An Airman's Lost Letters

A note from the Editors: Oliver is getting stuck into the final stages of his training at Uphaven now, putting hours in on several Sopwith machines. Franked 25 JUL 17 Mrs Chas. E. Pearson, Hillcrest, Lowdham, Notts Central Flying School, Uphaven, Wilts. 24.7.17 Dear Mother I am very sorry my last letter should have had the note of sadness in it it was not meant to convey also that this one is so late for a Sunday Epistle. You I am sure read into my letters far more than is meant to be there. I don’t withdraw any of my statements this is a dismal hole & the mess is awful so awful that we “the Nine” as we call ourselves have permanently bagged the end of a table, from which at meal times there arises howls of laughter & loud jokes to the horror of the rest of the fellows. A bicycle is impossible as I could hardly use it in the time I have left if I could get one even. Aprs la guerre Maman je explainera tout les photographses till then you must be content with...

A note from the Editors: A rather confusing letter, as Oliver describes the canoes they have been using as 'single seater scouts'. He must obviously have fighters on the brain as he has just received the news that at the Central Flying School he will be taught to fly the famous Sopwith Camel, regarded by many as one of the best fighter aircraft produced during the Great War. A reputation for being very difficult to fly, it was also incredibaly manouverble and well armed with two Vickers guns firing through the propeller. It started service in the RFC about the same time as this letter, with 70 Squadron. The Avroes Oliver refers to are the venerable Avro 504 the RFC used as trainer aircraft. 34 RS RFC Ternhill (‘Royal Flying Corps, Market Drayton‘ on headed paper) Monday Franked 14 JY 17 Mrs Chas E Pearson 5 Madeira park Tonbridge Wells Central Flying School, Uphaven, Wilts. 13.7.17 Dear Mother I am writing to announce a change of address. I came here tod...

A note from the Editors: Since posting the last letter, we have found out, via the Great War forum , that '34 RS', was in fact No34 Reserve Squadron, where Oliver would have received his advanced flying training. This letter is undated, but is very near the end of Oliver's training at Ternhill. By this stage he must have been a proficient pilot, not only to be doing long cross country flights but also giving Officers joyrides! 34 RS RFC Ternhill (‘Royal Flying Corps, Market Drayton‘ on headed paper) Monday Dear Mother Since last writing very little has happened to speak of. I have been doing about an hour a day flying but little else. The rest of my time I spend lazing round & going for walks but the latter seem to have lost their interest since I lost my pup. On Friday I took up two officers who had never been up befor, & it was really quite funny to see the way in which they went on when they came down. They got as far as having heated argument...