Surviving Victory: World War II Pilot, Actor, Sculptor, Writer - Softcover

Philip Vickers

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982523718 ISBN 13: 9780982523711

Publisher: Vibrant Books, 2009

Synopsis

Rare Book

About this title

About the Author:

When Philip Vickers was just a boy, he witnessed Charles Lindbergh landing in Oklahoma City - and his fate was sealed. But becoming a pilot seemed an impossibility to a college kid in his second year at the University of Oklahoma. Then along came World War II and the Civilian Pilot Training Program. By the end of June, 1941, he had 35 hours in a Piper Cub, his coveted Student Permit and he set off to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, as the United States wasn't getting into the war fast enough to suit his ambitions. After many harrowing episodes during his training in Canada, he qualified to fly the renowned Spitfire, in which he flew 102 missions over Europe, many times as wing man for RAF Ace Johnnie Johnson. Every day grew more difficult and crazy, knowing that chances were ever slimmer of returning alive. But, although crashing short of a runway in England and, much to his distress, spending D Day in the hospital, survive he did. After the war, and through an odd series of events, the theater became his passion. American roles were plentiful, and with his English green card, he became a well known actor on London's West End, starring in Damn Yankees, Remains to be Seen and The Big Knife as well as opening for Bob Hope "on the road." Radio and TV roles were a constant sidelight. His passion took a sudden turn with a chance discovery of his natural talent for sculpture. His early sculpted portraits won him an invitation to exhibit with the Royal Society of Portrait Sculptors. Eventually, he made his way back to the United States and settled in Washington, DC and later in Sedona, Arizona where he became a very well known Southwestern sculptor over the following 25 years, until his death in 2003.

About this edition

• Publisher: Vibrant Books
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0982523718
• ISBN 13: 9780982523711
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 244