Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-08
Escadrille Spad 1856,
Secteur Postal IL,

Escadrille Spad 156,
Secteur Postal IL,
May 81, 1918.
Dear Mother:-Have been busy
the last few days learning to fly our
new type airplanes the Spad. 0s
very different machine from the
light, quick and responsive Morane,
and there was lots to learn not only
in landing but in the air My first
trip aloft started out badly, because
l blew out one of my tires while
making a sharp turn on the ground
to get in position TO get off, but
what was a small tri1e like one
wheel-on went the gas and away
we Went. Once in the air my
troubles multiplied. because with
this motor the pilot has to keep
tabs on so many things, what with
3 pressure dials, small levers,
hand pump, not forgetting a watch,
an altimeter, compass and map.
You can well believe with all these
things to watch, pilots flying must
be almost instinct-so- many more
things being more important.
And yet, with all. | had to give
some thought to my flying. for fly
ing a Spad the first time could we'll
be compared to dancing a fox trot
with a fat lady-one don't realize
how fast they are getting under way
until they hit something. and when
making a sudden turn. the aforesaid
lady must be given time for due
thought and consideration of same,
else there might be a tragedy
Thus l found the Spad on my
first trip, not at all amenable to
reason but to-day she was begin
ming to eat out of my hands, for I
have been riding quite regularly of
late. No, l didn't break any. Yes
terday being Sunday, the usual
crowd of curious people arrived
among them about a dozen Ameri-
can soldiers. 1 was sawaiting my
turn to fly in the Spad again at that
time, when after looking me over
for quite awhile, one big tall husky
siX-footer came over. said "Howdy
doo' doubtfully, and shook his hand
he exclaimed triumphantly: II was
sure you were an American You
looked like it,"
4 Compliment
Unknowingly he paid me quite a
compliment, because many Ameri-
cans after being here a while-obey-
in gthe injunction when in Rome
do as Romans do,''-lose their dis
tinctive American manner and pass
easily as Frenchmen. Further more,
the above should prove to you that
your son still possesses that Boy
look" which Dad drew attention to
by the poem he sent.
The grass is growing very high
on the field we use for landing now,
and will soon have to be cut, I
fear, as the propellers clip the tops
as we roll along the ground. This
is bad for the propeller. Incidental
ly. with the high grass came flowers.
dandelion and clover, you know
and naturally bees. And thereby
hangs tale. Maybe you won't see
the point, but believe me. did! The
Captain wishing to improve our
shooting qualities, had several guns
sent here for we pilots use. They
shoot a very small bullet, being only
about half as big as %. And here
was where | got my bright idea
Gee, thinks I. these will be just
the thing to shoot bum blebees." So
l fares me forth to war on my
mortal enemy. the bee. You know
how much he loved me of yore :?
Well, from the reception / got his
love certainly hasn't decreased. and
the following bit of poetry found
in the Post" sums it up very we'll
Little yellow hornet was asitting
on a tree;
Little yellow devil, thinkin' some
thin up for me.