The Cordova daily times., 1918-08-02
CHAPTER II.
1 Became a Fighting Scout.

| had Il hankering for the air ever since I can remember.
 As a yOungster I followed the ex- ploitS of the WrightS with the greatest interest. although I must confess I sometimes hoped that they wouldn't really conquer the air until I had had n whack at 1t myself I got more whacks thun 1 was looking for later on.
 Needless to say, my parents were very much opposed to my risking my life nt what was undoubtedly at mat time one of the most hazardous pas times" a young fellow could select. and every time l had smashup or some other mishap was ordered never to go near an aviation field again.
 So I went out to California. There another fellow and I built our own machine. which We flew in various parts of the state.
 In the early part of 1916. when trou- ble was brewing in Mexico. I joined the American flying corps. I was sent to San Diego. where the army flying school Is located. and spent about eight months there. but ns I was anxious to get into active service and there didn't seem much chance of America ever getting into the war. I resigned and, crossing over to Canada. Joined the Royal Flying corps at Victoria. B. c.
 was sent to Camp Borden Toronto. first to receive instruction and later to instruct. While cadet I made the first loop ever made by a cadet in Can ada. and after I had performed the stunt l half expected to be kicked out of the service for 1t. Apparently how ever. they considered the source and let 1t go at that. Later on I had the satisfaction of introducing the loop as part of the regular course of h. struCtiOn for cadets In the R. F. G.. and l want to say right here that Camp Borden has turned out some of the best fliers that have ever gone to- France.
 In May. 1917. I and seventeen other Canadian fiiers left for England on the Meganic. where we were to qualify ! for service in France.
 Our squadron consisted of nine Americans. (. C. Robinson. II. A. MIL ! Ter. F. s. McC1urg. A. A. Allen. E. B. Garnet. II. K. BOysen. Fl. A. Smeeton and A. A. Taylor, and myself, and nine Rritlshers, Paul II. Raney, J. R. Pnrk. i C. Nelmes. C. F. Moore T. l.. AtkIn- son. F. C. Conry. A Muir. E. A. l.. r. | smith and A. C. Jones.
 Within a few weeks after our ar- rival in England all ef us had won our "wlngs"-the Insignia worn on the 1 left breast by every pilot on the vest ern front. i We were all sent to a place in France known as the Pool Pilots Mess 1 Here men gather from sFI the training sQuadrons In Canada and England and await assignments to the particular squadron of which they are to become members. 1 The Pool Pilots Mess k situated q l few miles back of the lines. When ever pilot Is shot down 0r killed the 1 Pool Pilots Mess Is notified to send au- other to take his place.
 There are so many casualties every day In the k. r. C. at one point of the front or another that the demand for new pilots Is quite nCtive. but when fellow Is itching to get into the fight as badly as l and my friends were 1 must confess that we got little i'm patient. although we realized that every time new man was called It meant that some one else had in all probability. been killed, wounded 0r captured
 One morning an order came In for scout pilot and one of my friends was assigned. I can tell you the rest of us were as envlous of him as if 1t were the last chance any Of us were ever going to have to get to the front. As 1t was. however. hardly more than three hours had elapsed before an- other wire was received at the mess and l was ordered to follow my l friend. I afterward learned that as soon us he arrived nt the squadron he prevailed upon the commanding Olli- Cer of the squadron to wire for me At the Pool Pilots Mess it was the custom of the officers to wear "ShortS" -breeches that are about eight inches ! long, like the boy scouts wear. lenv- ing Il space of about eight inches If open country between the top of the 1. puttees and the end of the shorts. The Australians wore them in Saloniki and at the Dnrdanelles When the order came in for me, 1 | had these shorts" on. and I didn't have time to change into other clothes. Indeed. was In such sweat to get tO the front that If l had been in my pajumus I think l would have gone that way. As It was, It was rnining and l threw an overcoat over me, jumped Into the machine. and we made record time to the airdrOme to which I had been ordered to report.
 As l alighted from the automobile my overcoat blew open and displayed my manly form attired in shorts" h.