Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (15 page)

So sorry that I couldn't write home in time for the post today but I had to rush away to an Aircraft Park further back to collect another “Camel” to replace one of ours. I got it back all right.

This morning I was up on an offensive patrol, it was pretty “dud” at the start but it was quite clear afterwards. We wandered up & down about 5 miles over the Hun Lines at about 10,000 ft. quite peacefully. Once we got “Archied” rather badly but we all swung about for a bit till we passed out of the area. There was not a Hun machine to be seen at all except a two-seater very low which hove off at once. I don't know where the scouts were! They can stay there anyway! I was out on a “dusk patrol” last evening – there were no Huns but I shot up the Hun trenches. They shot at me from the ground but missed me of course!

I went out to dinner at No 70 last night & had a very bon time indeed. Matthews is in “A” Flight & replaced Morrison.

Well na poo now thanks v.much for day's letters.

Bestest love from The Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Saturday 8th December

Bill came out of hospital. Patrol in morning.

 

65 Squadron R.F.C.

Thanks very much for your letter of this morning. Last night a lot of fellows from 70 & 32 came to dinner, it was great fun. I'm afraid I must have got a bit of a chill as I am feeling rather funny today. I stayed in bed till 1 pm. We are now starting Winter training which means a great deal less over the Lines & a lot of practice in formation flying, shooting, & etc. rather a good scheme on the whole. We only do one show a day now.

Well no more now, please excuse the scrawl.

 

Bestest love from The Bunsoy

 

DIARY Sunday 9th December

Awful pains all day. In bed until 12.45. Up for lunch. Bilious I think. Dud all day thank heavens. Bed early before dinner at 6.30. Good sleep.

 

65 Squadron.

I am afraid I missed the post today as we were on “Offensive Patrol” from 2 – 3 and my hat – it was an awful show. I don't know what Higgins our leader could have been thinking about! To begin with we first came across 2 Albatrii which Higgins didn't attack – then we struck 3 more. I couldn't attack as I was well behind trying to catch up – & we never attacked those, we were 5 mind you. Then to finish it all 6 Gothas went past just above us – they had been over the Lines & we didn't recognize what they were till too late & so let them go. I am no fire eater myself but hang it all – not attacking 2 Albatrii. We are all as sick as we can be! And missing the Gothas! A Gotha is a certain M.C. [Military Cross] if you get one! I suppose I ought to have gone for the Albatrii but I wasn't also certain which they were & when Higgins turned away I didn't like to break formation. I really don't know what Higgins was thinking about! I guess “A” Flight had better do something desperate tomorrow! Jack Gilmore [
sic
– Captain J. Gilmour] is coming here as a Flt. Com. isn't it topping! I am quite all right again today as I had 11 hours sleep last night. I am going to dinner with 70 tonight.

Bestest love from the Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Monday 10th December

Dud in morning h.o.p. from 2-3 – dud show. Saw 2 Albatri and then 3 and did not attack them – why? Lord knows! 6 Gothas came out of the sun and we did not recognise them and they hove off. What a chance to miss.

Dinner with No 70. Vinter ill. Got a bit squiffy! Home at 1.30! Very tired.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks awfully for your letters, thank Joe for her excellently typed epistle. Today the weather is dud – low clouds very cold – no flying at all. Last night I went down to No 70 for dinner & had a topping time, they are an awfully good lot of fellows. I did no more flying after yesterday's show! Higgins goes on leave today, I guess I ought to get mine in about 6 or 7 weeks if all's well – What-Ho!. I think I am going over to 25 squad. this evening as the C.O. there is Major Duffus [Major C. Duffus] who was my Flt. Com. at Tad [Tadcaster]. Jack Gilmore [
sic
] has arrived here; he has been at home for 6 months. He is taking Weedon's [Captain L.S. Weedon, Royal Fusiliers] plane as O.C. “C” Flight. It is ripping having him here. I guess we will do well with him as he has had such a lot of experience.

Pooh-Bah has got a new engine in her & is going quite well – not
quite
so well as it did at the first – but still – a good bus!

I couldn't get to church last Sunday as I wasn't feeling very fit, must go next week if all's well.

G.M.K.

 

DIARY Tuesday 11th December

Dud all day and beastly cold. Jack Gilmour arrived – Higgin went on leave. Took tender to St Omer and there got tender to Bois d‘Hain. Dinner with Major Duffus. Tender late at Omer – 12.30!

Tyre burst on way home – arrived at 3.15! Very cold in bed! Feet frigid.

65 Squadron

Thanks for your letters ----!!!!---- huge commotion outside! Yells of “Gothas!” I rush outside in time to see 5 “Gothas” in a gap in the clouds. I then spring smartly behind my sandbag wall – a second later a 112 lb bomb falls with a crash about 150 yds away. This is followed by two more, then they heave off. I rush down to the Hangars with some others & leap forth into the atmosphere! I climbed to 9000 ft & saw the Hun heaving off well over his lines so I came down & wrought my vengeance upon the Hun trenches firing 200 rounds into them; I only hope I hit someone! No one was hurt
here
. I now carry on with the letter having missed the post! Last night I went down by tender to the Base I was originally at, from there took a tender to No 25 Squadron where I had dinner with Major Duffus – who used to be my Flight Commander at Tadcaster, it was topping seeing him & I had a very good time. Then I went back to the Base, the tender was very late & didn't arrive till 12.30. On the way back from the Base we had a puncture & didn't get home till 3.15 am!

This morning – just my luck – I was on the early show & at 8 a.m. we went out on a 2 hours line patrol. The clouds were very low but eventually we climbed above them & saw 6 Hun Scouts well over the Lines. We flipped round & presently saw these Albatrii [at] about 5000 ft. (we were at 8000 ft) playing about happily above a gap in the clouds – waiting to dive on an R.E.8 below! However it was not to be! We manoeuvred & got the sun behind us & then dived straight out of the sun on to the Huns oh the joy of diving on an Albatross! – he generally does all the diving! They didn't see us till we were right on them. I was behind & didn't go right down – however Wigg, the leader, shot one down. Then I saw another level with me, I was alone so I dived away wondering if he would follow & meaning to turn on him. But Wigg was above me & he & another attacked him & I climbed up. he went down smoking & the others all dived away hell for leather! Pretty good “A” Flight getting two. This afternoon we were on patrol & got badly “Archied”. One shell burst about 15 yds in front of me. Gee! I was scared, a bit went through the cowling (the covering of the engine).

We dived on a couple of Hun two-seaters & drove them off – then we came home at about 100 ft – great fun! Wigg is leading in Higgins' place & is a stout man! Jack Gilmore [
sic
] got lost today & landed in a field behind the Hun Lines. Some Hun soldiers rushed up! When Jack saw they were Huns he opened out his engine & hove off again & got back all right.

Bestest love from The Bunsoy

 

DIARY Wednesday 12th December

Up on Res. patrol at 8! Clouds at 3000 – archied over Houthulst. Climbed above the clouds and
dived
on 6 Albatri from 8000! Damn good! Wigg got 2 Huns; I funked and had wind up S.O.P. at 12. Archied like hell over Comines – nearly hit! Drove off 2 two-seaters near Moorslede. Gotha raid after lunch! Three 1 lb bombs, up after them, saw them. Strafed trenches at Hollebeke Chateau. Dinner with No 1. Rogers got a Gotha.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks for both your letters. Both the Huns Wigg got yesterday have been confirmed by “Archie”. One fell behind our lines in flames. It was saved & taken to No 23. Wigg & I went up to see what was left of the Albatross – there was nothing left except the tailplane & elevator & the radiator marked “Daimler Mercedes” & the joy-stick with gun triggers. The tail was painted yellow. I got a little door off an inspection hole near the tail. Wigg is going to claim the tail skid & joystick. The rest of the bus is buried in the mud. The pilot jumped out before it came down to the ground. The joy stick is rather a comic affair & has two handle grips to hold onto & thumb pieces for firing the guns – like a Camel.

I went up to the funeral of one of our chaps who crashed & killed himself one day when coming back from patrol, rather depressing ceremony.

The weather has been dud for patrols all day & I just went up for 20 minutes to fight Matthews but it was very thick.

I was out to dinner with No 1 last night but got back early. A fellow – Capt. Rodgers – in No 1 got one of those Gothas which bombed us yesterday. He was straggling & one of his engines was dud & Rodgers got on his tail & fired a couple of bursts into him. He glided down with his fuselage smoking for quite a long way & then at 2000 ft he simply blew up & came down in pieces. I guess the fire must have fired his bombs. Jolly good work, isn't it?

Well no more news now dears. I am afraid I missed the post today as I was at the funeral this afternoon.

DIARY Thursday 13th December

Dud all day and no flying – trés bon. Did nothing – flew and fought Matthews. To Cory's [
sic
– Lieutenant F.M. Corry] funeral in afternoon and tea at No 23 – saw the Albatross Wigg shot down – nothing left but the tail plane.

 

65 Squadron.

There is no more news – today the weather is beautifully “dud”, low clouds mist & rain! No patrols at all – bon for troops! I am playing rugger this afternoon against No 53 C.C.S. [Casualty Clearing Station]

I am going to get an ashtray made from a propeller boss & a piece of the Albatross & send it home to you. Did I thank you for the woolly gloves – they are simply ripping & keep my hands topping & warm.

 

DIARY Friday 14th December

Thick and low clouds all day, no patrols at all. Played No 53 C.C.S at Rugger in afternoon. Lost 11-3 – poor team. Were on early patrol tomorrow – hope it is still dud!

 

65 Squadron.

Another strenuous day over. In accordance with the usual luck of “A” Flight, we having two shows to do today, the weather is at once beautifully fine! Thus we arose at the grisly hour of 6.30 & did leap into the atmosphere to be offensive! We were on a Southern Patrol & our friend “Archie” was particularly hot – we got shelled the whole length of our beat
&
back! Also I got up in a hurry & didn't put on my chin piece – result that my chin is frost bitten! Not badly though & I have greased it. We were on patrol again from 1 till 2 but my engine went dud – to my secret joy! & I returned & took up another bus & tried to find the Formation but couldn't & so did a Line patrol – no Offensive for me alone! I guess we'll have a slack day tomorrow. I'm afraid I missed the post again today but I may catch it yet! No more news so I will stop.

DIARY Saturday 15th December

No such luck! A cloudless day! Up at 7.15 on S.O.P. strong west wind as per usual. No E.A. seen but archied all the way from Hollebeke to Armentières and back! The villain ‘archibald' at Comines. Very thick in afternoon S.O.P. [Southern Offensive Patrol] from 2-3. Ignition wire went on my bus and so I turned back. Took up Higgins bus but could not find formation for sure – did a Ypres patrol!

Bed early. Gee! but I do dislike Cocks. [
sic –
Captain G.M. Cox?]

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks most awfully for the topping parcel of Xmas things. The pipe's ripping & so are the cigarettes & I am sure the books will be most interesting. The crackers & cakes I am keeping till Xmas, the cake looks “topping”. Thanks also for “Liebestraum” the bother is to get someone to play it now that Dyer [2nd Lieutenant H.A. Dyer] is missing.

Cousin Aggie sent me a fine parcel too, wasn't it nice of her? I hope you will get my presents for me as I asked last time – now
do
get something really decent for yourselves & the girls.

We have a new scheme now to go out on offensive patrol in 2 lots of 3 & working independently – the idea being to catch the Hun two-seaters by surprise. I was up this morning above the clouds & over the Lines. We had no scraps as the only Huns we saw were right across the Lines. There was a strong South wind blowing & we got blown up North & finished up about 10 miles from the sea! My frost bitten chin is much better & with my chin piece I can fly in perfect comfort. We are getting new flying suits instead of leather coats. Jacket & trousers combined made of waterproof cloth & lined with fur – they are fine & warm & less cumbrous than a coat.

Well no more news.

Bestest love from The Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Sunday 16th December

Cloudy, on N.O.P. in two lots of 3 – I with O.B., strong S wind blowing. Went well over the lines at 10000 above the clouds and got blown up as far as Dixmuide. Saw the sea! Came home along the Canal. Saw 7 Huns well East. Did not attack! Went below clouds, saw 5 Huns over Roulers. Shot up Hollebeke Chateau at 1.15 – no sign of Cocks the rotter! Very thick on way back. No more patrols.

Read and wrote letters in afternoon. Got 3 parcels for Xmas. To Church in evening and stayed to H.C. very nice service. Tender driven into the ditch on way back – Bitterly cold.

 

65 Squadron.