War Flying

Name: War Flying
Author: Hutcheon, L. F.
Hutcheon, L. F.
Great Britain. Royal Air Force; World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations
II.  INCREASING THE PACE                  67
          FRENCH AVIATOR’S BAG               67
          THE ENEMY IN OUR MIDST             68
          “HOT-AIR STUFF”                    71
          A BIG “STRAFE”                     72
          LOOPING THE LOOP                   75
          NIGHT FLYING                       80
          PHOTOS                             81
          HIDE AND SEEK                      82
          “MISSING”                          85
          PANCAKING IN A WHEAT FIELD         87
          AN EXCITING LANDING                89
          DUAL CONTROL                       90

  III.  STORM AFTER CALM                     94
          BACK TO DUTY                       94
          A GOOD STORY                       96
          A FOKKER’S FLIGHT                  97
          A TAIL PIECE                       98
          NIGHT BOMBING                      99
          GESTICULATION IN MID-AIR          102
          A FIREWORK DISPLAY                104
          A MIXED GRILL                     106
          STALLING                          110
          AN AIR FIGHT                      116




ORDERED OVERSEAS

(_After Kipling_)


  Does he know the road to Flanders, does he know the criss-cross tracks
  With the row of sturdy hangars at the end?
  Does he know that shady corner where, the job done, we relax
  To the music of the engines round the bend?
    It is here that he is coming with his gun and battle ’plane
    To the little aerodrome at--well _you_ know!
    To a wooden hut abutting on a quiet country lane,
    For he’s ordered overseas and he must go.

  Has he seen those leagues of trenches, the traverses steep and stark,
  High over which the British pilots ride?
  Does he know the fear of flying miles to eastward of his mark
  When his only map has vanished over-side?
    It is there that he is going, and it takes a deal of doing,
    There are many things he really ought to know;
    And there isn’t time to swot ’em if a Fokker he’s pursuing,
    For he’s ordered overseas and he must go.

  Does he know that ruined town, that old ---- of renown?
  Has he heard the crack of Archie bursting near?
  Has he known that ghastly moment when your engine lets you down?
  Has he ever had that feeling known as fear?
    It’s to Flanders he is going with a brand-new aeroplane
    To take the place of one that’s dropped below,
    To fly and fight and photo mid the storms of wind and rain,
    For he’s ordered overseas and he must go.

  _Then the hangar door flies open and the engine starts its roar,
  And the pilot gives the signal with his hand;
  As he rises over England he looks back upon the shore,
  For the Lord alone knows where he’s going to land.
  Now the plane begins to gather speed, completing lap on lap,
  Till, after diving down and skimming low,
  They’re off to shattered Flanders, by the compass and the map--
  They were ordered overseas and had to go._




_INTRODUCTORY_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
War Flying

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