I have been up two mornings running at 3.30 for work, but the weather has been “dud.” We do not always get early work, of course; we take it in turns.
I was up over the lines yesterday about 4,000 feet and they put up a few Archies at me. They were rather close, so I zigzagged to a cooler spot.
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A Forced Landing.
This morning we were up at half-past two o’clock. We got up 8,000 feet, and awaited the signal to proceed from our leading machine; but the clouds below us completely blotted out the ground, so we were signalled to descend. When I had dived through the clouds at 5,000 feet, I discovered to my surprise what appeared to be another layer of clouds down below, and no sign of the ground at all. I came lower and lower with my eyes glued on the altimeter, and still no sign of the ground. Finally I went through the clouds until I was very low, and then suddenly I saw a row of trees in front of me, pulled her up, cleared them, and was lost in the fog or clouds again. I decided that that place was not good enough, and, not knowing where I was, I flew west by my compass for about a quarter of an hour and came down very low again. This time we had more success, and could occasionally see patches of ground fairly well from about twice the height of a small tree. We cruised around till we spotted a field, and, after a good examination of it, landed all right, and found on inquiry, to our great relief, that we were in France. The observer-officer and I shook hands when we landed. We returned later in the day when the weather cleared up. I am not the only one who had a forced landing, but we all came out all right, I believe.
I was getting some well-earned sleep this afternoon when there came a knock at the door of my hut, and R. H. W. walked in. He is not far from me and so motor-cycled over. He stopped to tea, and I showed him round.
We are very hard up for games, so I want you to send me a Ping-Pong set—wooden or cork bats, and a goodly supply of balls.
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Archies.
(To B.C.) I have been putting off writing to you till I can tell you how I like German Archies. Well, I can tell you now; that is, I can tell you how I don’t like them if you promise not to show any one else this letter. Still, perhaps I’d better not; you are such a good little boy and have only just left school; perhaps one day when you are grown up I’ll tell you my opinion of Archie.