Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of the Reverend John Gillespie Magee and Faith Backhouse Magee, of Washington, D.C., United States. John began his education at the American School, Nanking (1929-1931). In 1931, he moved with his mother to Britain where he continued his education first at St. Clare's near Walmer, Kent (1931-1935) and then at Rugby School (1935-1939) winning the Rugby School's poetry prize in 1938. In 1939 he moved to the USA to live with his aunt in Pittsburgh and attended Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut. He earned a scholarship to Yale University, where his father was then a chaplain, in July 1940 but did not enroll, choosing instead to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force in October of that year.
In October, 1940, at age 18, John Magee Jr. went to Canada and enrolled in the RCAF. After his flight training, he went back to England as a commissioned pilot officer. In the course of his training in the Spitfire aircraft, he was assigned to make a high altitude flight 'into the stratosphere'. On landing, he went to his quarters and there wrote his now famous sonnet on the back of a letter to his mother
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 wind 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.
Digital gallery of Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
-
Newspaper clipping
In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Photo of John Gillespie Magee 1
-
Photo of John Gillespie Magee 2
-
Photo of John Gillespie Magee 3
-
Scopwick Church Burial Ground
There are 37 Canadian airmen buried at Scopwick who lost their lives while stationed at Digby, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. They include an American airmen who served with the RCAF, P/O John G Magee, author of the poem 'High Flight'. -
Grave Marker
Marker stone to P/O J. G. Magee in Scopwick Church Burial Ground, Lincolnshire, England. Personal inscription reads: Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of earth put out my hand and touched the face of God. -
Station Badge
John Gillespie Magee, Jr was just one of the many personnel from the Canadian forces who served at Digby. The first of the Canadian squadrons arrived here in December 1940, No 402 Squadron, and this resulted in a partnership between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force that lasts to the present day. The station itself became RCAF Digby in September 1942 and remained so until the end of the war (hence the inclusion of a maple leaf in our Station badge). No fewer than 13 RCAF squadrons operated from Digby and it's satellite stations, flying day and night fighter aircraft. -
Newspaper Clipping
Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Document
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Biography
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Biography
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Biography
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Biography
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Poem
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Burial Card
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star February 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Hamilton Spectator c.1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 37 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
Request this page
Download this page
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
Did we miss something?
Contribute information to this commemorative page
Do you have photographs, information or a correction relating to this individual’s virtual memorial? Learn more about the CVWM and the information we collect.