Letters of James Stuart Leslie Ross, 1916-1917 - Part 7

48^th T. Squadron                                            
Monday, 10^th Aug. ^Septr. 1917.
Dearest Mum
x Just a
hurried note to let you
know that I'm still going
strong.
 I finished my lower
Instruction tonight. That
is accomplished by doing
2 hrs Solo & 10 Landings.
I did 12 Landings, of 2hrs
35 mins Solo so llf had
a bit of a margin.
If my cash turns up
tomorrow I will get
 

2
a couple of days leave
before being posted to
another Squadron for Higher
Destruction (our pet name
for Instruction).
If the cash does not
turn up I wont bother.
I am trying to get to
Scotland next, but expect
that I'll be left somewhere
in the district - they
don't usually send them
far away.
The machines I will get
in Higher will be faster
than the ones I've just
flown, but strange as it
may seem, will be easier
to fly.  You see the
 

3
buses used in lower are not stable
& therefore you've got to watch them
all the time and fly them every inch 

of the way.  The "Higher" machines are faster
but are stable - have inherent stability-
that is if anything goes wrong they
will tend to right themselves & will
come out of anything, provided you
have, sufficient height & let 'em rip.
In fact, they practically fly "hands off".
On An unstable machine (the Type I've
just finished with) if an regularity is not
rectified (Such as one wing flying low) it 
will tend to get worse! But I can
fly' em so don't get anxious.
Aren't the Strikes in Austla the limit.
They don't Know there's a war on out
there I fancy. The news in of austla

in these papers is very meagre, but
things certainly appear to be a bit
upside-down, 
By the way, I am now known as a
Second Class Pilot- equivalent to the
Austln Stunt or full - blown Civilian ticket
Much love to all from
Your happy Son
Les
Will be able you all for rides when

I get back-I bet Dad'll come.

48^th T. Squadron.
18^th Aug, 1917.
Dear Mum,
Still up here
having a jolly good
time notwithstanding the
bad weather & the number
of pupils have got in a
bit of flying.  Have had
4 dual (instructional) flights
to date comprising 1hr 20
mins in Air. My Instructor
is the Flight Commander
(Capt Gordon) & he is very
well pleased with the
way I am shaping. You
see a pupil generally gets
 

2
about 5 hours or more, up to about 9, dual instruction
before going up on a Solo.  I feel that I could
do it with about 2½ or 3 but one cant get too much,
so I'll take all I can get.
Have now passed all the Ground Tests (Wireless &
Mechanism etc of Machine Guns). We get the Machine
Gun Shooting at next Squadron- Higher Instruction.
So am having a soft time at present.
Was up for a joy-ride the other day (with a good
pilot) in a machine which is of about the best
type of two- seater now used by the Allies.
We touched 130 miles per hr in places. That's moving
isn't it?  Will probably go in one this afternoon
possibly for a trip over Searborough (on the
Coast). One of our boys yesterday went to
17000 feet in one.  That's very high & cold
(freezes at 6000 ft in middle of Summer here.)
Was speaking to a chap yesterday that had a
funny experience.  He was well out over the
sea & got upside down without noticing it until he
 

3
saw a ship on what he
thought was the Sky!
Peculiar wasn't it?
If was
Our old Squadron is (the
69^th) is just about to
leave for France - going
in a few days. The
flying officers were over
a few days ago & came
back with the "wind well
up".  They are in about the
hottest part of the line
& the aerodrome gets
bombed nearly every
night. So perhaps its
as well that I'm not
with them.
 

4.
I think eventually I'll
go in for artillery
observation work. Its
one of the safest Air
jobs & being a Wireless
opr I'm, pretty  good
at it. I think I could
go do it well. Would
have an observer in the
machine too - he just
uses the gun - the pilot
does the observing. It
used to be the other
way round.
Well Mum its just
about dinner time so
 

5
will close.
Have written a lot
lately. Hope you're
getting the letters O.K.
Love from
Les.
Will try to get to
Scotland for Higher
Instruction.
 

48^th. T. Squadron
Thurs.
23^rd August 1917.
Dear Mum,
The post has
just brought me you
letter of the 27^th May. Its
the first for some time.
Was very pleased indeed
to hear that self & Dad
were in good spirits -
trust that he is quite
alright again now.
Was pleased to hear
the view you take of
of cabling for money.
I'm not wasting it at
all. There's a tremendous
lot of Kit to get now & officer's
 

2
stuff is such a price. I'll  give you an idea:-
Tunic £4.4.0 & upwards Breeches from £2. Boots £2
Puttees 9/- Cap 15/-. Trench Coat (that's the popular waterproof
here) from £3.3.0. That's just for are Suit & then
there are Suit cases, Camp Equipment (bed etc) big
brown Canvas holdalls etc. The Camp Egypt runs into
about £7.10.0. I'd love to be able to show you all
the flying gear - it's all leather & fur. I wish I
could pinch one of the overcoats for Dad - he'd
rave over it. Double breasted ( 2 thicknesses right
across chest) leather with heavy living. Under
ordinary ground conditions I don't think one
could get cold in it
I don't know exactly how we stand is regards
messing. The bill comes once a month so we
haven't got it yet. We will be allowed 3/9 a day
from Austln Hdqrs so that ought to about cover
it. I sent a week End cable from Oxford for
£20 but they're so slow I haven't got it yet. I may
send an L.C.0 s anae the  w  to ask you to ignore the