Risk said he thought I had been away months, and seemed quite relieved to see me back again. Graham and Ince [S. Ince, D.S.C., Flt. Sub-Lieut., R.N.] have put up a first-rate performance. They were not shot down. Graham came down low to see the Huns in the water, and his engine never picked up again. The Hun machine caught fire, and must have had bombs on it, for it exploded on hitting the water. Both machines fell bang in the middle of the fleet, which was duly impressed. Graham, of course, turned a somersault, and both he and Ince were nearly drowned.
1st January, 1916.
Had a great evening last night. A crowd of us went to dinner with G—— to see the New Year in. We did it in style. To-morrow I am lunching with the Bax-Ironsides.[14]
I looped on a B.E. 2 C. in great form the other day. If I had not been very securely strapped in, I should have fallen clean out. As it was, the cushion in the passenger's seat fell out and vanished. One seems to be upside down for a frightfully long time. I did the trick out in the country at between three and four thousand feet. The first time I had barely enough speed, so had a second shot and got up to over 100 knots. I really thought the wings would fall off! We had two topping crashes yesterday, but neither of the pilots hurt.
Tons of love and a prosperous New Year.
Ever your loving son,
Harold.
A BRISTOL SCOUT BIPLANE (OR "BULLET")
