Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The Read Online Free

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
    27th April 1917
    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
    29th April 1917
    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