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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0778.PDF
o b< cc inP< at ofF. rr t\ 13 P' T t< fl w V ir tl fi a o c li f a n follows :—" This-er-machine is a Sopwith. No !-er-it's an Avro. At least it has " Sopwith " on the propeller and " Avro " on the tail. Sergeant 1 what is this machine ? " " It's a Havro, Sir 1 " Watch Texas I 10.2.18.—Dreamt last night that the war was over, and that I told Captain Z— to fill the blankety 'bus himself, and said " Bogie, bogie ! '•' to the Sergeant-Major. * Have been awarded " Three Days' C.B.," for being late on parade this morning. Willy has been trying to borrow a glass hammer for tapping wind-screens ! 11.2.18.—Have heard rumours to-day that we are going to have new uniforms. The descriptions of the new dress vary, but I've gathered that they are something like this :— An Italian peaked hat, a light grey tunic, red flannelette breeches and fancy brown boots. The people won't know whether we are a travelling circus or a party of W.A.A.C.s in undress uniform ! 12.2.18.—'Willy had his first joy-ride to-day. He told us, with trembling lips, and pallid face, that it was " awfully jolry," but he felt a " wee bit sick." 13.2.18.—Am completely "fed-up" to-day. Thought of asking for a transfer, but was afraid the CO. might grant it. One of the lady clerks absent. She added up the flying times correctly yesterday, and has not yet recovered from the shock. 14.2.18.—Lieut. G— landed in a tree this morning. One of the instructors wishing to put him at ease, remarked, "Hullo ! had a smash ? " Lieut. G—, clambering from the tree and stuttering, replied : " N—n—o, you fool, I er—er— always 1-1-land like this ! " Lieut. G— will not be promoted just yet. Willy has been greasing the wing tips, to prevent the machines from sticking to the clouds. 15.2.18.—Our very latest Scout landed to-day. Went to see it " getgoff "—but got an eye full of dust, and by the time I had picked my hat up, a telephone message arrived to say it had reached its own aerodrome fifty miles away. Watch Tooting! 16.2.18.—Had another interview with the Pay Sergeant, as I heard I was 10s. in credit. He has put me 15s. in debt to co.ver it. I think we shall win ! Willy is working on an automatic device for the preservation of pilots' lives. 17.2.18.—An air-raid last night. (It wasn't really last night—but that's camouflage. You won't catch me giving secrets away to the enemy!) There were no bombs dropped here, but the gunners at (Guess ! ) made excellent practice. They dropped a shell just twenty yards from our mess-room, which proves that they knew what they were shooting at. 18.2.18.—I believe our Squadron will become civilised soon. JULY II, 1918. There's Willy, five lady drivers, eleven Waacs, and the Sergeant-Major (Capital Letters, please !). If they cannot tame us all hope may as well be abandoned. Watch Manchester United ! 19.2.18.—Willy's apparatus is finished. It is to be fixed on the dash-board in front of the pilot's seat. If some of the cylinders blow out a red light is shown; if the machine side-slips out of control, the apparatus shows a green light, and a pointer indicates which way the machine is falling; and if the tail falls off, the device rings a bell, and fires a Very light to warn people underneath to stand clear ! 20.2.18.—One of our lady drivers got to hear in a round- about way, that it is a good thing to clean the plugs. After a struggle she removed the plugs from the cylinders, and then applied to the sergeant in charge for some soap and hot water ! I believe she obtained the " hot water," but he was out of plug-soap. However, she is endeavouring to rectify matters by a frequent use of soft soap ! • - 21.2.18.—Have received private information that, as a mechanic, I am splendid, and I should be promoted if,—(1) My moustache was not so long, (2) My manner was more forcible, and (3) My feet conformed more efficiently to regi- mental ideas. I've a fair share of ambition, so I've shaved my moustache completely off, my attributive vocabulary is surpassing an Aldgate paper boy's ; but my feet will imitate the clock when the hands show ten-past-nine ! 22.2.18.—-We are developing strong traces of economy in this squadron. A certain job used to be done by a 1st A.M., and three of the other kind, to save money and to use the men's labodf more efficiently. The same work is now done by a " 1st," a " 2nd,'.' and a " 3rd " and six women. In addition a lorry driver and his second man are employed to fetch the women and take them back. Nevertheless, I still think we shall win. •'. -' :- •••;. ;. Watch your step ! .... 23.2.18.—Do you remember reading about that ox which Noah's wife taught to sit on its hind legs and beg for a sugar ticket ? Yes ? Well, we had it for dinner to-day. It gave itself up, as it wanted to do " its bit" for the troops. The troops " bit " but couldn't do it ! The squadron shoemaker has gone into hospital with a broken heart. 24.2.18.—We have a very lucid flight sergeant, who clears up misunderstandings in a clear and succint manner. He explained the theory of flight to me to-day, something as follows :— " Ii the different forces acting on a machine in flight are known to be what they are, and if the negative lift plus the positive lift are together greater than gravity, consequently knowing that these forces are acting in conjunction or else in opposition, and taking into account the fact that if the stagger is greater or smaller than it ought to be therefore the drift will be greater or smaller than it is ; consequently the machine A Sopwith single-seater fighter shot down in an aerial fight on the Western Front,painting on the engine cowl and the two fixed machine guns. 776 Note the peculiar
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