Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (18 page)

New Years' day! A Happy New Year to all you folks & many many of ‘em. Today for a change it is fine & this morning we went up protecting R.E.8s taking photos 4000 yds over [the lines]. There was a strong East wind & very few Huns about. We went over with them & then Gilmour came back & left the R.E.8s for some unknown reason. It was rather a rotten show – I don't like going over the lines myself but I do like doing a job properly. “Old Bill” has gone on leave today, I don't know for certain when I shall be going – in about 3 weeks I hope.

Last night Moore & Patrick from No 1 came over to dinner & we saw the New Year in playing Auction till 12.30, I lost 13 frs! which is a good beginning! “Unlucky at cards, lucky in love”!

Thanks for the verses by Auntie Mary; I rather like our “Artist Patriot” for Harry Lauder!

It is still freezing but honestly & truly this morning it was much warmer in the brilliant sunshine at 9000 ft than it was on the ground.

We have had these new Flying Suits issued; they are very nice & warm. McElroy rang up yesterday – he is on S.E.5s in No 40, further South than this. I am going to fly down to see him.

Well bestest love to all from The Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Tuesday 1st January

Dud in morning. On patrol from 3-4. No E.A. seen – went over the lines a good deal. Gilmour doesn't ‘use his dome'! We went over from the N.W. with a run in the S.W. Beastly cold.

 

65 Squadron

Thanks so much for your letters & thanks most awfully Dad for the top-hole Cardigan – it is just lovely & will keep me as warm as toast!

Today the wind is in the West & it has been raining & is much warmer. I went down town yesterday afternoon & after dinner we had a Cinema show up here – quite a good one – Charlie Chaplin in great form! Today the clouds are fairly low & though we are standing by to escort R.E.8s taking photos I don't suppose we shall go up. I think there is a Reserve Patrol this afternoon but I don't know if it will go off.

This morning I went up for a flip & had a practice scrap with an R.E.8 from 53 Squadron quite close by – we fought for half an hour on end & it was most instructive & I got a lot of tips about fighting Hun two-seaters from it. I went round & saw the fellows in it after & they said they had enjoyed it. Well no more news now.

 

Bunsoy.

DIARY Wednesday 2nd January

Fairly dud all day. C.O. flew to Berck in morning no patrols at all. Shot on range.

Bed fairly early. Falling out with Gilmour steadily.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks so much for your three letters from Mum Dad & Gran [?]. I am so sorry you feel this cold so much. As a matter of fact I don't feel the cold flying very much. It is jolly cold but my face is pretty well covered up except for a few small places & my body is quite warm in the Sidcup suit. My hands are the only parts that get cold & nothing on earth would keep them warm!

Today the wind is in the East again & there has been some snow. We were down for escorting R.E.8s again this morning but it was too dud. I went up on Reserve Patrol from 1 – 2 & have just come down. I never saw such a sight as the air was! We went well over the Lines but the only Hun we saw was one two-seater at about 15,000 ft. The air was simply & literally black with our machines of all types; I guess we pretty well frightened the Hun out of the sky! It was some show!

I had the fellows I fought in the R.E.8 over to tea yesterday & we went down to a show in the town afterwards, but it was very dud & we came out at half time.

Many thanks for “Scrooge”. I hope you are all quite “fit” now, no more colds or neuralgia.

“B” Flight has just come back from a week's Gunnery Course at a place on the coast & have had a very good time there apparently I guess “C” Flight will go soon. No more news now.

Bunsoy.

DIARY Thursday 3rd January

No patrols. Fought R.E.8 in morning – jolly good scrap. Went round to see him after. R.E.8 people in to tea. Trés bon! Went down to show in town – awfully dud and I came out at half time.

Bed at 12. Read and smoked till then. Very cold – frozen in bed. ‘B' Flt came back from Break.

 

65 Squadron.

Another simply priceless scrap this morning! Five of us in “C” Flt. were out on patrol. I was flying behind & trying to look after a new fellow – who was awful & lagged miles behind. So I had to fall back & keep with him. Then the first three escorted an R.E.8 away over the Lines. I went some of the way with them & then turned back because I wasn't going over with this fellow loafing alone behind. There were already 10 Albatrii in the sky which I had counted so I waited about. Presently I saw a large shemozzle going on about 2 miles over the Lines, so I shoved my nose down & went for it. I found our two Camels & 3 Spads having a merry scrap with “umpteen” Albatrii. I got on the tail of one & fired at it & it hove off, then another one dived across my front so I fired at it allowing deflection but missed it. Then in his obliging way the Hun turned his tail towards me & I fired about 100 rounds into him. He fell over on one side & went down. I couldn't see if he crashed but I have claimed him as “out of control”, I don't know if I will be allowed to, I hope so! I saw a Spad moving on another Albatross then suddenly the Hun's left wing fell off & that was that!

Gilmour got two this morning & Eaton got one, possibly two! Not so bad for “C” Flt. 4 Huns. One of our fellows is missing & another Capt. Sydall was doing a practice dive & his bus folded up & he was killed – jolly rotten luck.

Well no more news. By the way as soon as we got down we were informed that “B” Flt couldn't raise enough machines & so we had to go up again – no more Huns tho'!

3½ hours today!

DIARY Friday 4th January

Up on Reserve patrol from 10-11:30. Huge scrap with Albatri near Roulers. Robb shot down? [2nd Lieutenant. R.E. Robb, G.L., reported missing] Gilmour got 2 crashed and 1 out of control. Eaton and I got one out of control a piece, not so bad for 3! Siddell [
sic
] killed in crash. ‘C' Flt on patrol again from 1-2.30. No scrap – No E.A. seen.

To show with Moore after tea. Trés bon! Bed early, room smoked out! ****! Davis! [GMK's batman]. Heard from Joy – trés bon! The Huns lost 12 today. Damn good! Major and Jones to Rouen till the 7th.

 

65 Squadron

Thanks so much for your letter of New Year's Day.

The Wing has allowed us 5 Huns in yesterday's scrap as there were only 3 of us that did any fighting – Gilmour Eaton & I (We always fly together now, I hope you will hear more of this trio!) it was pretty good! Gilmour was allowed 2 crashed & 1 out of control. Eaton & I were allowed one each out of control – my first proper Hun! “C” Flt is feeling very bucked with itself! In all 12 Huns were shot down on this Front yesterday. Très bon! My shots into the Hun were with best wishes from you Dad as you asked me to do!

I was jolly tired last night having done two shows. When I went to my room I found that my idiotic orderly had lit my oil stove & turned it full on with the result that when I went into my hut I couldn't see across the room for sooty smoke. Everything was simply smothered in soot – my blankets books toothbrush were all about six inches in it! I told my servant just what I thought of him this morning!

Today is dud & no patrols. I think I am going to fly over to No 32 to see them & fly back. Oh, huge success of my contour chasing. The other day coming back from patrol I came back just above the Lines & went below the level of a small hill near the aerodrome. Huge commotion on the ‘drome – they thought I had crashed & sent the ambulance rushing out! They were quite disappointed when I reappeared above the hill – smiling! Anyway as you know contour chasing is invaluable for getting away from a Hun & it is the best fun in the world & quite safe if you are careful which I hope I am.

Well folks I am in great form & awfully bucked about my Hun! Please send me another small indelible pencil & cap.

Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Saturday 5th January

Low clouds and mist all day. No patrols. Stayed in bed till 11.15! Our Huns Confirmed allowed, good old ‘C' Flt.

Standing by ‘til 3 p.m. – rot! Flew over to No 32 at Dooglandt. Saw Pearson and the Major. Flew back just before dark.

Down to show in evening with Withington and others Bon. Much warmer.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks for your letter & for the cutting. The pilot referred to is Capt. Mc Cudden [later Major J. McCudden, VC]. He was Wing Fighting Instructor when I was at Croydon & used to fly a Sky Blue “Pup”. He once lectured to me. At that time he was not so frantically popular as the Daily Mail makes out. I don't know what he's like now, he is flying S.E.5s.

Yesterday was dud all day & there were no patrols. Willington & I flew over to No 32 & stayed there for about 30 minutes & came back just as it was getting dark. Then we went to a concert in the town, a most excellent show. I played “Auction” after dinner & wonder of wonders I actually won 3 frs 50 cts! Today we are going to do a Squadron Offensive Patrol from 2.30 till dusk. I hope “C” Flt gets some more Huns! I don't expect that there will be much Hun activity though as it is pretty misty up.

The C.O. is at present at Rouen & is staying till tomorrow. I asked him to look up May if he got the chance.

That ash tray is nearly ready & is very bon I think – it is made from the inspection plate near the tail skid of the Albatross shot down by Wigg on Dec 12th. I think Wigg is going on leave next, I don't know for certain when I shall be going – in about three weeks if all's well. I hope to get to church tonight.

Bestest love to all from The Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Sunday 6th January

Thick fog in morning. Up on A.O.P. in afternoon. Pretty thick still no E.A. seen.

To Church in evening with Withington. New padre preaching – very poor effort! Fell in tub on the way home! ****!!! Snow on the ground. Major still at Rouen.

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks so much for your letter dated Jan 3rd; it only took 4 days to arrive which is quite good.

My ashtray will be finished tomorrow, I guess. I will try & get a decent pipe; if I can't Dad had better have the ash tray.

Enclosed is a poem called “Ten Little Albatrii”. [Not available] I made it up yesterday afternoon whilst on patrol over the lines as I was so bored I didn't know what to do – rather a masterpiece, what! We saw no Huns. I was up on patrol from 2 – 3 this afternoon. The clouds were at about 7,000 & the visibility was poor. we ran into a snow storm about half time & flew about till it passed off. The air was pretty full of our machines & there was nary a Hun on the Lines – there were 4 well behind. The R.F.C. on this Front flies in pretty well any weather. You very seldom meet Albatrii when there are clouds at 9,000 because they know that since they can't sit up above your reach you can force them into a fight at that height which wouldn't suit them at all!

There is a thaw today & everything is beastly wet. Also there is a West wind blowing which is rotten as it blows you over the lines if you aren't careful.

Bestest love from The Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Monday 7th January

Thaw set in. No patrols all day.

Withington, Jones [2nd Lieutenant L.S.R. Jones] and I to dinner at No 32. Franticly cold. Went in Sidcup suit. Northwood away at Barck. Back at 12.30.

 

65 Squadron

Many thanks for your last letter.

Not much news this time. Last night I went over to dinner with No 32 & had a very good time. We went in a tender & I wore my Flying Suit & a helmet. The Sidcup Suit “keeps you warm at 20,000 feet” granted but it utterly fails to keep you warm in an R.F.C. tender! I got back at 12.30 & was rejoiced to hear that I was down for patrol at 7.30 this morning (I don't think!) Anyway I crept out of bed & crawled into some clothes & emerged shivering only to find a cloudy sky. We waited to see if it would clear when 3 Camels from No 70 landed having been prevented from going back to their own place by snow. Presently it started here & has been snowing all day, it is jolly cold too! Patrols Na poo. The C.O. came back last night from Rouen & was quite bucked with “C” Flight's little show.

Gorringe in 70 was one of my pupils at Croydon. He came out just after I did & has done awfully well having got 10 Huns. Makes my ewe lamb look rather small doesn't it?

The ash tray is finished & is very bon; I will send it off tomorrow. I have done 87 hours flying out here & a total of 265 all told.

 

Well bestest love from The Bunsoy

 

DIARY Tuesday 8th January

Up for early show. Gorringe from 70 landed and reported snow. Started to snow and carried on nearly all day! No Patrols; did nothing at all except read and smoke. C.O. came back from Rouen last night. Quite bucked with ‘C' Flt. Bon, eh!

 

65 Squadron.

Thanks so much for your two letters & the copies of “Flying” books – very good. I am afraid I didn't think much of Boyd Cable's story “Quick Work”. The maniac of a pilot he describes as his hero would have been shot down at once! He did the very worst possible thing, diving away from a Hun! And as for shooting down a Hun with his top gun on top of a loop! – the thing's impossible & absurd! A loop is absolutely useless as a Fighting Stunt. A climbing turn & a steep spiral dive – (of my own invention!) are the only stunts I ever use in a scrap. I do wish people like Boyd Cable would not show their ignorance by trying to write about flying! The best article was “Impressions of Leave” which was priceless. The story “Eighteen” was unnecessarily lugubrious.

Well it was fine this morning & appallingly cold! There was snow on the ground & it was freezing. I was up on a two hours Reserve Patrol – there were very few Huns about & with the West Wind we did not cross the Lines. A lot of S.E.5s were about. Some clouds came over at about 6,000 ft. We were loafing along when suddenly a comic Albatross appeared from nowhere in particular – a habit they have! He saw us & climbed like mad for the mist. We all fired madly at him from long range but of course we didn't hit him & he hove off!

It is now snowing again with great gusto, cheery weather this! Wigg went on leave yesterday & Capt. Withington is going next & I think that with any luck I might be going after that i.e. on the 23rd. What ho! Last night it was simply freezing cold. I wore a waistcoat, a cardigan & bed socks & a hot bottle & I had 2 flying coats, a British Warm & a French coat over me & I was still cold!

Well Cheerio folks. Bestest love from The Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Wednesday 9th January

Snow very thick. On Patrol (Reserve) from 10.30-12. Clouds fairly low. Very few Huns. A lot of S.E.5's. Strong west wind. Fired at one Albatross which appeared and at once hove into a cloud.

To tea with No 1, snowing again. Down the town with Burbeck and Kelsey. Major out for Mess. Binge after.

 

65 Squadron.