30/11/2023
The ‘missing man’ formation is an aerial salute performed as part of a flypast of aircraft at a funeral or memorial event, typically in memory of a fallen pilot.
This week I officiated a service of farewell for the life of a 31 year old gentleman called Adam, who died suddenly and unexpectedly.
From a young age, Adam was passionate about flying and destined to take to the skies. With sheer determination he had already achieved so much, and was on track to fulfilling his ambition of becoming a commercial helicopter pilot. But sadly, that was not to be.
As more than 200 family and friends emerged from the chapel, we looked above to see a fly past performed by Adam’s flying friends accompanied by a spontaneous and rapturous round of applause from all gathered below.
It was both moving and uplifting, and the most poignant conclusion to our tribute’s to Adam’s life.
A well known military aviation poem "High Flight", written by John G. Magee on September 3, 1941. The version that most nearly follows the original manuscript is as follows:
“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 nor ever 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”
Magee flew in a Spitfire squadron and was killed on a routine training mission on December 11, 1941.
The sonnet above was sent to his parents written on the back of a letter which said, "I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day. It started at 30,000 feet, and was finished soon after I landed." He also wrote of his course ending soon and of his then going on operations, and added, "I think we are very lucky as we shall just be in time for the autumn blitzes (which are certain to come)."
But that never did come for Magee. Nor did it for Adam.
Fly high, Adam. You were, and will always be, loved.
