Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The by Christopher Burgess Page A

cold.
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    65 Squadron R.F.C.
    9th November 1917
    Dearest Dad & Mum & Joe
    Thanks awfully for your two letters, also for “Flying” & “Ashore & Afloat”. There is not much news to give you this time. We didn’t fly yesterday afternoon as it was raining & as it continued all evening I stayed in Camp. We played Auction Bridge & I lost 4 francs 50 cts! By the way you remember I said yesterday that some Huns had come over – well “B” Flight met one of them. He got the wind up & dived away from them at a great pace, in fact he over dived himself & his wings folded back & he was slain. One Hun the less! The other day, I think it was Tuesday – it was very cloudy & we sent up some patrols – defensive of course, anyway 3 of our fellows – Harrison [Lieutenant W.L. Harrison], Cutbill [2nd Lieutenant E.H. Cutbill] & Gordon [Lieutenant E.G.S. Gordon] failed to return & are still missing. I guess they must have got lost & landed in Hun land. Rotten luck – wasn’t it? Three new pilots have just arrived from the Base. This morning I stood by for early patrols but didn’t have to go up. How topping Joe coming home, give him my bestest love. This morning from 10.45 – 12.15 we went up on Line Patrol but it was very cloudy & we couldn’t see anything – we saw no Huns. I guess we will be crossing the Lines soon now! Wind up! We have got some blue curtains for my hut also a table made of a board – it looks great! We also have some mats on the floor & pictures on the walls. I wore the new fur gloves today – they are great! The weather is very unsettled & rains on & off. I had a shot at censoring Mum’s letters, rather an amusing game! “The roar of the guns made one man’s blood go cold.”
    Well na poo now. Bestest love to all three of you from the Bunsoy.
    DIARY Friday 9th November
    Fine morning. Patrol at 11am. Clouds all the way up. Formation poor – Engine dud. Contour chasing with O.B. in afternoon. Put the wind up troops on parade! Went to Armentières – v.knocked about & deserted!! Watched a communication trench being shelled. Saw kite balloon being archied – too close to be pleasant! Engine went ‘wonk’ and cut out at intervals all way home. Ignition wire broken. Shorting on another cylinder. Got it fired up o.k. now.
    To Bailleul in evening, not quite so cold.
    10th November 1917
    Just a wee note as there is not much time before the post goes out. There is no news at all to give you this time. Yesterday afternoon Bill & I went up & had a practice scrap. I beat him I think. We then put the wind up troops on the road then I went over a town S.E. of this & quite near the Lines (Armentières) it has hardly a whole roof in it & looked very deserted. I watched the Huns shelling Communications trenches about 300 yds out of the town – v.good shooting.
    Then I saw a kite balloon about ½ a mile away from me & my own level getting “Archied” so I thought it was time to go! My engine started cutting out on the way home & I thought I wasn’t going to get back but just managed to. An ignition wire had gone & was short circuiting other cylinders; it’s all right again now tho’. I went into the town yesterday evening & got a few things. Today it’s raining hard – I have just lost 4 francs 50 cts at Auction! I shall never gamble, I haven’t the luck! (N.B. by Mother good thing too!)
    No time for more.
    The Bunsoy.
    Guy to May (his Sister)
    On Active Service in the Field
Passed by Censor No 5308
    65 Squadron
    10th November 1917
    Dearest
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    I hope that by this time you will have had my last (& first letter). I have had two from you so far I think.
    I am afraid there is no immediate prospect of my getting down to Rouen to see you but when I get my leave – in 5 or 6 wks if all’s well, we must arrange a meeting somehow or other.
    Well, we have been out on patrol at 5000 ft