The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-30
IS NOW FLYING.
Stanton L. Burgess Of Barre Getting in
Shape for Air Service.

lington, Tenn, TO his parents in Barre:
! Have had several interesting expe-
rienees since | last wrote you-and I'll
have to admit that was some long time
ago-and have been quite busy too.
think at that time / was working in the
| Photographic department at Camp Dick
A week before / left there, my friend
] Deeter, due to his great work there, re-
ceived special mention to the command
ing officer and was sent early to Sacra-
mento, Cal. then assumed charge" ( ~
of the dark room and enGuayored to
carry on the work with two real pho
tographers as assistants Was success
full enough to hold my position and was
ordered to Park field Sept 49, My luck
held good have still got horseshoe in
my pocket, | gness--for I'm one of the
25 to be sent to this field, which is con
sidered the best flying field in the South
Left Dallas at $3.50 p. M Friday and ar
rived at Memphis (about 500 miles, at
! 1880 a. m. Saturday We rode in a real
tirst-class Pullman and had fine trip,
Were free in Memphis from 1880 to 4:30
p. M, and did the town aid movie
show. Took shuttle train at 1850 for
1
| country town Ii miles from Memphis
Dumped our baggage and were informed
by the receiving officer that we we're free
for the week end if we wanted leave.
Well, we walked right back to our shut
tie train and liked it back to Memphis.
another fellow and I got a room at
the Gayeso hotel and then started out
to do the white way. We'd walked
about four blocks when we were picked
! up by limousine full of girls and in
vited for a ride. Accepted, Of course,
| and we're driven out to one of the girls
home, where we were entertained in fine
style.
Sunday we got up late and went out
TO dinner at the invitation of some Of my
buddy's friends. Found latter to be some
very fine people Mr. Withers is a real
old southern gentleman, and a substan-
tial cotton dealer, who lived in a large
brick house in the residential section of
Memphis. Stayed to dinner, the after
noon and to supper, and took the $3.50
train back to camp
Perhaps that isn't soire introduction
to Memphis; at least il shows how the
| flying cadets fit with the people of Mem
phis. Yes, it's got Dallas trimmed, Ill
say.
Am settled now in some real bar
racks--right in with the flying officers,
too-and can't speak too highly Of Park
field and the spirit here. It's a wonder
! fully efficient and well equipped field and
the air is full of planes SHIPS we call
them--from a. m until 6 p. m.
Was issued my ayiator's outfit to-
day, The suit is warm, flannelette-
lined affair, resembling divers costume,
and buckles tightly around the neck,
wrists and legs Then we have a leather
coat, corduroy lined, and leather gaunt
lets, also leather helmet, which looks
like a football helmet and has a heavy
felt lining, and pair Of aviator's cog
giles, which are built to hug the face
tightly. Have been assigned TO a ship
with FIVE other cadets, and my instruc
tors name is Lieut.. Trivial
Sept 20. Intended to finish above
letter sooner but have been mighty busy
all this week Here's our schedule; Arise
at $50; breakfast at 5:45; on line for
flying at 6;30-get about an hours ac-
tusl flying and spend the rest Of the
forenoon observing flights, or working on
planes in the hangers; classes from $50
until $3.50, followed by an hour Of sports;
supper at 7;45; lights out at $3.50.
think you'll admit that's some busy day.
but our mess is wonderful, and even
rivals that which we had at Princeton
We have to pay 81 month extra, how
ever, Our mess hall Is scupulousy clean
and is busy place at meal time guess
the air makes us hungry,
This week I've spent getting settled
and getting through those preliminary
things which seem to accompany every
transfer. Had to go through another
complete physical exam, and this time
was found normal in every respect. The
chair test WIS O. X, showing that either
the examiners in Boston were wrong or
that my physical condition has improved
under my five months training At least
I'm feeling fine
friday morning | took my first fight
my Joy ride as we call it. Occupied
the seat in the rear cockpit Of our two.
scatter Curtis training plane, with Lieut..
Trivial in front and with whom | was
connected by speaking tube. We
assembled gradually to height of 5000
feet, with the air whistling through our
wings and the buildings on the ground
growing less and less distinct in detail
Squared.of fields, wooded areas and
roads glistening white in the SUM- came
TO resemble an immense colored map,
and our flying field, with its Is hangers,
repair shops, barracks and other build
ings-all red topped and regularly ar
ranged looked like checker board from
our height. Finally my instructor, after
explaining the use of the controls, said,
You've got the ship; watch out had
control-the ships are dual controlled,
you see--for about five minutes, and was
surprised at the ease with which the ship
responded TO the slightest movement of
the controls. Then he took her again,
and said, to my surprise, Well do tail
spin We did, and saw the ground first
above, then below, then on one side and
next on the other Dropped 300 feet in
as many seconds in three beautiful spi-
rails, and then Strengthened out as pref
tily as you please It's wonderful and /
was neither scared nor sick. Descended
gracefully after 80 minutes in the air
greatly pleased with the whole perform
ance. ! can't explain just how it feels;
there's absolutely no motion apparent in
still air, and you sail along as in
dream, with the ground moving slowly
beneath you. Can't wait to try it again,
for it's the best sport ever.
Now know youll be worried, so I'm
going to tell you just how things are
run here. We're constantly under the
instruction of the best fiers in the field,
and as the ships are double control and
built purposely for stability. there's no
danger whatsoever We go up only un.
der the best weather conditions and this
Rald has tho rant+a+ion Of hein0 one of