American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-05-03
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me around the course. These are
pretty dirty cOlors." he said. but they
are good enough for you" I told him
that green took me right back to my
fcrefathers. torn and faded as it was.
Well that was my start and now
look where 7 am. Saturday I flew
two and a half hours in the windiest
weather We have had. And dust. Why
American Falls in its palmy days was
not as windy or dirty as was our fly
I ing field. I don't know how We all
managed to get along (some 30 Of u.s.
without killing ourselves but We did
We had a thrill every minute. 1
! guess il was because the Lord was in
/ the front seat. There is a saying here
that the Lord flies with you in the
/ front seat the first 20 hours you are
alone. After having piloted me
through danger for Il hours already
1 guess 1 can trust him for the next
six or eight.
Yesterday We played tag in the low
hanging clouds. did eight and a half
spirals and 45 degree banks which
completed our primary solo" stage.
Tomorrow We 20 to advanced solo"
and from there to "cross country.
should get those coveted wings OF the
reserve military aviator, which is the
4 first round in the flying ladder. Every
dav I fly increases my admiration for
those men who 20 "over the top" every
day in the air and do loops, spins
skids. Zimmerman turns. barrel rolls
, and slips, TO teach others how 10 gel
out Of them
II Ill rmr r.tn-
flier and have not reached the stag
- OF mechanical perfection where l car
relax and thoroughly enjoy flying.
: can do it and will continue 70 do IL
[ Il is exciting thrilling, uncertain and
, ngerous,-something that you are
proud TO be able 70 do. l would not
think Of trading it for any other branch
OF the service. much as I admire the
infantry which I chose first and which
I was commissioned in But I'll have
TO fly a good many more hours 10 be
able 10 say that I really like IT,
There are many interesting things
that happen around camp that at 1irsi
astonish you. The first mild shock
received was from q friend flier whc
suddenly said Look. there goes th'
meat wagon. I wonder who fell as
the ambulance sped out onto the field
10 bring back the participants IN
midair collision. All they'll need fol
i those fellows is a broom and bucket
continued my optimistic companion.
That night one Of the men cOllecte'
SIS for flowers and the next morning
eight planes in a cross formation drop
ped them on the train all the way q
the gulf Il happened 10 be one OF IN
few fatal accidents we have had here
One is compelled 10 marvel at tn
vitality of man. II seems almost i'm
possible 10 kill him. He falls severa
hundred feet. smashes wood and meta
10 bits. breaks a dozen bones in hi
body. or escapes entirely. and in fe'
/ weeks is flying again. It's wonderful
! Well. this is enough. and perhaI
! too much for one time. Mr.. Barbe
a but probably il gives you some bette
idea of how flying is taught in OF
10 training schools I can only tell abol
IN the elementary stages. and compare
n to actual flying on the front what
Y have said is trivial indeed. But I thin
n IL has been we'll said that anyone WI
u has learned 10 fly in the wind an
- weather and hundreds Of ships at he
: ~ Field will have no trouble flyir
n his ship on the western front Regard
n to all KIRBY.