Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (7 page)

Alas Turnbury [
sic
] is once more washed out – only 4 are going, I not being one of them! I shan't believe any more Turnbury [
sic
] rumours till I actually get there – isn't it perfectly rotten?

I applied for leave today & the Adjutant gave it me till 2.0 am Sunday but my Flight Commander said I couldn't go as I had to complete my time flying. I am pretty fed up on the whole! I
may
get up to Town to see May but even that isn't certain.

I went solo on “Sop. Pups” on Wednesday evening & have done 2½ hrs on them so far. They are very nice busses [
sic
] but a bit tricky at first. They don't loop very nicely but fall out sideways at the top. (Quite safe but unpleasant.) But they spin beautifully & turn v.fast. I went over to Brooklands yesterday on one, they are beastly uncomfy things as there is a strut which catches you on the point of the shoulders when you lean back – mine are very sore today. I had a crash on an Avro on Tuesday! Just after I had taken off the petrol lead broke & my engine cut out, so I tried to land in a potato patch but struck a mound & the bus stood on its nose. I wasn't in the least hurt & went & took up another bus & did a couple of loops to keep from losing my nerve!

 

40 T.S. R.F.C. Croydon

Just a line to tell you that I am really & truly going to Turnbury [
sic
] on Friday next. Yesterday was dud & flying was washed out. The two Russells & I went to Town & paid a visit to the Zoo in the afternoon & did a Revue in the evening. I was flying for an hour this morning & looped a few times on the new strong bus.

Well I must go & do machine gun drill now.

Croydon

Just a line to let you know that I am kicking along all right & am feeling very “fit”. I nearly had another mild crash yesterday. I was up in a “Pup” & had been flying round in the clouds. At 10,500 ft I shut off my engine & did a plain glide down – at 3000 ft over the aerodrome I tried to start my engine but she wouldn't start at all, so I just had to land without it! I wasn't going to overshoot the aerodrome so I did the next worst thing, I very nearly undershot it & cleared the hedge & some bushes literally by inches & going at a dropping 40 m.p.h. – she is supposed to stall at 45. I just got in however & landed all right. My Flt. Com. said “Do you know how near a crash you were?” I said “Yes, I guess I did”. However when I said I had lost my engine he said it was rather a good show!

Croydon

I have been on Home Defence for the last week but came off today so don't worry! I was woken up at 8 a.m. today & informed there was a raid on, we sleep at the ‘drome when on H.D. So I got up & crept into my flying clothes & got my bus ready, saw that the gun was loaded etc. However it was a wash out & we didn't have to go up. I don't mind saying that I was in a pretty good funk! but I was really quite disappointed when it was washed out! I went all round London the other day in a Pup & had a great trip though it was a bit cloudy. I got up to 16,000 ft which is now my height record, I didn't notice any discomfort except that it was most frightfully cold & I didn't have a coat on!!

I am very sorry about not having been able to get leave for this weekend but all leave has been stopped till pilots are ready to go to France. I may not be sent out yet as you say but I am not going to say anything about my age till they ask me!

I think I am really a fairly competent pilot now. My latest stunt (quite safe) is a roll. You put her down to 80 m.p.h. & then pull back the stick to the right hand corner, put on full right rudder & she goes right over, wing over wing, in a sort of corkscrew loop. These Pups are lovely to loop now, you hardly pull back the stick at all & honestly you don't know you
are
looping! They go over with no strain at all & don't hang on top & don't lose any height. I have been practising fighting with my Flt. Commander & am improving. These machines come round so fast in a turn that you actually
get a bump in your own backwash!!
A roll is a very fast stunt but no good as a fighting one. I am getting to love Pups now.

I went to Kirk this morning & had quite a good service. I guess the Huns knew I was on H.D. [Home Defence] last week! Hence no raid!!

No 40. T.S. R.F.C.

Well I am down to go to Turnbury [
sic
] on Tuesday 28th; I really think I will go this time as I have completed my tests for France. I had a topping Flip yesterday. I flew over the “Shop” at Woolwich & did a few spins, loops, rolls & etc. I then went to Thames Reservoir where they have a floating target & I came down to about 100 ft over the water & fired at it with my machine gun, great fun! Then I flew off again, I was right down low over the water & I felt like a hydroplane! Then I went to Brooklands & fought an R.E.8, I fancy he got me with his back gun (not firing really of course) then I flew back at 85 m.p.h. Suddenly whizz--boom – & a very fast scout (a Sopwith Camel) shot past me & whipped round onto my tail! I was rather bamboozled but eventually I did an Immelman turn & got him off. Then we circled round & I was in the centre & turning v.fast & he was on the outside of the circle & eventually I got on his tail then he buzzed off! I went up again later & did some beautiful stunts over the aerodrome & then – - – crashed landing. What a blow!!

I flattened out too soon & pancaked & my undercarriage conked with a sickening crunch & the bus stood up gently on its nose! I wasn't in the least hurt but I
was
sick at crashing! However I went up again today & did some good landings also rolls & loops to keep my hand in!! I went over to Hounslow & had a terrific scrap with an R.E.8 & then to Brooklands & flew over Surrey House [
sic
] at about 500 ft. My rolls are getting quite famous here & I am getting quite a name as a stunt pilot!! I saw the Sop. “Camel” again at Brooklands today but he just flew level with me & we waved to each other & then he did a ripping roll & hove off.

War Hospital, South Norwood

Isn't this the limit? As you will see from above I am at present in hospital as the result of a crash on -- a --- push bike!! Here have I been flying for 4 months & never a scratch & then I go & get flattened out by a rotten push bike! After flying on Wednesday I was biking along the road & a fellow passed me on his motorbike & sidecar & offered me a tow. So I hung on to the sidecar & I think my pedal caught in the wheel & I swerved across the road! At this moment an old man, weighing about 16 stone, was roaring down the hill on another bike & -- we collided! I don't remember anything after that! The next thing I remember is being in bed with the doctor talking to me. I think I had slight concussion as I landed on my head! So I was carted down here & spent yesterday in bed with a splitting head & am staying in bed today but am much better. I am getting up tomorrow & the doctor says I will get 10 days leave! What ho! He also says I probably won't fly for a month which is just sickening! Just as I was getting expert on Pups too! Also na poo for Turnbury [
sic
]! I expect I will be home tomorrow or Sunday. The old fellow was also taken to hospital with no skin on his face poor chap. My ear is the only place grazed & I have a bump on my forehead & knee. I am some aviator – I can't even fly a push-bike! I am very fed up but it will be topping getting leave! This hospital is a pretty one horse show & I am not very comfy. I expect I will be better at home!! I may get a fortnight or three weeks but I don't know.

Interval of 10 days sick leave at Dover.

40 T.S. Croydon

Just a note to let you know that I arrived safely yesterday. I went up for an hour & 10 minutes in a Pup today & did some stunts & got on all right & felt fine. Then to my horror I was told to take up a D.H.5 and I did! I did fine in it really & landed quite well. You have to glide them down at 90 m.p.h.; they stall at 70, so you have to land very fast. However you have a good view being in front. I find them a bit awkward but will get into that soon. I rather like them as they are a bit like F.E.s. Don't worry!

40 T.S. R.F.C. Croydon

This is just to let you know I am flourishing & am fit. I
think
I am going to a place called Turnbury [
sic
] on Tuesday or at least I am told so! – what do they do at Turnbury?! Well I am getting on A1 at D.H.5s. I like them awfully – as much as Pups now I am used to them. I did 6 landings this morning & all of them A1. I have now got the hang of flying & landing them, also I have looped and rolled them. They don't roll too well, still they do it, but they won't spin at all, I have tried them several times!

There is one other fellow on them & he & I are the first to try stunting them, as neither the C.O. or any of the Instructors have tried & the C.O. is the only other man who has flown them at all – we are rather dabs! I may go to France on them but don't think so – I wouldn't mind now if I did. The idea is that if you go out as a Pup or a D.H.5 Pilot they will put you on any Scout. The weather is very dud. I am on H.D. again but there will be no raids this weather. Being at present the Senior Pup Pilot I will lead the formation in a scrap. Wot ho!

40 T.S. R.F.C. Croydon

Last night I was told that I was for Overseas & had to report at R.F.C. H.Q. at Mason's Yard at 3. pm. today. There were two more fellows from here. Well we reported & were then sent to the Hotel Cecil to find out particulars of our journey. I was down as a D.H.5 pilot & will probably go abroad as that -- not bad! The officer at the Cecil asked my age & when I said “18 on the 14th” he went & saw the General who said I couldn't go overseas till I was 18 & so I was sent back here! I was actually under orders to go to France by the 7.25 am train tomorrow – a near thing! I expect I will go to Turnbury on Tuesday & go to France immediately after. I told the man I would just as soon go now as in a week but it was no good. I am not sorry except that I would like to have gone out with those 2 chaps. I had a scrap with a fellow yesterday in Pups & beat him easily – getting my sights on him a good many times. I have now finished my flying here & will just fly when there is a spare bus. Just before I went today my Flt. Com. said that he would be surprised if I didn't get the M.C. Nice of him wasn't it?

 

Princes St. Station Hotel, Edinburgh.

I expect you have got my wire of yesterday. I got up here free & did want to see Edinburgh again!

Yesterday morning I went up in a Pup & fought Collingwood & beat him pretty easily as I got my gun on him pretty often. I got leave from the C.O. to come up to Edinburgh today as it is a holiday & there is no flying at Croydon. So I will join the train for Turnbury [
sic
] at Ayr with the others on Tuesday. I am having a topping time of it & it is just great to see Edinburgh, Liberton & old Burnhead again. I will be at Turnbury [
sic
] if all's well on Tuesday night.

No 2 School of Aerial Gunnery,
Turnbury [
sic
]

Well here I am at Turnbury [
sic
] at last. We are quartered in the hotel and are very comfortable & get very good grub. We are pretty hard worked 8 am till 8 pm. We were on the range today & flying in the evening. I went up in the front seat of a Vickers as an observer & used the camera gun on B.E.s, i.e. fired at a B.E. with a model Lewis gun which takes photos of your point of aim & shows where your bullets would go. I was just acting as observer. This is a lovely place. I expect I really will get to France after this; I will get some leave first if I possibly can.

 

Turnberry

I am sorry that I haven't written lately but really I haven't a moment! We work from 8.am to 8.pm with very little time off all afternoon & we are working on Sundays just the same. My work consists in sitting in the front seat of an F.E. armed with a Lewis Gun & firing at rafts in the sea & flags towed 100 ft behind another machine. The latter practice is rather hard as a flag isn't much of a target. I am quite an expert observer now & stand up on the front seat of an F.E. with impunity, grabbing on of course jolly tight. I will try very hard to get a couple of days before I go. I guess I'll get it all right. When we are not flying we are generally firing on the range – a vile game! Imagine 4 machine guns in the space of 15 yds firing bursts of 20 rounds all together. It's a perfect inferno. I am a fair shot with a Lewis gun!

Turnberry.

The weather has been pretty dud lately & so there has not been much flying & we have been on the ranges much of the time. Today we left the Lewis gun & are now doing the Vickers gun which is nice & easier to work. I think that on leaving here I will probably go back to my Squadron & will likely go abroad on the following Friday. I will apply for leave till then & will probably get it all right. I expect I shall go out on a D.H.5. I really shan't be very sorry to go out as there is none of this beastly red tape & hot air that fills all home squadrons! Besides it will be a great rag shooting down Fritz.

Guy to May (his sister)

 

No 2 Auxiliary School of Aerial Gunnery,
Royal Flying Corps,
Turnberry.

Dearest

 

Thanks awfully for your topping letter. I haven't written for some time but will make it up now.

As you will see I am at Turnberry now at last. It is, I am afraid, not much of a catch & a great deal too like work! We are on from 8 am till 8 pm & working jolly hard all the time – chiefly shooting either on the range or from aeroplanes with machine guns at rafts in the sea or towed flags. It is great fun!

It is great sport standing up in the front seat of an F.E. & as the railing is only about 2 feet high you have to hang on pretty tight! I had 3 days in Edinburgh before I came up here & stayed in the ‘Caley'. I had a simply top hole time all by myself! I saw Molly but I am afraid Molly is not much of a catch – she hasn't grown up a bit & has not much in her. However – I made up for that & my latest is Jane Hansen – the little Danish friend of Mrs Westergaard. She is not v pretty but quite topping! We had dinner together in the Caley & then I saw her home in a taxi! What ho! likewise ‘Ow Snice'! I wish I had seen the ‘little pedigree dawg'! Do you remember that! I went over to Troon & had a great time on Saturday. Jack's fiancée is a v nice girl. Cecil is quite impossible! He is I believe going into the R.A.A.S. He “thought of going into the Infantry but he didn't like the idea of that. If he can't get into the R.A.A.S. – oh they will have him in the R.F.C.!” He composes music & got an unfortunate lady to play me one of his waltzes! It was some waltz! ‘Orrid! However – !

Yes, I had a near shave of going out the other day. I expect I shall go out as soon as the course is over. I shall be quite pleased to go out & I have no intention of getting picked off if I can possibly avoid it!

I am on a new bus now at Croydon called the D.H.5. (These details, please don't mention to anyone). It is a weird looking bus & looks like this – [No drawing available] –

If you compare it with my drawing of a Pup you will see that the wings are ‘staggered' backwards instead of forwards like this – [No drawing available] – It is the only bus like this. The pilot has a grand view. They are pretty fast, & you have to land them at 90 m.p.h.! I have ‘looped' & ‘rolled' them but they won't spin.

I think I shall be on them in France.

Well cheerio dearest dear

Brother Boy

 

P.S. Could you send me a
v. thin
pair of fur lined gloves to wear under my fur flying gloves for my birthday? I hope this isn't too much to ask.
If so please don't send it.

Best Love G.M.K.

 

Turnberry.

We had an exam yesterday & it was pretty easy & I think I did all right. We leave here tomorrow by the night train. I think I will go back to Croydon first & get leave from there as there is a lot of kit I want to leave at home. The weather has been very dud lately – rain almost every day & today has been the first really good day. I was up this afternoon.

In the Train.

I arrived back at Croydon last night after a fairly comfy journey down on the Monday night. I discovered that I had been taken on the Staff at Croydon as Instructor on “Avros” & so I am not going abroad just yet! Aren't you glad?! I am really a wee bit sorry! However I am rotten at landing on “Avros”. I took a pupil up this afternoon & made a simply appalling landing! At tea today I was sent for by the C.O. & told to take the first train to Norwich as there is an Avro there which is to be taken to Croydon, so I am going to fly it from Norwich to Croydon – What ho!! I will probably leave very early tomorrow morning as I don't get to Norwich till 9.30 pm tonight. If you see a machine doing stunts over Hounslow you will know it is me! It will be great fun! I passed all right at Turnberry.

Croydon

I flew the bus back here all right from Norwich. I lost my way & landed 3 or 4 times. I was flying 4½ hours. I went from Norwich to Thetford then to Huntingdon where I had lunch & then to an aerodrome near the Thames. I started at 10 am & got here at 5.30 pm with only a punctured tyre. The distance was about 130 miles.

 

Croydon

I have been doing a good deal of Avro flying (dual control) trying to teach fellows to fly who can't! I don't like the old Avro very much but she is not a bad old bus. She is nothing like as nice as a Pup. I did two topping loops on an Avro yesterday with a pupil in the front seat!

Croydon

I am now getting the hang of Avros. I took a man up today & showed him how to stunt & made him sick!

There was an air raid warning yesterday & I was all ready to go up but it was washed out. I was rather sorry as I am a bit fed up with doing nothing! I believe I shall be going overseas in about 10 days now!

Croydon

Yesterday the C.O. went over to Dover in an Avro & took me to fly it back as he was bringing back a Pup. I asked if I could go & see Dad but he said I had to go back at once. However I did 2 beautiful loops & Immelman Turns right over the Parade which I hope he saw! I had a nice trip back at 12,300 ft. I hope to go up in a Camel tomorrow. I have done a good deal of dual today but it has been thick weather.

Croydon

The weather has been pretty dud lately & today is the first flying day for a long while. I think my two months must be nearly up & it is time I went overseas. I am afraid I shall be on H.D. next Sunday so won't be able to come down home but will try to fly down to Dover to see “Dad”.

 

In the Train

Herewith a few new experiences! Yesterday I had to fly a D.H.5 over from Croydon to Joyce Green; not far but I was blue with fear all the time as the bus was rottenly rigged & the right wing low. However I got there all right & came back in an Avro.

In the afternoon Capt. Trollope & I flew over to Staines to shoot in the Reservoir on Camels. Trollope landed & I landed to see what the matter was. His engine had conked & so being a Flight Commander he flew home in my bus & left me to look after his, which I thought was the coolest thing on earth! I waited by that rotten bus from 5 to 8 pm! Mechanics then arrived to take it away but I wasn't going back to Croydon at that hour as I knew we wouldn't get there till about 3 am! So I stayed the night at a neighbouring farm where there was a most topping little flapper daughter! I had a top hole time!

This morning a side car came & took me to Hounslow where I was flown back to Croydon on a B.E. As soon as I arrived I was informed that the C.O. & I were to go to Grantham & there we would find 2 Camels which we were to fly over to St Omer in France. We went to G. by the 2. train from King's Cross only to find that we were meant to go to Lincoln & we are on our way there now. We hope to fly over to the Aircraft Park at St Omer tomorrow & should arrive at about 11. am. We shall deliver the Camels & return at once possibly in a B.E. if there is one to fly home, if not by train & boat, so I am afraid Sunday at home is imposs! Won't it be ripping fun!

Lincoln

We arrived here last night & this morning we started but the clouds were very low so we landed again. This afternoon we had another shot but the clouds are at about 500 & so it is no good & we shall have to wait till tomorrow which is very annoying as Lincoln is a ghastly spot. This is an Aircraft Receiving Depôt & the Aerodrome is I think the worst in the country. Tomorrow we hope to fly from here to Lympne & then to St Omer, the whole trip should take about 2¼ hours. At St Omer we will probably fly back in another bus or will come back by train & boat.

 

7 Ravenna Rd S.W.