Guy got his “ticket” on April 30th & at the same time 48 hours leave so he took the night mail to London & thence to Dover to find his Dad there alone, I having gone to Byfleet the day before. He spent the day & night at 8 Marine Parade and came up to Town on 2nd May & spent a jolly day with us all – Elsie, Gladwys & Leon & myself. We lunched at Gallards on Regent Street & then went to see George Alexander in “The Aristocrats” then the others went back to By fleet. Guy & I had tea at the Regent Palace Hotel & then went to Putney for dinner. He saw me off at Clapham Junction for By fleet & then went on to King’s Cross to catch his own train back to Catterick. On May 3rd he was sent to join his advanced squadron at Tadcaster, about 50 miles from Catterick, so did not get up to Stirling as he hoped. We had a postcard telling us he had been moved & his next letter, the first from Tadcaster, was written on May 6th.
Mrs Janie Knocker, GMK’s mother.
46th Reserve Squadron
Royal Flying Corps
Tadcaster, Yorks.
6th May 1917
Sorry not to have written before. This place is very nearly as “dud” a spot as Catterick – 2½ miles from Tadcaster village & a very rotten aerodrome very rough bumpy ground. The machines here are all “pushers” viz. De Havilland 2-seater fighters (D.H.1A) with 80 h.p. Renault engines. F.E.2Bs (Fighting Experimental) very stable machines 120 h.p. Beard motor. F.E.2Ds an improved 2B 250 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine.
At present I am on D.H.1s. I went up for 50 minutes dual yesterday & did very well. I then went up again for 15 minutes.
The F.E.2d. Engine 250 h.p. Rolls-Royce.
Then they thought I was fit for “solo” so up I went alone!
These machines are very sensitive fore & aft & “stall” at about 48 m.p.h. Well I was quite all right in the air – they are very nice buses to fly. I went round & tried to land but I flattened out too soon & put her nose up. She really “stalled” but I switched on again. Then I tried to land again but a beastly F.E. came down beneath me & right across my front. This put me off so I went round again. By this time I was a bit “fed up” & it was getting “bumpy” so I tried to land. This time I thought I was quite near the ground & put her nose up to put her tail on the ground but I was really about 10 ft. up. I nearly “stalled” again so jammed down her nose & came down “bump” & continued to bump till the machine got “fed up”! I am now on dual again! I did quite well this morning & am quite confident that I have got the “hang” of landing now; I am going solo again next time. I won’t hurt myself so don’t worry. My course down was rather like this:
My dramatic landing on a D.H.1
I think I will pass out of this Squadron in about 3 weeks, most people do. Then I will go to Turnbury [Turnberry, Scotland] for a machine gun course & then “Wings”!
I think I am going to Leeds tonight – about 11 miles off as the weather is too “dud” for flying.
Nr. 46 R.S.
Royal Flying Corps
Bramham Moor
Tadcaster
7th May 1917
Thanks very much for your letters. This morning I went up again solo on De Havs, they are very easy buses to fly – but landing is as usual the trouble .The first landing was a perfect one with no bump. The next was rotten & on the next I broke a wing skid. However I didn’t know this & went up again & did a very good landing. I am now beginning to get the “hang” of the buses. I have done 50 minutes solo in De Havs. Tomorrow I am going to fly on a cross-country to Catterick, it will be very interesting. I shall go via York & follow the river Swale etc.
I got to Catterick. I went to Leeds on Saturday & had a very good time – I went to see ‘Three Cheers’ which was excellent.
Today I went into York to buy a pair of goggles as I think I must have left mine at home & I must have a pair. I only got a cheap pair so if you find mine you might please forward them. After 2 hours on De Havs I will go on F.E.2Bs. I will probably get about two days’ leave when I have finished De Havs, perhaps this week and I don’t think I can run to another trip to Dover, what do you think? Of course I would rather go home than anywhere else! The wind is blowing & it is beastly cold there won’t be any flying till it drops. I have managed to get the boss of a propeller which will make a ripping clock case. Well I must stop now as I have no more news. I didn’t get to Kirk yesterday as we are 3 miles or so from the nearest.
Sketch map of route from Tadcaster to Catterick about 45 miles.
Tadcaster
10th May 1917
Thanks for your numerous letters & etc. I have finished my course on De Havs now having done about 4 hours solo. I am now going on F.E.2Bs. Today I went for a cross country trip to Catterick; it is about 57 miles away. Going there with the wind I took about 50 minutes, coming back against the wind I was 1¼ hours. On the way there it was rather bumpy & horrid but on the way back it was gorgeous. Going I could only fly about 3,300 ft. as the clouds were pretty low, coming back I got up to 4,500 ft. & volplaned down onto the aerodrome without using my engine. I did a fine steep spiral. I found it a trifle hard to breathe at 4,500 ft. but I will soon get used to that, not much good if I can’t as I will have to get up about three times that height. It was lovely flying back & the old bus was going beautifully. I lost my way from York but managed to see the aerodrome away on my left & made for it. I travelled along the N.E Railway Line from York till I came to the River Swale & then I followed that till I came to the ‘drome. I arrived at Catterick at 11.15 a.m. & stayed there till 7.0 p.m. as it was too bumpy to go back in the middle of the day. I arrived home at 8.15 p.m. Altogether I had a great trip. Well that is all for today.
Tadcaster
13th May 1917
Thanks so much for your letter and parcel, the cigarettes are “topping”. I expect by this time you will have had my letter about my cross country flight. I have now finished with De Havs & have gone on to F.E.2Bs. These are great big two-seater Fighters with 120 h.p. engines (Beardmore). They are very heavy on the control & absolutely stable & as safe as a house. They will get out of any trouble or difficulties themselves & they can’t be put into “spinning nose dives”! I am still on dual control but hope to be on solo soon. The front seat has no windscreen & so you get a terrific wind on you. Personally I don’t like these machines as much as the little De Havs, as they are so heavy on the controls & are rather unwieldy but I expect it will be better “on solo”. Tomorrow Monday, I am going down to Reading to take that exam that I missed when I was there. I expect I will be at Reading for about three days. The Major here says I will be able to have a weekend on my way back so you will be having me at Dover again soon, I will wire when I am coming. I will get my trip to Reading free. I don’t know anything about the work but have been “swotting” it up. I don’t suppose they will let me fail as I have done so much flying! But you have to pass the exam just to get your “Wings”. I enclose some photos I took when at Catterick; please send them back also my photo album. Don’t show the photos of the buses all round as I really oughtn’t to have taken them. I have got a chest of drawers & a spring bed in my room here so am well off. The huts are wooden & two men occupy one room. I went over to Harrogate lately & had quite a good time. The weather has been too misty for flying lately, good climate this! After I get my wings I may be instructing on De Havs, if I don’t go “Overseas” I should love that. The messing here is very bad indeed, far worse than Catterick which was pretty poor!
Yesterday morning I spent cleaning wires on an F.E. an awful job! I went up for a short flip but it was very bumpy & the machine wasn’t running well. Maitland has finished his Elementary & is now at No 6 R.S. [Reserve Squadron] Catterick learning to fly De Hav 2s Pusher Scouts. I’m afraid I won’t be able to go to Church today either as I have to work for that exam this morning & then will probably be flying tonight. I am very sorry as I really wanted to go.
We don’t get up till 7. a.m. A lot of Catterick men are here. No more news & so I will stop.
Guy went to Reading on Monday 14th May
& had a three days exam. I went up to Putney to meet him as he wired asking me if I would. He got 24 hours leave on Friday 18th & I met him in Town. We lunched together & went to see “Daddy Longlegs” & greatly enjoyed our time together. We stayed the night at Putney & he went back to Tadcaster by the 4.30 p.m. train on Saturday 19th, I returning to Dover on the 4.20 train.
Mrs Janie Knocker, GMK’s mother.
Tadcaster
20th May 1917
It was simply “topping” seeing you. I had a “ripping” time & enjoyed my short leave immensely. I had a very comfy journey back but on arrival at York found that there was not a train to Tadcaster till Monday morning. Net result a taxi! Net cost 19/- !!! I found that another fellow had taken my room when I got back so I promptly turfed his kit out! His expression on coming in about 1. a.m. & finding me in bed was a dream! I gently explained & he retired muttering imprecations, whereupon I chuckled & went to sleep!
I have been up 3 times to-day. The new goggles are “topping”. The first time I came down & took a tyre off the machine, not my fault though. Then I went up again & landed amongst the sheep – one idiotic quadruped stood absolutely stock still while I ran over it with my left wheel, also I killed it but it wasn’t my fault as you can’t choose your ground & as a rule they run away. I shan’t have to pay for it though!
Then I went up again & got up to 6400 ft when I was well above the clouds – a beautiful sight. When up I tried “stalling” with the engine on, I pulled her nose up till the speed fell to about 44 m.p.h. then the bus stopped & the nose flopped down to just below the level & we went on again, a very tame performance! I hadn’t a coat on & was very cold so came down. This evening I went up again & as there were no clouds to speak of I managed to do my height test & reached a height of 8100 ft. I found that I had no difficulty in breathing there & it was lovely! I then tried “stalling” without my engine, a very different matter! I pulled her nose up with the engine on till she lost flying speed & just before she started to fall I switched off the engine. Down went the nose & the bus did a very steep nose dive for about 200 ft. till it regained flying speed when the nose went up. That dive is thrilling – you leave everything behind you for the moment! Oof! I did three lovely spirals down from 8000 ft. two right hands & a left – they were well over 45° of bank! I got back onto the aerodrome without using my engine at all & thus have passed the test! Thumbs up! I am very pleased with myself! To-morrow I am going to do my photography test & may be a cross country to Catterick again. Well no more now.
Tadcaster
22nd May 1917
Yesterday I did 3½ hours flying. In the morning I went up for 2¼ hours doing photography, I took 15 photographs but only two were of the proper spots & so I will have to do it again till I get my 6 proper pinpoints! I got up to 10,200 ft. some height! I had no feeling in my fingers up there through my gloves & all! The goggles are grand! I “stalled” at 10,200 ft. & came down without my engine in grand spirals, then I went up for 1¼ hours & did bombing – it’s a ghastly job but I managed to pass in that. Well I will write again soon, I have no more news now.
Guy gave us a great surprise on Saturday May 26th by appearing suddenly & unexpectedly at 11 p.m. He finished passing all his tests on Friday night thus becoming eligible for his “Wings” & got leave till the 30th so came straight home. he managed to procure a pair of Wings in Town on the way through in a little shop & had them sewn on by the man who sold them so he was wearing them when he arrived. He got to London with 2/9d in his pocket & paid his taxi from King’s Cross to Victoria by cheque! The man demurred but was told it was that or nothing so accepted a cheque for 5/- (double fare). Being Saturday afternoon every place was closed but Guy got into Cox’s somehow & bullied them into cashing a cheque although they declared it was out of business hours & most irregular. They asked if he were off to the Front & he said “not now but I expect I shall be soon” so they cashed it! Guy had to return to Tadcaster but was in hopes of being sent up to Turnbury[sic] in Ayrshire for his machine gun course.
Mrs Janie Knocker, GMK’s mother.
Tadcaster
30th May 1917
I had a topping day in Town yesterday & went to see “Zig Zag” at the Coliseum; it was priceless & awfully funny. I also did a Cinema & had dinner at the Maison Lyons & got the 10 o’clock train from King’s Cross. I had a comfy journey to York where I had to change & wait three hours so I went to the Station Hotel & lay down in the Lounge till train time – they charged me 2/6 for that, swindle! I was met at Tadcaster by a “tender” & here I am.
I have been placed on the strength of 46 Reserve Squadron pro tem. & as the Flight Commander of “B” Flight is acting C.O. I am acting Flight Commander!!! I have to “instruct” & test “buses” & get people through, it is jolly hard work too! Fancy me a Flight Commander!! Nothing further about Tractor Scouts which I thought I might be put to learn. I had a ripping leave & enjoyed it awfully. Well my duties call so I must knock off. writing again soon.
Tadcaster
3rd June 1917
The other day I took the bus up to about 6000 ft over Harrogate & proceeded to delight that town with a few choice “stunts”! I managed to do the famous Immelman Turn – you pull the nose up with the engine on till the speed goes down to about 40 m.p.h. Then you kick on right rudder hard & switch off the engine, the bus “stalls” but instead of the nose falling straight down it falls over to the right, gets into the nosedive & comes out the opposite direction to that in which you started. I did a tail side also, that consists in “stalling” without pulling the joy-stick right in to you – on the stall the bus slides backward for about 30 ft before the nose goes down, however this is bad for the elevators & not to be recommended I have taken up several pupils on my flights for “joy rides” & more or less “put the wind up them”!
The Immelman Turn on F.E.s
I tried a new thing the other day (quite safe!) called the “Falling Leaf Flutter”. It consists of coming down in a series of right & left side slips & is rather fun. Yesterday I went up & had an aerial “scrap” with another fellow in another “bus”. I kept on his back nearly all the time & dived on him at 120 m.p.h. Some speed! The weather has been pretty “dud” lately & most unsettled. The other day I had a forced landing on an F.E.2B. My engine cut out at 3000 ft I looked for a good field, over judged my landing & came to ground at 80 m.p.h. – went slap through a hedge hardly feeling a bump & came to rest 150 yds the other side. I sent for A.Ms [Aircraft Mechanics] & they patched up the engine & I flew her home all right. I went to Leeds the other day & saw “Razzle Dazzle”, jolly good. The other evening I went out to dinner with Burbidge to his home in his sidecar & had quite a good time. Three of my pupils got their “Wings” last night & did their night landings – very dark! I am afraid I can’t get to Kirk today as being Flight Commander I have to stay here & fly! Well I will knock off now as you have all my news.
Tadcaster
6th June 1917
Thanks very much for your letters. I think I am going up to Turnbury [sic] on Monday next. I shall try to manage a weekend in Edinburgh on the way there if I can get it – won’t that be nice? I am no longer Flight Commander as a fellow just home from France has come & taken over. I am just as glad as I now have a superlatively “cushy” time!
Yesterday evening I went up & took a man for a joy ride, I have never been up on such a gorgeous evening! From 5000 ft you could see for miles round & never a bump. Then above that you came into night mist. I got the bus up to 11,000 ft in 23½ minutes which is jolly good for a bus weighing something over a ton! I was just level with the top of the mist & in the light of the red setting sun it was lovely!
I did a perfectly vertical bank yesterday. On the way down last night from 11,000 ft I did every “stunt” I could think of. I started with an Immelman Turn & incidentally very nearly got into a spin (quite safe of course at that height) but it “put the wind up me”! Na poo! Then I did a spiral, then I stalled & did a vertical nose dive
getting up the speed to 125 m.p.h. Next I did a very steep spiral then the “Falling Leaf” side slip stunt & then I S-turned onto the aerodrome & landed. The passenger said I was “some stunt-pilot”!
The other day we had “Formation Flying”. The F.E.2Bs made a formation & the two F.E.2Ds were going up above to strafe them, we lost the formation & flew over Harrogate. It was very bumpy & thick above 4,000 ft & the other man was quite low & doing “stunts”. I lost him & went home. At 3.30 p.m. he rang me up to say that he had had a forced landing at Redcar about 7 miles off! The other morning I went up to test a bus & the engine cut out just as I got up! I shoved her down to land in a field but she just picked up & crawled home! I had “wind up”! Thanks awfully for the bracelet it is topping & just right.
Tadcaster
10th June 1917
Thanks so much for your numerous letters & etc. Alas! Turnbury [sic] is “washed out”. I am not going. A nil report went in & when our names went up it was too late – rotten, isn’t it? I am now staying on here pro tem. The Flight Commander has gone away for a week so I am again acting F.C.! I have an assistant! isn’t it priceless?! I have been having quite a few adventures lately. On Friday I went over to Catterick & took a passenger, I flew at 11,500 ft I stayed there a few hours. McElroy [later Captain G.E.H. McElroy, 40 Squadron] is doing awfully well; he has been “looping” on a Vickers. Coming back it was rather misty & I had some difficulty finding my way. On Friday night there was a Zepp. scare & flares were alight all night & patrol machines up. Yesterday morning I went up with a passenger & established my height record. I got up to 14,000 ft. It was very cold up there but I didn’t notice that it was hard to breathe. The view was gorgeous; you could see the Humber nearly to the sea & all the mountains for miles round. I was over Harrogate; it took 20 minutes to come down. I had a little game with two clouds like this:-
Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The Page 3