CALVER · 21 April 2004

I am a Canadian pilot; I just can’t understand how someone ? there can ‘print’ that John Magee was ‘shot down’ ?? Let alone, enlisting in the RCAF. in June 1940…….Graduated with ‘Wings June 1941’ ? As a new grad. sent to the UK. in Sept. 1941 was Test ? Flying a Spitfire V while writing his poem…. Was killed in a Flying Accident Dec. 1941. All this in a matter of 6 months !! From a green pilot to Test Flying is a bigger step than anyone who flies could possibly believe ! Granted we can believe enlisting in June 1940 to a Winged Grad.in one year in Canada…but to TEST FLYING a Spit. V in the UK. by September 23, 1941 is just too hard to believe !! How about ..some of the truth !! I’ve heard of some Americans being fast learners, but this. Thank you

Philip Warden · 13 September 2004

Dear Sir
I read your article on High Flight on the web. I first heard this as you said, on television. This poem is so moving. I don’t know what it is about the poem that almost brings me to tears. With many of our military giving their lives for our country, it reminds me of WW ll when I was a child and did not really understand the sacrifice that our young men were making. Thank you for reminding me.

Sincerely, Ray Warden

BigD5x · 9 October 2004

I first heard “High Flight” as a television sign off segement in the late 60’s and early 70’s in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. I clearly recall the T-38 version but do not recall who narrated the segment. I’m glad to see highflight productions has found that segment and when they include it on their DVD along with the F-104 version, I’m buying! This poem, particualry when combined with the sign off segment, is fabulous!!

TOAD337779 · 3 December 2004

I just read your comments on High Flight by John Gillespie McGee……. I beg to differ that the British were anaware of the poem until Ronald McDonald…er sorry Reagan almost remembered the words. The poem was written in England - originally on the back of a John Players (English brand) cigarette packet, before JGM, Serving with the Roal Air Force (British) flying a British Supermarine Spitfire, collided with another British aircraft over England (part of Great Britain) and is subsequently buried in Lincolnshire, England.

With warm regards,

David Roberts,

( An Englishman and aviator)

Charlie Taraboletti · 26 December 2004

I noticed your reference to the Keesler Male Chorus on a web site. I was in the chorus in 71-72. I couldn’t make the reunion in 75 ot 76 (whenever it was). Do you know anything about the chorus? Is it still in existence?

Charlie Taraboletti

Bass Section Leader March - June 72

Chorus member Nov 71 - June 72

Paul Boyd · 31 December 2004

Hello and Happy New Year,

Does a b/w video clip of High Flight exist? I remember watching it at the close of television programing years ago.

I thank you in advance.

Paul Boyd

IanKyl · 3 January 2005

Hello, I like what you have posted on john magey and would like to ask if you are still working on it. I my self have in-depth knowledge on this person. If so, please write to
Thank you.

Callum

AM · 31 January 2005

My mother loved this poem. My Dad was in the RAF (not a pilot) and it seemed to mean a lot to them. At the age of 86, my mum was taken for a flight in a two seater aircraft by her grandson, who had just achieved his private pilot’s licence. It was such a proud moment for her. She died last week, and the poem will be read at her funeral because she loved it and because of her flight with her grandson.

Mike Martin · 19 February 2005

Dear Nancy,
I was surfing the web looking for the poem by John Gillespie “High Flight” and came across your post. I want to say thank you, to you, and your husband for the service to our country. I am 46 years of age, and realize daily why yours is called “America’s Greatest Generation”.

I run an online WWII, B-17 flight simulation group and we speak of what those brave men did almost everyday.

Please, I would be so honored if you could sign my guestbook at:

www.379thvbg.com

(guestbook is located at the bottom of the homepage)

What your generation did for us will never be forgotten and we could never thank you enough.

Sincerely,

Mike “The Buzzard” Martin
St. Petersburg, FL
CO 379th Virtual Bomb Group

Barbara Van Ellen · 11 March 2005

I thought a T-Shirt would look great with the Spitfire and poem. So here it is. [broken link] http://www.zazzle.com/contributors/products/product/product.asp?cid=&caching=on&product%5Fid=&index=2

oracleu2 · 1 April 2005

The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve has a MP3 recording featuring High Flight. Look near the bottom of the page. It’s very well done.

[broken link] http://www.afrc.af.mil/hq/band/Recordings/default.htm

Enjoy!
Mike

vpkmh · 5 May 2005

This poem has special significance to myself & my family. My father was a training instructor at Oceana Naval Air Station, Virginia Beach, Virginia. He, unfortunately, died in a training flight on March 1, 1977. It is the last 3 lines of this poem that are on his head stone. This poem brings both joy and sorrow every time I read it. It is reassuring that others get the same type of emotions from it.

Sincerely,
Victoria Page Hodgkiss

Helga3714 · 4 June 2005

I too remember High Flight being beautifully read by someone as a F-104 did rolls. I never forfot it. I seem to think it was a CBS astation. Can you believe TV would sighn-off at about 12:00? Sincerely, Bill Powdrell, Fairfax, Va.

GlennLane1 · 15 October 2005

I have a print of the poem that starts the last sentence “The high untrespassed sanctity . . .”. Was the word changed to unsurpassed by mistake, or because there is no such word as untrespassed (per my AOL and Microsoft Word spell checkers)? Also, my version has a couple of commas in different places.

Pat Hittmeier · 13 December 2005

I have always loved this poem. I’m in the Missouri Air National Guard and work in operations with our fighter pilots. I have this poem on the wall in my office and it has a picture in the background with a fighter jet flying high and the face of God in the background. Awesome!!

Chris Checketts & Merelyn Redstone · 14 April 2006

My father-in-law, Johnny Checketts, has kept a copy of this poem in his wartime flight log book to be read at his funeral. He was a New Zealand spitfire pilot with the RAF. I feel privileged to read this poem for him. At 94 he has been a wonderful story-teller and has the most amazing sense of humour but sadly we will lose him within the next few days. I thought you would be interested to know this beautiful poem is to be read again in honour of one of our great pilots. For your info - In 1945 Johnny Checketts was appointed Wing Commander Tactics at the Central Fighter Establishment. He had been awarded the DFC on 13 August 1943, the DSO in December 1943, US Silver Star in August 1944 and the Polish Cross of Valour in April 1945. Johnny destroyed 14½ enemy aircraft, probably destroyed 3 and damaged 11.

You can see he is and was a very special man.

Merelyn

MICKEY · 12 May 2006

THIS IS FROM A LADY WHO LOST HER SON. THIS WAS THEIR FAVORITE POEM. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IT ON VIDEO OR JUST THE VOICE FOR HER , DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN DOWNLOAD IT? MICKEY CHILTON

Bob Derrick · 3 June 2006

I note that you date the poem High Flight as 28 Nov 1999. It is actually a poem written by Pilot Officer Magee of the Royal Canadian Air Force who was killed in action during the second World War.

QUENTIN RINEHART · 2 August 2006

I was introduced to this poem in high school ( Lincoln High School, Tacoma, WA 1946-1949) by a beloved teacher, Ramona Haltom. I was so impressed by the beauty of the words that it became my favorite poem. I have used it many times in articles, speeches and with friends over the nearly 60 years since I first heard it. I remember well that it was the background narration to a network TV signoff…I wish I knew who the narrator was - he had a great voice (similar, in fact, to Ronald Reagan, who quoted from it in his speech eugolizing the astronauts of the Challenger spacecraft who were killed in 1987 or 1988). I’m glad to add my comment regarding the word in the third stanza: it’s “untresspassed” NOT “unsurpassed”.

Bill Arthurs · 27 August 2006

I am a retired Squadron Leader, an ex F-86 pilot who flew in Europe with the RCAF during the Cold War in the middle 1950s. I have a copy of High Flight in Pilot Officer McGee’s handwriting which I recieved from a squadron member whose wife is the daughter of John Gillespie McGee’s squadron commander. By the way, the wording in the penultimate line of the poem is definitely “untresspassed.”

I also have a copy of another poem by Pilot Officer McGee, also written in 1941, entitled “Per Ardua” (through adversity), Latin words which form part of “Per Ardua Ad Astra”, the motto of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This second poem, which as far as I can see, has received little or no attention, is prefaced with the following, with a note on the left hand side that it should be in italics: “To those who gave their lives to England during the Battle of Britain and left such a shining example to us these lines are dedicated.”

Per Astra

They that have climbed the white mists of the morning; They that have soared, before the world’s awake, To herald up their foemen to them, scorning
The thin dawn’s rest their weary folk might take;

Some that left other mouths to tell the story Of high blue battle, - quite young limbs that bled; How they had thundered up the clouds to glory Or fallen to an English field stained red;

Because my faltering feet would fail I find them Laughing beside me, steadying the hand
That seeks their deadly courage - yet behind them The cold light dies in that once brilliant Land …

Do these, who help the quickened pulse run slowly, Whose stern remembered image cools the brow - Till the far dawn of Victory know only
Night’s darkness, and Valhalla’s silence now?

John G. McGee

At the end of the poem the following is written: “(P.S. if anyone should want this please see that it is accurately copied, capitalized, and punctuated.) JGM R.A.F 1941”

ewerchonowicz · 29 December 2006

hi there

I enjoyed reading the comments on this poem, “High Flight”. I agree with a couple of folks that state one of the word is incorrectly quoted. “The high unsurpassed sanctity of space” should read, The high untrespassed sanctity of space”.

A good reading of the poem can be heard in a movie called “Snow Walker”. It is, in the movie, used as part of a eulogy for a northern bush pilot.

Regards,
ewerchonowicz

William Pursell · 21 January 2007

I think this might be interesting to everyone here. From 1947 to 1949 I was stationed at Bolling Field with the United States Air Force Band and Orchestra. My job was as composer-arranger for the radio show “The Air Force Hour.” Some time between 1948 and 1949 Capt. Robert Keim (who was the producer of our show, conducted be Col. George S. Howard) approached me with this poem to look at. He had evidently come across it in some way, and we decided to do a show called High Flight using the poem along with the biographical information we had about John McGee. (I still have a laquer disc of that first show in my office, by the way, done some 59 years ago.) It was read for the first time by Lt. Cass Bielski (an announcer for our show) and I composed the first orchestral music to go behind the poem, played by the Air Force Symphony Orchestra. It gives me an amazing feeling to see just how far this poem has traveled, and that it is now considered today to be the Creed of the Air Force. Around ten years ago I noticed that it was being used as a “sign off” for some TV stations, showing an F 111 doing some aerobatics. That was of course someone else’s music, but we were the ones to give the poem it’s so-called “birth exposure.”

Dr. William W. Pursell
Belmont University Music School
Nashville, Tennessee

GENE BEAVER · 18 December 2007

Hello;

I just had a buddy of 37 years pass away suddenly. He was an Air Force Veteran. I wanted to

have this poem read at his funeral and tell his family of the

TV station that used to sign off with an airplane flying in the background and that poem

being read. I believe there was a TV station in the Tucson, AZ area I believe, but not confirmed.

If you have that information, I would appreciate if you would contact me with that info.

I would appreciate it immensly. Thanks

Gene Beaver
Sierra Vista, AZ

Wayne and Carol Peterson · 30 January 2008

Hi Barbara:
My class used the same reader in Barrie Ontario (North of Toronto). Do you remember “The Gypsies” and the story about the bear trying to get into the cabin in the woods? I have been trying to obtain a copy of High Flights the reader as it has influenced me greatly over the years. Any ideas? Wayne Peterson.

Declan44 · 31 March 2008

WMUR-TV in Manchester NH would sign off with “High Flight”. Early 70’s