‘A Short Life in the Sky’: the story of a WWI pilot
Action in Turkey, February to March 1915 
(NRS reference: GD486/102 page 2)

Transcript:

My second flight - on the 2nd March - was about 50 miles 
into the hills to see if any Turks were encamped at some 
of the big villages whence by the way they draw all their 
supplies. There was nothing much in that although it was 
frightfully cold, and all my fingers were dead white 
when I came down in spite of thick gloves. My third 
flight – armed with a camera & 3 dozen plates to make 
a complete survey of a certain Turkish position of which
more later. We had taken about six photos when the petrol 
pipe broke – height 6000ft. So I turned & made for as 
near home as possible - thereby spoiling a photo my observer 
was taking. The expressions on his face were comical as 
he first said something uncomplimentary to me on account of
the photo & then tore up his maps & papers & scattered them to the
four winds. I came down as slowly as I knew how & 
landed about 4 miles from the Turks and about a mile from 
our lines. A party of men dashed forward & wheeled 
the machine into one of our camps. I had lunch with the 
Divisional General, borrowed a horse & did the 
10 miles back to GHQ [General Head Quarters] as fast as possible, collected a gun limber [a form of two-wheeled gun carriage to tow back the damaged plane], six mules, two mechanics, petrol & repair parts & returned. 
3 h[ou]rs on a horse for the first time in my life. We repaired 
the machine & flew back just before sunset & the evening straf. 
Result two days in bed & also the saving of my life as  another 
man whose machine was out of order was sent out on 
my machine & was shot down & killed. I am now waiting 
for his machine but it is very bad with damp & exposure.
We have awfully comfortable quarters in an old barge,
though a bit damp when it rains.

Must catch the mail so much love

Douglas