I went to church last night in a sort of hall in the town where they have concerts, quite a nice little service; I went with Withington & Wigg [Lieutenant V. Wigg]. Then Withington & I went to have dinner with No 1 – Moore from Croydon is there, they are in the same aerodrome as we are. Moore is the man who went out to France the time that I reported as a D.H.5 pilot.
I am hanging my bag on the wall between the foot of my bed & the window. I see in the paper that John H. Russell (the one with the medal) was killed at Croydon in a collision, I was awfully sorry to hear it. The weather is still too dud for us to do offensive patrols so we don’t care if it snows ink! I do hope Dad will get a job in the Air Service – we want some old soldiers to stiffen up the R.F.C. We have heard no word of our missing pilots.
Bestest love to you all from the own. Bunsoy.
DIARY Monday 19th November
Thick all day. Up on formation practice in morning. [?] a danger to the state! Over Armentières – saw 1 Hun two seater which hoved off at once. Did nothing in afternoon – played bridge and won 2 francs! Up alone to Armentières to see if I could get the Hun! Na poo. Major borrowed my bus in afternoon. Back o.k. Feeling rotten in evening. Bed v.warm.
65 Squadron.
20th November 1917
Thanks for your welcome letters & the photo which is jolly good. I guess this is going to be the most thrilling letter yet!
This morning the clouds were at about 4000 ft. & so we did a Line patrol – in pairs – I went with “Old Bill”. After flipping round for some time I saw a Hun fairly low on our side of the Lines – just over --- Forest. I also saw about 12 Hun Scouts above, I thought I could get that low Hun so I dived onto him. Then suddenly I heard pop-pop-pop-pop-pop – behind me, I looked round but saw nothing so I did a steep climbing left turn. Then I heard the popping behind again & saw a stream of red tracer bullets going in front of me. (These are dummy bullets which are fired off first as sight shots to show the direction of the firing. ) Then as I climbed I saw a Hun Albatross Scout diving straight at me so I went straight for him & said to myself “Get out of the way you swab”! Sure enough he turned away to avoid hitting me. By this time about six of them were on me. So I just stunted as I have never stunted before! One went just below me & I clearly saw his light yellow flying cap. Then another dived in front of me so I said “I’ll get you, you blaster!” so I dived like smoke at him – I was so excited that I didn’t care if I collided or not! I fired at him but he went under me & I missed him. Then I saw another above & in front so I pulled up my nose as far as I could & blazed off at him. All the while the others were shooting at me! Then another dived away from me & I got my sights on him & saw my tracer bullets going right at him but I don’t think I got him. By this time I thought I had just about had enough & I was expecting a bullet in my back at any moment – so I just shoved my nose down & went down in the fastest spiral dive I have ever been in – in fact I thought I was going to pull a wing off but I didn’t care so long as I got away! I found odds of 12 to 1 a trifle steep! Anyway I dived down to about 20 ft of the ground & then turning due West hove off as fast as I could. I think I was doing 110 m.p.h. just above the shell holes. The Albatrosses followed me for some time at about 500 ft & then left off & went away. Gee! I was glad! Then I climbed through the mist which was now about 1000 ft & rejoined “Old Bill” who had lost me & wasn’t in the scrap.
That “low two-seater”!
9.30 a.m. 20th November 1917
I kept well away from that part of the Lines for the rest of the time I can tell you! I saw an R.E.8 shot down by “Archies” – it was a ghastly sight & it just fell over & over with one wing flapping loose. Then I went home!
I had 11 holes in my bus – mostly through the tailplane & rudder & 3 in the wings but none very near me – I guess “The Everlasting Arms” were around me that trip all right. I have never been so thankful that I could chuck a bus about. If I had flown straight for one minute they would have got me! As it was I think it was a pretty rotten show on the part of the Huns, I am sure 12 Camels would have got one Albatross!
Anyway it was some show.
Bestest love from the very own
Bunsoy.
DIARY Tuesday 20th November
Some Day!
Fairly clear – clouds at 4000. On Line Patrol in pairs with Old Bill. I went for a Hun low over Houthulst. O.B. did not come. Then I got about 12 Albatross on top of me – all shooting like mad! I splitarsed like ****! I shot at two or three of them but did not hit any. They were all round me! Then I thought it was high time to heave off! So I did the **** of a spiral dive down to 20ft and then hove off due W. and got away! Thank God! Eleven holes in my bus.
[These Huns had black and white checked planes and black and white hoops round the fuselages. They were probably a ‘circus’ led by Von Bulow from one of the Roulers aerodromes. They were well known in the Ypres salient.]
65 Squadron R.F.C.
21st November 1917
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
22nd November 1917
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
23rd November 1917
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
24th November 1917
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.
25th November 1917
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.
26th November 1917
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.
27th November 1917
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!
28th November 1917
No news & so excuse a note. I fetched a machine today from a Base about 20 miles W. of this & flew it here. I am not on patrol today. I went to a show again last night. We are doing a new kind of stunt now for the present but I can’t say what it is. I think it is a bit safer & therefore much preferable to the ordinary patrol. Well goodbye.
Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The Page 10