Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The (13 page)

Thanks for yesterday's letters; I haven't heard from you today so I suppose you didn't write. No further news of interest to report – I didn't go up again yesterday as I had had enough “scrapping” for one day! I have drawn a beautiful picture of the scrap & will enclose it in this. [See letter dated 20th November]. Last night I walked down to the town & had dinner there with a man Tiptaft [2nd Lieutenant C.P. Tiptaft], whom you don't know by name, we had a very good meal at a café down there.

This morning it is raining & blowing with much vigour & gusto & I don't care how long it keeps on! We are playing No 1 again at “Rugger” this afternoon I think which will be good fun. I am going to ask Northwood, who went out with Moore, from No 52, to dinner tonight but don't know if he will be able to come. I am afraid I shan't be able to send you a photo of my room as it is a case of “Verboten photographen” out here.

About the Aldis sight being “oily” – the Aldis is a kind of telescope tube which sticks out along the top of the gun as far as the cowling & sometimes oil is splashed on it from the engine.

No more news.

Bestest love. Bunsoy

DIARY Wednesday 21st November

Dud all day, played bridge in mess most of the time. Out to dinner with No 32 Northwood, Jones there, v.good time. Weedon [Captain L.S. Weedon] came too. Drank gallons of Creme de Cacao. Back at 1.30!

 

65 Squadron R.F.C. France

Dearest Dad & Mum,

So sorry that I can't post this letter in time, however I have a good reason for it. It was pretty “dud” this morning however we were sent up on Line patrol – that was all right & we met neither Archies or Huns. Coming back however the formation dived down through the clouds to get below them & we didn't come out of the clouds till we were only about 50 ft from the ground. As I had got separated from the rest in the clouds on coming out I saw no other machine, moreover I had only a very vague idea of where I was! I then espied another “Camel” – “Hurrah!” said I, “he probably knows the way!” However when I saw the letter of his “bus” I knew it was Rosenthal who is rather a “dud” & I was quite sure he knew no more than I did! So we both wandered round at about 100 ft for ¾ of an hour but couldn't see the ‘drome anywhere as it was very thick. At last I hit upon a town which I recognized as the one near which we stayed before we came here, so I landed at our old aerodrome & had lunch. After lunch we set off again & by this time it was like flying in pea soup – so we contour-chased at about 50 ft! By pure luck I managed to hit this place & landed O.K. I am jolly glad we found the way all right. Last night I went out to dinner with No 32 Squadron to see Northwood & had a very good time. They are about ¾ of an hour by tender from here & we got back at 1.30. Thanks for your two letters & also for Win's epic! Thanks awfully also for the books & the baccy & the fags & the piece of lava from G which is great! No more news.

Bunsoy

 

DIARY Thursday 22nd November

Brekker in bed: Up on patrol at 10 am v.thick, line patrol. Got lost with L.W... After wandered round for ¾ hr & finally got to Pop. Lunch there. Back after lunch. Thick as pea soup! Nearly lost. Bridge in evening. Lost 3 fr. Bed early, read in bed.

 

65 Squadron R.F.C. France

More thrills for you!

This morning “A” & “B” Flights went up on Offensive Patrol. It was pretty misty & the two Flights came past each other in the mist & Rosenthal [2nd Lieutenant A. Rosenthal] & Keller [Lieutenant C.F. Keller – but see later] collided, it was a ghastly sight, I am afraid both “went West”. Then Old Billy [2nd Lieutenant Bremridge] got lost but he came back afterwards all right. That left only 3 in “A” Flight – we saw two Hun two-seaters – one a green one, “B” Flight had fired on that & I got onto his tail about 100 yards behind & simply pumped lead from both guns into him – with no result – he simply flew on. I am quite sure he was armoured! I fired at the other & he went down in a dive & then a spiral, I think I got him.

Then about 8 Albatrosses came up & we had a messy scrap! They fired at me & I felt a bullet fly past my leg! Another inch & it would have been a “Blighty” one! Rotten luck!

I may have got an Albatross but was too excited to notice it. He went down after I had fired about 50 rounds into him! I then got lost but looking up I saw what I thought were Nieuports. “I'll go & join them” said I, & I was just getting into Formation with them when I saw they were Albatross Scouts which are very like Nieuports! I simply hove off!

Then I picked up Higgins [Captain W.W. Higgins, O.C. “A” Flight] & we came back. I had 11 bullets through my bus & enclose the shell of an explosive one which stuck in a strut. Pilcher was wounded in the hand, lucky beggar! Marshall, (the young Wellingtonian), is missing from “B”.

Well the post goes. Bestest love from

The Bunsoy

 

[2nd Lieutenant L. Marshall was in fact killed in the above mentioned collision with 2nd Lieutenant A. Rosenthal. (See below.) But Lieutenant C.F. Keller was not involved in this accident; he was taken prisoner on the same day.]

DIARY Friday 23rd November

N.O.P. at 11-12. Wigg did not come. Rosenthal collided with Keller. Both killed – an awful sight. [Rosenthal actually collided with Marshall in a cloud. Keller missing and I think a prisoner. – later note by GMK in diary.]

Dived on 2 two-seaters & scrapped 8 scouts! Fired like ‘stink' at them! I think I got one! Bus shot about. Thank God again. 11 holes thro' my airship. Diagonal strut gone and one in fuselage. One missed my left leg by about ½ an inch!

No more pats in afternoon, Marshall missing and Tiptaft wounded in the foot, landed behind Passchendaele. Pilcher [2nd Lieutenant T.F. Pilcher] wounded in the hand and both legs, lost his thumb. Got down o.k.

65 Squadron R.F.C. France

Thanks so much for your letter of the 19th. I didn't go up again yesterday & was quite glad. My bus needed a new left bottom plane [wing] & two new fuselage struts so it was pretty well shot about.

I went to see Pilcher today, he is in the C.C.S. [Casualty Clearing Station] here & is going home shortly – he has lost his left thumb but is otherwise very fit. It was a very stout effort of Higgins yesterday. He had gone off having broken off the scrap but he looked round & saw me all alone fighting about 4 Albatross Scouts so he came back to help me & shot one off my tail & we both got away. I am nearly sure that I got one of the Hun two-seaters but as it wasn't verified by our Archie gunners I can't claim it officially. Anyhow I simply pumped bullets into him & he went down in a dive & then flattened out & got into a spiral which I believe is how they sometimes go down if the pilot is killed. There is no further news at present – we were due for patrol this morning but there is a howling gale & the clouds are very low so it is washed out. Three loud cheers & applause from everybody.

 

Bunsoy

DIARY Saturday 24th November

Howling wind all day, no patrols for us. Rugger match No 1 & us v No 19 & No 53. Very good game we won 8-0. Northwood & Jones to dinner. Pearson and some others from 32. Very merry. Played Cardinal Puff, sang and drank in evening. Great time. “Naval No3” a good song. Bed at 12.00 – quite warm.

65 Squad. R.F.C.

Thanks awfully for Tuesday's letters. I just love getting them; the Mail is the great event of the day out here! “Nothing of importance to report in this communiqué”

Yesterday there was no flying as the howling gale lasted & it still howls today & so there is no flying today either – loud & prolonged applause from all concerned! Yesterday a combined team of No 1 & No 65 played a similar team of No 19 & No 53 & we beat them 8-0. I was playing & it was a great game! Two fellows from Croydon whom I “instructed” have arrived to fill up gaps in 65. V.nice chaps too. Our mess is just the same as at home, quite civilized! Well the post is off so I will stop.

DIARY Sunday 25th November

Gale continues. No Patrol all day – to church in evening at 6 v.good service – electric plant and no lights! Good sermon on the fall of Jerusalem. (Jerusalem captured Nov 11th).

To dinner with No 1 with O.B. and McKinnon [2nd Lieutenant J.F. McKinnon] after church – good fun.

 

65 Squad. R.F.C.

Thanks for your letters & “Flying” & Books of Today. I went to church yesterday evening & had a topping service & some v.nice hymns. “O God our Help” & “Abide with me”. The sermon was about our Crusade in Palestine. There were no lights as the plant had gone dud so we did it all from memory.

I had dinner again at No 1 & had a v.good time indeed. The wind still howls & I haven't been up but am going up to teach some new fellows formation flying. This dud weather is great & can last as long as it likes! There is no news of any importance except that it is very cold! I expect we shall be having snow soon. Wot ho! I expect you are at Weymouth by this time so am writing there. My room is fairly tidy now & very cosy. Well there's really no news so I will stop.

Bunsoy.

 

DIARY Monday 26th November

Wind still high, loud and prolonged cheers! No patrol, Dyer [2nd Lieutenant H.A. Dyer] and Matthews arrived yesterday – very bon! Took up Matthews [Lieutenant C.D. Matthews] for a practice formation in afternoon. Very cold. Up to Ypres and back. Did a few loops. Mess under repair – down to show in Bailleul in evening – “The Optimists” – Excellent show. Musical evening – Dyer played and I sang “A Wee Deoch and Doris”. Bon!

Had a hot bottle at night.

[2nd Lieutenant H.A. Dyer was reported as “Missing, reported killed.” on 7 December 1917. Dyer was a famous orchestra conductor and learned to fly Camels at the age of 38.]

 

65. R.F.C.

The gale continued all yesterday but I went up for a short flip in the afternoon & taught one of the new pilots' formation, we did not go across the Lines tho! In the evening I went to a concert party down in the town a most excellent show & we all thoroughly enjoyed it. A man Dyer has come to the Squadron whom I taught on “Avros”; he is an excellent man & plays the piano beautifully. Last night we had a musical evening & after much thought I sang “A Wee Deoch & Doris” amid loud applause! I guess I am the only man, who, if pronouncing the last line is any test, was “a richt ye ken”, it was great fun. The Squadron is having some Xmas cards done & I believe I am to design them. Suggest a suitable design!

This morning it was raining but it held off at 11 so we went up on patrol. Just as we got to the Lines however it became very thick & started to rain & so Higgins fired a white Verey light & came home amidst shouts of applause from the entire patrol. “Old Bill” is taking up some new fellows to practise formating, I am not going up & one of the new blokes is flying in my “bus”. I hope to goodness he doesn't crash it, I think I should weep if I lost my own ship as I just love it & know all its little tricks.

I see from the papers that Cavalry Major Baron von Richthofen is back at the Front again, I hope I don't meet him though I would dearly like to bring him down – I'm afraid it would be vice versa though!

The mail hasn't arrived today. Rotten! Na poo maintenant--Bestest love from The Bunsoy

 

DIARY Tuesday 27th November

Rain early. Stopped at about 11. Up on patrol at 11.45. Went up to Lines but it came over dud and started to rain and so we hove back. Bumpy as **** landing but all landed o.k. No more patrols today – applause. To “Optimists” at night.

As the papers would have you imagine a pilot – An intrepid birdman.

 

What the aforesaid ‘birdman' really feels like when over the Lines!