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

by Christopher Burgess

  Am very fit & happy. Thanks for your two letters – hope you are awfully fit. Must catch the post.

  Bunsoy.

  DIARY Sunday 3rd February

  Not on early show. O.P. 10.15. Chased about 17 Huns East of Lille. Then dived on 7 Black & White Albatri S.W. of Roulers. Shot one down in a spin – got allowed him. Got shot to bits myself! Bullet through sleeve of my Sidcup suit – longeron and main spars shot. Jack [Gilmour] got a Hun.

  To Kirk in evening. To dine with No 1. Kelsey leaves tomorrow. Letter from Nickie.

  65 Squadron

  4th February 1918

  So sorry that I missed the post today but I was out to lunch.

  My bus has been “written off” [Camel B2419] as it was pretty well shot up yesterday & it has done 160 hours. Today Jack put a couple of revolver bullets into the other longerons to make sure of it, “murder Most Foul” I call it – it is a good thing though as it was getting old & now I am getting a brand new one. I am awfully sorry to lose Pooh-Bah though – it has done me jolly well & had been in a good many merry scraps – in fact it was a good old pal of mine. R.I.P. anyway.

  I shall take some time to get used to my new one; I expect I shall have the rigging altered to suit my own particular style of flying. I don’t suppose it will loop as well as Pooh-Bah. I had looped her so often that I simply had to say “Loop” & she looped herself!

  I was up on Reserve Patrol this morning but we only saw 7 Albatrii well East of the road & they didn’t worry us so we had no scrap. I was not on the O.P. but there were no Huns about anyway. I went over to lunch at No 32 & saw Northwood. Flying back I did a simply priceless climbing turn off the ground.

  A Handley Page Bomber landed here yesterday, you have no idea of the huge size of this bus, you could put a whole “Camel” on the planes on each side of the fuselage. They have two “Rolls” engines & can carry 16 112 lb bombs apiece, good line what! The passenger-carrying H.Ps can carry 14 persons. To see this monstrosity doing a climbing turn off the ground & then diving down & “zooming” the hangars was the finest thing you ever saw, it obscured half the aerodrome when it landed.

  DIARY Monday 4th February

  On Reserve Patrol in morning. Saw nothing to notice. Poor old Pooh Bah written off! Did nothing in afternoon. To dine with Williams [Lieutenant T.M. Williams] at Club in evening. Fairly ‘happy’ after! To lunch with 32 – saw Bulger.

  65 Squadron

  5th February 1918

  This morning I was up on Reserve Patrol from 9 – 10.30. I patrolled most of the Lines at 14,500 ft & it was jolly cold! I dove on 5 Albatrii from a great height but they hove off East at once before I could reach them. I am just back from No 2 A.S.D. [Aircraft Supply Depot?] where I have been collecting a new “Camel” to replace mine; it is a very decent one with a good engine in it. I am having the rigging altered slightly.

  We have been having lovely weather for the last few days with beaucoup sun & quite mild also beaucoup aviation! Today the C.O. is leading a large Off. Pat. but I am not in it. He [Major J.A. Cunningham] has been given the Croix de Guerre. Withington [Captain T.E. Withington, O.C. “B” Flight] went on leave today – lucky!

  DIARY Tuesday 5th February

  On Res: Pat: in morning. UP to 14500. Dived on 5 E.A. which hove off. To Serny to fetch new Camel. Very own bus. Huge tea party in afternoon apparently. Umpteen Huns. I not in on it – thank heavens! 3 Huns shot down.

  To dine with Pat in No 1 – Mc Elroy there. We are going to shift from here to Pop: rotten. Letter from Nickie – exceeding bon too!

  65 Squad.

  6th February 1918

  No patrols today as it was pretty dud. I tested my new “bus” which is very bon indeed, better than my old one.

  I went down to the Base to see 3 Hun aeroplanes which had been brought down ‘intact’. One was an A.E.G. twin-engine bomber, a rotten looking affair; a Rumpler two-seater & a comic little scout – a sort of cross between an Albatross & a Nieuport.

  Then I flew back & had a very good practice scrap with a S.E. 5. I think I put it all over him as far as manoeuvring goes! We had a fellow missing from that scrap yesterday – however in the evening he strolled into the Mess with his head tied up! He had had both his petrol tanks shot through & a splinter of bullet in the back of his head. So he landed behind the Lines – he is quite all right now – good show what!

  My bed is lovely now with that mattress, it just makes all the difference! I had dinner with No 1 last night & saw McElroy who had come up for dinner from No 40. He has got about 10 Huns.

  DIARY Wednesday 6th February

  Dud all morning and no patrols. Tested my airship and did some priceless loops. Cleared up after lunch. Flew to Omer with Jack and saw D.F.W., R.E.9 & S.8. Fought S.E.5 after – bon scrap – put it across him all right!

  Down town with Major and Jack after tea.

  65 Squadron

  7th February 1918

  I heard from May today, she is bound for 49 C.C.S. Some where South of this I fancy, I shall try to get down to see her if I can find out where she is.

  It was dud all yesterday & no patrols – I am getting quite a decent rest with one thing & another. I was down for an O.P. today but it is raining hard at present & so it has been washed out.

  It’s awfully rotten that we have to shift from this aerodrome. We move on Tuesday. I fancy I shall be awfully sorry to leave No 1 as they are all such awfully good fellows. I think I shall share a hut with Jack Gilmour if I possibly can when we shift.

  When poor old Pooh-Bah got shot up I was carrying a copy of the Squadron photo in a sort of dispatch bag fixed on the side of the fuselage in my cockpit & the bullet which hit my Sidcot suit passed slap through the photo. I will have it framed & sent home, it will make an interesting souvenir.

  I think I am going to play in a scratch game of hockey this afternoon. Well no more now!

  DIARY Thursday 7th February

  Dud all day. No flying – Cocks returned – very chewed up with life in general! Did nothing, but read and smoke. Bed early.

  65 Squadron

  8th February 1918

  Yesterday afternoon Balfour, Wigg the R.O. & I went up in a tender for a joy ride to have a look at the Trenches. We went up to a certain well-known ridge where we left the tender. We then walked up & saw the three huge mine craters – they are simply enormous, about 70 yds across & 20 ft deep. All along the roadway were the remains of old trenches & barbed wire. Then we came to an old Hun dugout with a pile of Hun hand grenades lying behind it. I would have collected one only I thought they might go off! There were dud shells & Stokes mortar bombs lying all round also old “Toffee Apples” – a round bomb with an iron slide for firing from a trench mortar. Then we walked along the ridge in front of our batteries which were firing at the Hun about 3000 yds away. The Hun replied with 5.9 Howitzers but all the shots fell short – I am glad to say!

  The country up there – the scene of the famous battle of the Vimy Ridge, is an awful scene of desolation, all shell holes & blasted tree trunks. We saw a smashed up Tank lying in the open. The ground was dotted with smashed in “Pill Boxes” – great concrete block houses & concrete sniping posts. Then we walked down the – - – Road & picked up our tender & came back very tired!

  Bad weather today & no flying.

  DIARY Friday 8th February

  Dud for patrols all day. Wind and low clouds. Read and smoked.

  15 guests in for dinner! Cinema after. I read and stayed in Peacock’s room. Bed early.

  65 Squadron

  9th February 1918

  The dud weather continues & there are no patrols today, nor were there any yesterday, which is just as well as there is a strong West wind blowing! I hope to aviate down to see Dunkerley at No 2 this afternoon but don’t know if I will be able to go, as the clouds are fairly low. I can’t find out where No 49 C.C.S. is but will make further enquiries.

  We are all getting ready for our move up North – it is a beastly nuisance havin
g to move. Maitland came up to see me yesterday. He has just come out on “Camels” in No 80 Squadron. I told him some hair raising tales of ‘Albatrii’ & ‘Archies’ & ‘tea parties’

  A lot of fellows came in for dinner last night but I went to bed fairly early as I was rather tired.

  Old Bill is in Hospital pro tem. with pyorrhoea & slight septic poisoning but is coming out shortly & is quite fit.

  DIARY Saturday 9th February

  Wind and low clouds. No patrols. Did nothing in morning. Flew down to see [?] and Caldwell at Auchel. Bumpy as ****! Landed at La Gorgue on the way back and saw Trollope. He came back for tea with us.

  Played Auction in evening till 12.30. Lost 1 fr 50 c. Letter from Nickie.

  65 Squadron

  10th February 1918

  The dud weather continues – howling West winds & low clouds & showers – no patrols today or yesterday, I am really getting a bit tired of dud weather.

  Yesterday I braved the elements & flew down South & saw Dunkerley who is very fit & enjoying life pretty well. I also saw two or three other fellows I met at Tad. They are night bombing on F.E.s. I did a few choice stunts over their Aerodrome after taking off just to cheer them up! Then I went & landed at 43’s aerodrome & saw Trollope who is new out – he killed a Hun two-seater the other day. he flew back with me & had tea here & then flew back. I enjoyed my little “Cook’s Tour”!

  We are moving on Tuesday [12th Feb.] & I am going to pack this afternoon, it is a vile nuisance having to shift, we are going to the same aerodrome as 70!

  DIARY Sunday 10th February

  Clouds and wind all day. To Church in a.m. in the Camp. Read and smoked all day. Messed around in afternoon. Went for a ride on No 1’s horse – awful sickness!

  To dinner at No 1. Rest played poker – back at 12. Wireless tomorrow.

  65 Squadron

  11th February 1918

  Today we are down for Wireless Interruption – or strafing the Hun two-seaters doing Art. Obs. [Artillery Observation] but as there is still a howling West wind & low clouds; we won’t have anything to do as there won’t be any Huns up at all!

  I went for a short canter round the aerodrome yesterday afternoon on a horse. I went in to a Service in the Camp yesterday morning; the Padre was very young & very nervous. I had a line from Jenkins today; he is in 46 Squadron & is having a pretty fair time of it – good fellow old Jenks.

  I am going to play “rugger” this afternoon & so will stop. No news at all at present!

  DIARY Monday 11th February

  Clouds and wind all day. No Patrols. Rugger in afternoon v No 3 Aust: Drew 4-4. Good clean game. Read and Moore and Pat in to play poker. This weather is great.

  65 Squadron

  12th February 1918

  I heard from May today – she is a good long way from here & it would be ‘some’ trip for me to fly down to see her but I will try to manage it if I can. Dud weather still continues, no flying yesterday or today.

  I had a great game of Rugger yesterday, we played an Australian team & drew 5-5 after a v.close game.

  We haven’t shifted yet as we are waiting for the other Squadron to move, who are in turn replacing a Squadron which is going down South & can’t move till the weather clears up.

  I am going to have another game of Rugger this afternoon. I wonder if the Hun is preparing some form of devilment under cover of these clouds with no Obs. to worry him!

  I am particularly fit now, I am glad to say & feel equal to any amount of Albatrii! Can’t think of anything more to say so will draw stumps!

  DIARY Tuesday 12th February

  High wind and low clouds. No patrols at all. Rugger v Australian team in afternoon. Won 7-6. Ripping game. Read and wrote letters in evening.

  65 Squadron

  13th February 1918

  Today it is raining hard, this is the 8th day of dud weather. Amazing, isn’t it? Consequently I have no news at all!

  I don’t know when we shall be shifting, not till the weather breaks anyway. This Spring the “Camel” will be the only Rotary engined bus on this Front. We are getting 150 h.p. engines instead of the present 130 h.p., which ought to be pretty good – - – when we get them!

  DIARY Wednesday 13th February

  Rain and low clouds all day. No Patrols at all. Read and played bridge most of day. Up for a 5 min flip in afternoon. Raining and thick as mud.

  65 Squadron

  14th February 1918

  The wind has changed round to the East & fog & mist have replace low clouds & rain – it’s all one though still dud.

  I went up for a short flip yesterday in the rain, just to get some air into my lungs but it was very thick & I soon came down again.

  DIARY Thursday 14th February

  Thick mist all day. No flying. Soccer v Sergts. in afternoon. Lost 4-0. Very good game. Bridge in evening till 12.30!

  65 Squadron

  15th February 1918

  Fog still continues & it is very chilly today. I went up for a short flip & couldn’t get much above 1000 ft. & it was very cold. It is clearing up a bit since & so there may be a show but I doubt it.

  I played “soccer” yesterday & had a very good game. We played the Sergts. & lost 4-0. I was Orderly Officer yesterday. Eaton came back from leave & that makes up our old three again – Gilmour, Eaton & I. I am very glad as I don’t like flying beside someone I don’t know. This afternoon there are going to be inter-flight soccer games, 6-a-side, 10 minutes each way – it ought to be rather thrilling!

  DIARY Friday 15th February

  Misty all day. Short flip in morning. Flt soccer matches in the afternoon. “C” Flt won and I won 10 fr. on it!

  Read and played bridge in evening. Lost 18 fr. Beastly cold, no patrol.

  65 Squadron

  16th February 1918

  I see Brian Baker is now D.S.O., M.C., Croix de Guerre. Pretty good work

  Today is a lovely fine day with an East wind. La guerre recommence ! We are standing by all day to strafe Hun two-seaters doing Art. Obs. & have been kept pretty busy. I was up on dawn patrol with Jack but saw no Huns near the Lines. Eaton however struck a single Albatross & fired at it; the Hun dived away East & dived straight into the ground & was slain. Jolly good work. A lot of Hun two-seaters have been over here today at 16,000 ft.

  Huge excitement at about 12 noon! Archie started & we all went out of the Mess & lo, a single Albatross scout ‘loafing’ at about 3,000 ft. right over the aerodrome. He turned East & then “Archie” put him off & so he turned West again. Then a S.E.5 which was up at the time spotted him & dived on him. The Hun went down in a mighty dive, flattened out & landed in a field about a mile from the town, turning over on his back when landing – the pilot was unhurt & has been taken prisoner. I watched the whole thing through my glasses – it was a priceless show! A single Albatross over here at 3,000 ft.!!! I guess he was absolutely lost & had awful wind up, poor beggar – I don’t blame him!

  We are moving tomorrow at 8 a.m. Furious packing this afternoon! Awful Nuisance!

  DIARY Saturday 16th February

  Great war starts again. On Dawn Pat: with Jack. Cold as ****! No Huns to notice. Eaton crashed an Albatross! Bingo in club for dinner. Leaving tomorrow.

  DIARY Sunday 17th February

  In complete trance all day – with headache. O.P. from 9-15. Left Bailleul and landed at Proven. Res: Pat: in afternoon. Very reserve!

  Settled down in hut with Jack. Balfour, Major. Dinner in Pop.

  65 Squad.

  18th February 1918

  Thanks for your letters – awfully sorry I couldn’t write home yesterday but I truly hadn’t a minute. We got orders to move yesterday, & we had to get up early. Just so as to give us lots of time to settle down in our new place, the Wing gave us two Observation Patrols, one Off. Patrol & 6 new machines to collect from 2 A.S.D.!! Rather too much, wasn’t it and yesterday was a perfect nightmare! I had a bit of a head [ache] as a kick off, too.

  We left – - –
on the O.P. & patrolled for 1½ hrs & landed here in our new aerodrome, which is a pretty deadly spot right on the main road running N.W. from – - – . The Mess however is very comfy & the huts very bon! I am sharing a Mess hut with Jack, Balfour & Major Howes. I couldn’t stand Old Bill as a hut Mate any longer! No food when we arrived except Bully & Machaichie [sic?].

  The fellows who were collecting the new buses hadn’t come back & so “C” Flt had to do another patrol – a reserve patrol – this took 2 hours. I was in an absolute coma all the time with a rotten headache. A fresh soloist in a ‘Rumpety’ could have shot me down with a bow & arrow! However there were no Huns & in the O.P. we were all feeling too tired to want one! Then we had dinner down the town & then I fell into bed & to sleep – I was tired!

  I am very fit this morning though, as I didn’t get up till 10 o’clock.