Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-29

aviation. and was one OF 10 sent to
Toronto University for ground work,
under the training of the British
Royal Flying Corps. a. cadet, He
went 10 several flying camps In
Canada, and four days after his Joy
ride" he flew solo
Upon graduating. in October, he
was sent to Fort Worth. Texas. where
he wore his wings" rs reserve
military aviator. and WAS commission
ed first lieutenant on December 2I'
1917. his 22nd birthday, and assigned
To the 22nd Aero Squadron.
II was while at Fort Worth, 1t.
Roberts had very narrow escape
from death. While up 5000 feet In
the air. in making turn, he banked
too far, and the plane turned upside
down. AZ IL was ono which was not
meant 10 fly in that position. the OH
came into his eyes and prevented him
from righting Il. so he dropped 4,oVo
feet In half a minute. hanging by the
safety belt. when he succeeded in
righting the plane and made sue
cessful landing. To try his nerve, he
immediately went up on formation
flight with the rest OF the squadron.
and remained up In the air for some
time.
1t. Roberts arrived home on Janu-
larry 2e, 1918, and left for New York
on the 2Sth, sailing for England on
the 3lst. in the same convoy rs the
Tuscanie in the boat which followed
It.
| He trained in various camps In
England Rornsey. Chattes, Tern Hin.
stock bridge. etc. being in command
OF tho flying officers at Stockbridge,
rs evidenced by special orders dated
June 4. lels-"You are hereby notified
that YOU are in charge of flying off,
Gers at Stockbridse. and will be re-
| sponsihle for the weekly flying report,
letc.," and signed by direction Of the
Iaviation officer, Geoffrey J. Dwyer, st.
IT.. sig II. c. a s" He became very
familiar with aerial acrobatics, and
in fact. he wrote he could do them
all until something else was invented
From Stockbrfdge he was ordered
TO Turnberry. Scotland. for aerial
gunnery and then was sent TO France,
on June %. and posted with the 18th
aero squadron. which operated with
the 65th wing. Royal Air Force. with
the British srd and 4th armies. He
made his first trip over Holland about
lJuly 6, and got "arChied" twice, the
second time pretty close, He wrote
that II was great fun lodging archie
and keeps you from going to sleep or
lpatrols."
Some idea Of his spirit of service
may be gained from an extract from
la letter TO his father. the last but one
received from him, in which he wrote
"now maybe you think that after fly
ling solo. IL - just like Chauffeuring
Believe me. every bus l have climbed
into Cby actual count 63) has had {
different personality. The last TIVE
TYPES / have flown are single seaters
and OF course have had 10 take then
Ioff the ground as an absolute stranger
and learn their peculiarities by my
self. Henceforth it will be the SAM
) with every new bus l fly. and I looi
forward 10 the experience. Am / fe'
lup? No, ! am keener than ] eve
was after one years flying too. On
: year ago yesterday 1 took my jo.
ride and went solo four days later"
And again. in the same letter: .'
. don't believe in lowering the draf
age 10 IS. although I'm sure that il
order 10 do as we expect in number
II viii have 10 be raised, the onl,
sensible plan. II il could be wprke
] out, would be 10 put every man be
tween those ages in Q. D., at arm
pay, with same allowance of foot
] etc. and have them a mobile or
ganization. This would involve TEN
pOrary (at leasD ownership by tn
. government Of the~frms by whom the
! are employed. il would put them o.
/ the same patriotic basis as the sol
4. diers. but would not work if ther
r were any question OF profit invol