After more practice on landings, Greg spent the final flight of the day on artillery co-operation work, specifically a practice shoot – recorded as successful.
After three days of no flying, Greg had three flights in three different RE8s today with Lt Thomas as instructor, and a taste of aerial combat training in a DH.6:
Log book entry
Date: 12.4.18
Hour: 2.0
Instructor: Lt Thomas
Machine type and No.: RE4462
Passenger: Self
Time: 15 min
Height: 1000
Course: Aerodrome
Remarks: Dual. 1 landing.
Date: 12.4.18
Hour: 2.25
Instructor: –
Machine type and No.: RE6632
Passenger: –
Time: 40 min
Height: 2000
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Practice turns. 2 landings.
Date: 12.4.18
Hour: 3.35
Instructor: –
Machine type and No.: DH7672
Passenger: –
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Height: 2000
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Fighting (Offence solo)
Date: 12.4.18
Hour: 6.30
Instructor: –
Machine type and No.: RE4968
Passenger: –
Time: 35 min
Height: 1000
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Landings (five).
Easter Monday 1918 was a significant day in several respects:
The RAF’s Birthday
First, it was the day on which the Royal Air Force was formed, by an amalgamation of the Army’s Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.
Greg’s RAF Commission
Secondly, and not unconnected with the first point, it was the date from which Greg’s commission in the RAF was effective.
Greg’s RAF Commission, dated 1 November 1918 but effective from 1 April 1918. Click or tap for larger image.
First Flight in RE8
Thirdly, it was the date of his first flight in an RE8, the aircraft of his future squadron in France. Back to dual control for this. See the ‘Setting the Scene’ article on the Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 here.
Log book
Date: 1.4.18
Hour: 3.15
Machine type and No.: DH7226
Passenger: –
Time: 30 mins
Height: 1500
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Practice forced landings on aerodrome
Date: 1.4.18
Hour: 4.5
Machine type and No.: RE3551
Passenger: Self
Time: 10 mins
Height: 1000
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Dual. Forced down by rain
Date: 1.4.18
Hour: 5.35
Machine type and No.: DH7672
Passenger: –
Time: 40 mins
Height: 1600
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Practice turns
Date: 1.4.18
Hour: 6.40
Machine type and No.: RE3551
Passenger: Self
Time: 25 mins
Height: 3000
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Dual. Flying straight & turns
Date: 1.4.18
Hour: 7.30
Machine type and No.: DH7672
Passenger: –
Time: 35 mins
Height: 2600
Course: [Aerodrome]
Remarks: Practice S turns. Crashed.
Crash!
And fourthly, as the final log book entry of the day shows, it was the first time that Greg crashed an aeroplane: DH.6 7672, on the last flight of the day. Obviously not badly, as he was flying again the next day and the aircraft was soon back in service, but probably his ego was bruised if nothing else.
As the US aviator Chuck Yeager said, long after the First World War:
If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.
RAF Type A Roundel (WW1) credit: Wikimedia user NiD.29. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, adapted with white surround.
