Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (3 page)

Thanks very much for your letter just received – also for the newspaper cutting. The Scouts' Machine which it refers to that can climb so well is S.E.5 (Scouting Experimental No 5). It flies level at a speed of 140 to 160 m.p.h. whereas a “Maurice” never does more than 60 to 65. Some difference! I have just this minute been up for 20 minutes with Sergt Gay. We had 4 landings. I was trying to land to-day & am slowly improving at it – my chief fault being that I am too heavy handed on the controls & a trifle too jerky. In landing you glide straight down for about 10 ft. when you very slowly pull back the joy-stick. This flattens it out, then you push it forward a trifle & then flatten out again about an inch on the stick & when she touches ground you put the stick forward gradually and hold her down. I flatten out rather too soon generally & am a bit jerky but I am improving. If you flatten out too much the bus will lose flying speed, the engine being off, & “pancake” the rest of the way & then exit undercarriage! The course of the landing is something like this

A ‘bus landing; flying level, engine on – 60 m.p.h.; nose down, engine on 75 m.p.h.; engine off, gliding at 60 m.p.h.

I can “take off” & “turn” quite all right now myself but find flying level rather a problem as the “bus” always tends to climb a bit. I found today that going up hadn't the slightest effect on me; I might have been sitting in a chair at home! I don't think anyone would feel dizzy in an aeroplane; I just love it & am awfully glad I joined the R.F.C. The word “dud” originated in a shell which failed to explode on striking owing to a defective fuse that was called a “dud shell” – now “dud” has come to mean anything which is no good. “Dud” weather means no good for flying; it is not in parliamentary language! Well goodbye – please don't worry about me I am quite all right!

 

Catterick

Thanks so much for all your letters etc. Since I last wrote you will have got my epistle by this time; please will you send me some books to read as I can't get any here. There is really not much news for you in this letter; after I wrote my last to you I went down to the “sheds” & got another flight of 24 minutes. Yesterday I was up three times, it was too bumpy for instruction in the afternoon so I was taken up to let out the “aerial”, this is a long line of copper wire with a weight at the end used in “wireless” from planes. I let it out 5 times & had a very nice joy ride as I was in the back seat & not doing any of the flying myself.

For the first time I managed to get above 500 ft & on that trip we got up to 1100 ft it was very nice up there & you got a splendid “view” & also the feeling you might just as well be 1100 as 500. Sergt Gay did some more of his “vertical banks” at that height, he did 3 or 4 turns on end & I got quite giddy being twiddled around like that, still I am getting used to these “stunts”. It was so warm that I didn't even wear a coat & wasn't a bit cold without it, one feels far freer minus that great heavy coat. I tried strapping myself in for fun but discovered that the strap came undone when I was “up”, that would have been a lot of use wouldn't it?

In the evening it got calm & I was sent for & got up again. This time the C.O. Major X – Y [Name erased, but “Major Ross-Hume” added in pencil on opposite page in Guy Knocker's hand], commonly known as Ping Pong, took me up, he is an expert flyer & a very good instructor. However on landing we broke a tail skid & so had to bring the “bus” in. Then I went up again with Sergt Gay & had a very nice trip. I did 4 landings, I do most of the controlling now including opening the throttle, taking off & turning & last night I landed all by myself – quite a good landing too! I flattened out a little bit too soon but not much. My chief trouble now is flying level; I find that my beastly left wing will insist on coming up & that I fly along left wing high instead of level. This means that instead of flying straight the “bus” is always side-slipping slightly to the right. This is my fault & not the machine's because the other day when “up” both the instructors & I took our hands off the controls & the bus flew quite level except that it tried to climb slightly being a bit tail heavy. I enclose a photo of the machine I fly taken by another man. I expect I will get up again today as the weather is excellent.

I am orderly officer today & have to conduct the “Church Parade”. I also walk round breakfasts & say “any complaints?” The following are the latest R.F.C. songs:

Well I shall be “on solo” myself soon as I have done 2 hours & 24 minutes “dual”. However I feel quite confident & won't go up “solo” till I am quite sure of myself. Jack Gilman has been made a Flight Captain & has got the M.C. Jolly good!

Catterick

Thanks very much for your letters & etc. I haven't written before this week as I thought I would wait till I had done my first “solo” & tell you all about it. The deed was done this evening!

The weather has been too “dud” for flying all day but this evening I went down to the sheds after tea on the “off chance” when for my special benefit the wind kindly dropped. Then Capt. Mardell told me to come up with him so up I went & flew the “bus” round & landed. We did this three times & then apparently satisfied with my exhibition Mardell got out & told me to go up alone! Gee!

I taxied right across to the furthest corner & turned her face to the wind & took off – she went up like a bird! The evening was simply gorgeous & nary a bump! I flew her round & landed & really made quite a good landing, this time I was a bit too flat so I went up again! next time on landing I lost my prop or in other words my engine stopped, still I landed quite well & waved for an air mechanic to come & start her up again then I couldn't resist the temptation of going up once more. This time I was 500 ft up & switched off the engine & landed rather far down the ‘drome also rather fast but still it was a very good landing. Then I taxied in with some difficulty as “Rumpeties” are brutes to taxi!

Well my first “solo” is safely over & I am very bucked. The C.O. was very braced & said “A very good show, you took off well, flew well, & landed well – & you looked quite at home” – which I really did feel! That was jolly high praise from old “Ping Pong”. he generally slangs you after you finish “solo” & sends you on dual again. Capt. Mardell said “Well done – you did well!” Ain‘t I a kink? I am most awfully pleased & feel just “ripping” flying alone. I was flying a 70 h.p. engine instead of an 80 h.p. I am down for early flying to-morrow at 5.30 a.m. Ye Gods! Well no more now. I am before Mac & Maitland in flying “solo”. Thumbs up!

I think a good motto for the R.F.C. would be “Underneath are the Everlasting Arms”.

Catterick

Yesterday I arose at the grisly hour of 5.30 a.m. & went down to the sheds to take up a 70 h.p. machine which was a rotten “bus” into the bargain, it couldn't climb above 500 ft., & though the engine was doing 1900 revs. a minute the speedometer was registering only about 50 m.p.h! Well it was very cold & I was cold & half asleep & the engine was cold so it wasn't very nice flying & I took her round once & landed. I was so intent on watching the speedometer that I forgot about flattening out till a bit later & hit the ground a bit too steeply. The wheels hit the ground & the old bus simply bounced up & down & broke two wires in the undercarriage. However I soon got them put right & went up again for 25 minutes & did four landings – not very good ones but I didn't break anything more! I just wasn't flattening out soon enough. Then I came in & someone else went up.

At about 7.30 I went up again with the idea of flying over to Richmond (8 miles off) with another fellow in another “bus” but it was so “bumpy” that I made two landings, very good ones, & came in. I don't think I ever had such a bumping, side slipping, nose diving & all! Still I got in all right! I have now done 1¼ hrs solo & hope to have finished my time by Monday. If I can get a good excuse I may be able to get 48 hours leave, do you think you could find me one & send me a wire?! This afternoon was a great experience & I must admit I fairly “had the wind up”, or in other words was in a blue funk! It was quite all right about my feeling dizzy that time with Sergt. Gay, & was only because I was being twiddled round! I shouldn't think of giving up flying I just love it. A Henry Farman “bus” crashed yesterday but the man was unhurt. It finished up nosedown – tailup.

The Henri!

Catterick

Thanks so much for your letters both of which I received this morning. I expect you got my other epistle telling you of my second solo trip. The weather has been quite too “dud” for flying since. A steady N.E. wind has been blowing for 3 days which means no flying at all. If only I could get one really good day I would finish my time on “Rumpeties” & put in my remaining 2¾ hrs. & then would leave here. If you manage to find me an excuse for me to get 48 hrs. leave before I join my next Squadron I may get it! I am applying to go to Stirling as I want to fly Tractor Scouts. I am afraid however that I shall be sent to an Artillery Observation Squadron being a gunner. If I get Tractor Scouts I might be sent down to Dover as there are Martinsyde's Scouts there. Jack Gilmore at Dover. The Art. Obs. machines are all F.Es which are “pushers”. I went to church today.

On Friday a lot of us went to Harrogate for the afternoon it is a very nice place with lovely hotels but it was very quiet when I was there. I won't get my “wings” after I leave here but I will get my “ticket” or Royal Aeronautical Club Certificate. I don't get my “wings” till I have passed through an Advanced Squadron & done 25 hours “solo”. It is very warm indeed up here now wonderful to relate. Well you have all my news as I have done no flying lately.

46th Reserve Squadron
Royal Flying Corps
Tadcaster, Yorks.