The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-19
IN LETTER TO FRIEND AT HOME
HE TELLS OF DIABOLlCAL CUM
MING OF ARMY AiRMAN WHO
TOOK HIM FOR HIS FIRST
FLIGHT-MUST HAVE BEEN A
HUN SPY.

FLIGHT-MuST HAVE BEEN A
HUN SPY.
The following letter was written by
a Medical Corps Major to a friend in
the United States shortly after having
a hop in Salmson of the 99th Aero.
The City of "Puncturing spires" is
Chaumont Haute- Marine.
Il must write to you about my first
trip in an aeroplane: I had received
several invitations to fly, but although
/ fully intended flying some day, had
never found it convenient. This par
ticular day, however, / was called to
investigate the death of French civil
ian at the aviation camp, which civilian
had persisted in dying, without the aid
of a physician. Usn't it strange how
some men will die without any help at
IallD This Frenchman by the way
heard a great deal concerning the
burning and poisoning properties of
mustard gas and had been curious to
learn if the cartridges of this SUBJ
stance were really as dangerous as
claimed. AS he was dead when l ar
rived, l was unable to get a state
ment of his opinion but concluded that
he had found that they were.
But / digress from the flying trip
However, that is one thing one learns
about a flying trip, they always con-
sist of many diversions that have alb
solutely nothing to do with the trip
itself. Well Howard, being right at the
camp, the adjutant decided that
ought to take a trip in one of the
planes while we were waiting for din
ner Hastily looking at my watch. /
thought of several excellent reasons
why i should return before dinner, but
the adjutant and the commanding Of
ficer were both so affable that / con-
cluded to remain to dinner, but re-
gretted that l could not go up as /
was not dressed warm enough and
feared chilling, also casually mention
ing the fact that the high altitude
might make serious impression upon
a heart which my friends have fire.
quently assured me was much subject
to impressions. They brushed these
objections aside by bringing out their
own coats and helmets for me to wear
and conducted me out to the hangar.
The grounds around which were pleas
antly strewn with machines in more or
less state of demolition that had
crashed from time to time. Now
you understand. Howard, that person
L
ing. / have always wanted to fly, but
my first duty was to the flag and 1
realized the serious inconvenience that
an accident to me would cause the
government. | mentioned this with
much reticence to the aviator officers,
but they seemed so intent on trying
to find a suitable machine that they
paid no attention to the remark.
At last they led me over to a low
rakish craft and introduced me to a
second lieutenant whose name l did
not catch, but whose manner was all
that could be desired. Howard, did
you ever meet a second lieutenant!
You must do So 1t is really an ex-
perience There are of course other
ranking officers in an army, but they
are only officers. A second lieutenant
is a parsonage. If I went into an
other war, Howard, and was given my
choice of commissions, / would choose
to be either a second lieutenant or a
ton sergeant. This lieutenant seemed
TO take a great deal of pride in this
particular plane which was two
seated affair of French extraction, with
a machine gun mounting and had peen
used for bombing purposes. walked
around it, critically examining the en-
gine and planes, hoping the pugle
would sound mess, but finally told
them preferred to drive single
scatter. 1 didn't mind taking this for
short flight. They said, however
that If was customary to send a driver
along for the first few flights and thai
the lieutenant would gladly take me
reluctantly consented to this al
| though l remarked that Ray Lowe mao
shown me how 10 take an Oldsmoollt
anart and Ed Haskell had sold me
Ruick which could do stunts thai
would put a flying machine 10 shame
| They then swaddled me In over
Icoats until | was perfectly nelplesS
land strapped me into the back sea-
| of this murderous looking macnlne
milling tight over my head and ears
what they called the helmet but whlcf
trerninded me of nothing but the car
n,,1Ied over the head of criminal al
+ he ascended the scaffold. The speak
ling tubes were adjusted and the lieu
tenant looked around with an engag'
ling smile and said that If were ready
we would start. / said nothing bu
gave him a look of trustful confidenc'
that.I did not really feel. We started
He ran first several times around TIT
Ifield as though at least giving me {
chance to say good bye to all tn
icompany, then we began to rise
1 0arafIsffv hi