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.
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.
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.
