Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (22 page)

Lovely clear morning with a N.W. wind blowing. We were out on an O.P. at 11 a.m. I was leading one of the rear lots of three. No Huns at first, then 9 Albatri came up & followed us around on their side of the Lines. I kept them well in view at first but presently I lost them – the next thing I saw was these 3 Blighters about 500 ft above me! Eaton had fallen out of our 3 with a dud engine & I was left with Brown [
sic
– 2nd Lieutenant D G Brown?], who is pretty fresh at the game & didn't know they were Huns even! I was sitting in my bus shivering & with wind up, waiting for old man Fritz to dive – but he didn't! Then he went East & apparently dived on one of our other lots of 3. I saw the Huns above them & saw them kind of half dive on them but I didn't realize there was really a scrap on or I should have gone over to join it. However we all came back all right & the Huns faded away. I wasn't feeling in the mood for a dog fight today. The Huns were yellow fellows with scarlet tails; I kept a jolly good eye on them as I wasn't being dived on unawares again!

Jack Gilmour went on leave today. This aerodrome is about 1 mile from the aerodrome to which we went when we first came out, before we went down to the one we shared with No 1. It is coming up “dud” now & promises “dud” for tomorrow! The reason we changed ‘dromes was because the Squadron which was originally here is re-fitting with another type of “bus” which could not be landed on this aerodrome as it is too small, so we just changed places – see?

DIARY Tuesday 26th February

Jack went on leave 7.30. Fine day O.P. at 11 a.m. 9 Albs. came and sat above us but did not attack me. Attacked Symons.

Walked down town with Major Howe after tea. Read and wrote letters in evening.

65 R.F.C. France

I am writing this afternoon in the “ante room” of our hut in front of a fine warm stove. Today was too dud for O.P. & so we did Reserve patrols instead. I wasn't on a show so I went out on a roving Commission but saw no Huns. I had rather an amusing time! There was a fairly thick layer of clouds all over but there was one gap in them over our lines, then a sort of bridge of clouds about a mile broad, then a gap over part of Hun land. I climbed through our gap & flew along the bridge of clouds & looked down through the other gap into Hun land to see if I could spot an odd two-seater which wanted shooting down! Being hidden by the clouds I could thus go across the Lines without any Archie at all!

Tomorrow I am on the Dawn patrol which consists in two machines flying along the Lines in “the wee sma hours” after dawn looking for the odd Hun two-seater strafing the Infantry in our Trenches. Rather an amusing job but it means getting up at 5.45! We are also standing by to strafe Hun Art. Obs. machines & bombing-parties of Gothas which may choose to stroll over the lines intent upon laying their eggs on our lines & billets.

Trollope [Captain J.L. Trollope] flew up here today & saw me; he was at Croydon you know & has got several Huns since he came out. His Squadron 43 is further South & there are apparently beaucoup Hun two-seaters down there. They are not very common up here, in fact the Hun hasn't got many buses up here at all just at present. I am on just the same Front as I was at the last place & we do exactly the same job, we have only changed our aerodrome, that's all! A Hun pilot was taken prisoner the other day & he said that the “Camel” & the S.P.A.D. were far better machines than the Albatross, which cheers me up a bit. I don't think the “Albatrii” like getting into a dog fight with “Camels” as they aren't half as good at manoeuvring as we are.

The post goes out at 9 a.m. each day so my letters are never sent off till the day after I write them. Afraid I can't manage any before 9 a.m. I am generally in bed till 9.30 when not on early patrol. Slacker!!

 

DIARY Wednesday 27th February

On Wireless. Dawn patrol with Eaton. Pretty dud. Shot up floor and got one bullet thr‘o aileron. No calls thr'o all day. Dusk patrol. 5 albs: on the lines.

 

65 R.F.C. France

After such a long yesterday, I find I haven't much to say today. I did the “odd” dawn patrol this morning with Eaton. No Huns at all, so I shot up the trenches till they started to machine gun me from the ground & put a bullet through one of my planes, then I padded the hoof & hove off. I did no patrols through the day as there were no Hun two-seaters doing Art. Obs. I also did a Dusk Patrol from 4.30 to 5.30. Apparently 5 Albatrii came & sat over the Lines at 12.00 p.m. but I didn't see them. It was a lovely evening & all the clouds which had been about all day had gone. There wasn't a “bump” in the air at all & so I came home just above the tree tops. All the district just behind the Lines was streaked with the trails of blue smoke coming from bivouac fires & blown out by the gentle wind – it was an awfully pretty sight. The only thing that spoilt it was that here & there Hun Archie shells had left a patch of black smoke exactly like a smudge on a piece of paper.

A Belgian pilot landed here this morning on a priceless French machine – the exact converse of a “Camel”, i.e. it had a flat bottom plane & dihedral on the top plane. It did some good stunts when he took off – apparently it has got a splendid climb & is very manoeuvrable – I wish we had them!

 

Well it's dinner time & so I will knock off.

DIARY Thursday 28th February

Pretty dud. No Patrols. Down to No 1 in afternoon. Very cold.

Read in evening. Belgian Hanriot over.

 

65 R.F.C. France

No further news of any interest. A wild day today – a strong East wind with rain & low clouds & generally “dud”! We may be going to the seaside for a course of aerial gunnery but it isn't settled yet.

This morning I dug up part of my potato patch! All the Squadrons are growing potatoes & I believe that after June they are to be self supporting as regards vegetables! Hope I am home by that time!

Balfour is O.C. “C” Flight while Jack is on leave, a very good O.C. he. I am Deputy leader!

We had a gas alarm last night but nothing came of it. There was also a small minor show down on the Front. Quite successful I believe. No more news!

DIARY Friday 1st March

Strong East wind and no flying.

Read and smoked all day.

 

65 Squadron R.F.C.

Today has been much colder, a howling N.E. wind blowing, also snow & rain – very “dud”!

Hugo D. is at present on a night bombing Squadron on F.E.2Bs. Quite a good job I understand as “Archie” is the only thing that worries them.

Our new quarters are more comfy than the old ones I think. The C.O. sleeps at the Wing while he is acting O.C.

The weather promises “dud” for tomorrow, too. I did nothing at all today except read & smoke & play Bridge (with my usual luck!).

DIARY Saturday 2nd March

Howling E wind. No flying at all. One E.A. doing Alt. Obs: we left him to crash landing which he probably did!

Dinner in town with Withers [Captain T.E. Withington]. Very heavy barrage on at about 9.45 pm. Hun raids. See Daily Light for today.

 

65 Squadron R.F.C.

Thanks so much for today's letter – also heard from May, she is wondering why I haven't been over to see her!

I went to Service in the Camp this morning & had a very nice service & a fine sermon.

Still very “dud”, the wind has dropped & there is a mist with a drizzling rain. I bought you rather a nice lace table centre at a shop in the Town, which used to be one of the lace shops in Ypres. I think the people were driven out; it is home-made – or supposed to be! I had been in Town walking in & back, I needed the exercise badly too as all I appear to do here at present is eat, smoke & read! I am very fit & happy & hope you are keeping free from headaches, Dad.

Well, I don't think there is any more news, so will knock off.

DIARY Sunday 3rd March

To Church in morning. Dud for flying. Down town with Eaton in afternoon. Got hair cut and bought [?] and hankies. Tea at Skindles. Northwood and others to dinner and 2 R.N.A.S from No 1 naval staying here. Slept poorly.

 

65 Squadron R.F.C. France

Another “dud” day & the feelings of the Squadron have overflowed & everyone has gone mad. This morning, a party of us digging potatoes turned into a bombing party & proceeded to hurl clods of earth at each other! This afternoon we organized a rat hunt with Verey Lights – we saw no rats but we got through several pounds worth of Verey Lights! A large formation of homing crows passed over us & so we “archied” them with Verey Lights, completely breaking up their formation & driving many of them off East! This afternoon we amused ourselves putting Verey Lights down the chimneys of the huts, with any luck the things go off in the stove & fill the hut with smoke. Unfortunately someone put one down our chimney!

It has now started raining & so operations have been cancelled. We were thinking of raiding 70 Squadron but as the last squadron that were here did it & “70” counter attacked & absolutely wrecked their Mess – we decided not to!

Five new pilots are arriving today, as the complement of the Squadron is going to be 24 instead of 18 in future.

I had a short flip today to test my engine which has been returned & greatly improved.

Well I think that is all of interest for today so I will knock off.

DIARY Monday 4th March

Dud all day. Nothing doing

 

65 Squadron R.F.C.

It was fairly clear today & I & 5 others went down to A.S.D. [Aircraft Supply Depot] to collect 6 Camels – as six new pilots arrived yesterday to make up the new complement. With this increased number of pilots it will mean that we can always have a full Squadron for patrols, whereas before there were always two pilots on leave. Williams goes on leave tomorrow & Capt. Symons on his second leave next week, I think.

I have been patching up my room today, putting up some Harrison Fisher pictures & some cloth on the walls, it looks quite bon! will send the names of the new “peelots” shortly as soon as I get to know them, they don't seem a bad bunch.

According to Intelligence, a new 180 h.p. Fokker Triplane is going to largely replace the Albatrii. I haven't met the gentleman as yet & so I don't know if this is an improvement for us or for the Huns! I don't think the Tripes are very strong & I have hopes that they will fall to bits in the air! Here's hoping!

The weather promises fairly fine tomorrow. I fancy we are on O.P.s again. I wonder if the Hun is back in force on this Front again. I haven't been to the lines for such a long time that I am forgetting where they are!

You see the most wonderful bird formations round here in the evenings, I should think quite 500 birds gather in one huge bunch & this expands & contracts so that in the distance it looks just like a kind of smoke or cloud, perfectly distinct & clear cut, no stragglers – a good example for the R.F.C.!

 

Well no more tonight dear folks. Bestest love from the “Bunsoy”.

 

DIARY Tuesday 5th March

Dud all day. No Patrols except dusk patrol – ‘C' Flt on that. No E.A. seen. E wind tomorrow.

 

65 Squadron R.F.C.

Today was pretty fine with a strong East wind. We did an O.P. from 11 to 12.15 but there were no Huns anywhere near the Lines on this Front & so we had no scrap. We were up at 14000 ft & it was pretty cold. My engine has been returned & is awfully nice now, I am glad to say, it makes all the difference if your engine is running sweetly or not!

This afternoon, Eaton & I flew down South & saw Trollope in No 45. He said that there were beaucoup Huns down South. Apparently they have moved most of their Squadrons there, which looks as if one may expect the Push from that quarter.

Wasn't that a splendid message in last night's “Daily Light”? I don't see how the Hun Push can be a success in the face of it. “They that be for us be more than they that be against us.”

No letter from home today but there was only one letter for the whole Squadron – so the rest must have gone astray somewhere I think. This afternoon a fellow in No 70 apparently took a violent dislike to our Squadron Office for, on “taking off” he charged it with his Camel & knocked a hole slap through the side! With the exception of a cut face the pilot wasn't hurt. I think perambulators are about the line for No 70.

Well I don't think there is much more news at present, so I will knock off. Hope you got the parcel I sent you all right – I registered it.

DIARY Wednesday 6th March

Finish all day. Cocks leading O.P. 9 Albatri sat over me but did not come down on me. Half came down on Symons – did nothing in afternoon.

 

65 Squadron R.F.C.

Just a wee wee one to thank you for your letter & to let you know I am still “going strong”! Very misty & no patrol today.

A fellow called Hancock [2nd Lieutenant J. M. Hancock] who was at college with me (Le Bas) arrived here two days ago. I went up this afternoon with him to show him the Lines but shortly after he had taken off, he did a right hand turn, stalled & spun. I watched him from above & he didn't pull out of his spin but spun straight into the ground from 500 ft. He was killed instantly, poor fellow, rotten luck, wasn't it. Quite his own fault poor chap – pulled the stick back to try & get the nose up & of course the bus spun faster than ever.

I am writing at 11.30 p.m. having spent all the evening from 5 p.m. putting pale blue cloth round the wall of my hut – it looks topping now. I am rather tired but I simply had to write home!

Bestest love dearest folks. Bunsoy.

DIARY Thursday 7th March

O.P. in morning. Symons leading. Very few Huns around. Went all down Seille and saw some Huns but did not attack. To No 1 & 19 & 43 with Eaton in afternoon.

Bed late. Papering room.

 

65 Squad. R.F.C.