‘A Short Life in the Sky’: the story of a WWI pilot
Pilot training in Windermere, May 1915 
(NRS reference: GD486/34)

Transcript:

Royal Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere, 16 May 1915

Dear Mother,

Sunday today! the first flight took place this morning. After getting up about 3.30am we got to the School & had the Avro out by 5.10am and then Mr Ding himself came out & took me up for my ‘joy ride’ in the NAC [National Air Communication] Mono[plane]. I had an awful job getting the machine started. The propellor is behind the main plane and to start it one must stand on the float under the plane & shove at the propellor through the wires. After about 
15 min[ute]s puffing I got it off & away we went. I didn’t notice the lift at all and forgot to look over the side till we were about 600 ft high. We went up to Bowness & back again and then took a circle round & came down 15 minutes in all. It was a very fine sensation & I just itched to have a hand on the steering wheel. It wasn’t nearly as cold as I had been led to expect & being a propeller machine there was no oil. Except for the vibration of the engine it was much smoother than a motor car. As we were doing 60 mph there was ‘some’ wind. After waiting some time I had some hot coffee at the café and my turn was just coming round again when it got too ‘bumpy’ for the Avro and shortly afterwards something went wrong with the N.A.C.’s Gnome. The Crossley car broke down & after struggling with it for about an hour I started to walk the 5 miles back. After walking 4½ miles the Crossley appeared. Rather rotten!! I had a wash up and then dinner. 

I must leave here at 5.45 for the evening flying as I am next on the list & if I am not on the spot I lose my turn and have to wait until the other 20 odd pupils have had theirs. This is the first real flying day we have had. I hope Sundays are not always so good. 

I am going for a snooze now so hope you are all keeping well. 

Much love

Douglas