Evening star., 1917-11-02
GIVES EXPERIENCES IN FLYING
UNDER THE FLAG OF FRANCE
Chester A. Snow. Jr.. Writes to His Father
Telling of Winning His French Brevet
in Altitude Test.

| Experiences Of young student flyer
In the aviation service in France. who
is Just beginning to master the rudi-
| ments Of flying. are contained in sew
eral letters from Chester A. Snow. 1r..
to his father. Chester A. Snow. q
prominent business man of this city.
In one of these letters the student flyer
says he passed his altitude test for the
French brevet. staying one hour and
forty-flve minutes at a height of over
1880 meters.
One letter, under date of September Z.
reads as follows:
TOURS. September Z. 1917.
IT am getting along we'll. but rain
and wind have slowed things up some
what lately. After several attempts
have finally secured q uniform large
enough for me, and have had 1t altered
so that 1t fits fairly well. 1 am in the
best Of health. Living conditions are
better than I had hoped for. We have
changed barracks, and the new one Is
better located. walked into Tours
the other evening and went to q show.
| am getting to use French very well:
tThey never talk too fast for me, and
am getting a wonderful collection Of
slang. that greatly amuses the people
talk to. coming as 1t does from an
American.
IT am writing to Stuart walcott at
Avord- He is good deal farther along
in the game than I am. He has just
received his pilots license, and will
now start in perfectionment. The
crowd down here is a happy. healthy
bunch, and we eat, sleep and scume
continually.
that I need just now. I can buy any
thing I need over here. I am afraid
the mails are not absolutely safe. as
several of my friends have never re-
ceived things sent them from home.
1T is the greatest blessing of my
the time. can never thank you
enough for having me taught it. 1t
comes in in a thousand and one ways,
and is used not only for myself. but for
my friends. It helps me to study and
understand the life of the people. the
In a way I never have before. I write
in my diary daily. I have not missed a
day since I set sail from New York"
Flies Alone for First Time.
Another one under date of September
II, telling Of his first attempt to fly
alone says:
TOURS, September IT. 1917.
'I have stretched my wings alone for
fly solo. Yesterday my first solo hop
down the field in a straight line was
made in good form and was quite sue
cessful and uneventful, but for me 1t
some Of the rudiments Of flying, I will
now continue learning by myself. max
ing more and more extended flights as
I progress. I am in good health and am
gaining weight. Uniforms have come
and am wearing the regulation olive
drab. am more than delighted with
my work. It Is the most congenial thing
have ever done, and I learn much
every day. The days are getting shorter
and the schedule is being changed ac-
night and less in the middle Of the day.
We have been given the French eleve
pilote's badge, consisting Of a silver
wreath, star and wing. which Is re-
placed. when we are b.svetsd. by va a
time is filled with flying. watching
flying, talking flying. attending lectures
on the theory Of flying: then eating.
rough-housing. sleeping and writing in
my diary. which keep well up to date.
with daily inserts of from one-half to
four or FIVE pages. I hope soon to have
some snapshots to send home. I mean
pictures of myself. as I do not think
any thing else would get through.
'As the days shorten we get time to
ourselves only when there is wind and
rain. The more flying, the better like
1t. Bad weather will come soon. I am
afraid"
A third letter under date of Septem-
ber 20 contains the following extract:
TOURS. September 20. 1917.
Flying appears to me safer than I
ever thought II before seeing so much
of 1t every day. I suppose it Is because
we use the safest machines that this
school has such fne record.
"T have now been soloing or flying
alone for about q week and have had
wonderful luck, not even breaking a
wire, as happens most frequently in
landing. So far my record is absolutely
clean. Yesterday my motor went bad
1 had to make my first forced landing. I
pulled 1t off in great shape. making a
neat 'atterissage de campagne' in a
small field near by. 1t gives one a great
able to get down safely that way with