This much, however, I will predict. When, in some nine months' time--if
the gods permit--a sequel to the present book appears, dealing with this
year's personal experiences above the scene of battle, the aerial factor
will be well on the way to the position of war predominance to which it
is destined.

CONTACT.

FRANCE, 1917.

CONTENTS

PAGE

PREFACE vii

INTRODUCTION xxi

CHAPTER

I. FLYING TO FRANCE 3

II. THE DAY'S WORK 27

III. A SUMMER JOY-RIDE 49

IV. SPYING OUT THE LAND 71

V. THERE AND BACK 90

VI. A CLOUD RECONNAISSANCE 117

VII. ENDS AND ODDS 140

VIII. THE DAILY ROUND 170

LETTERS FROM THE SOMME

I. LOOKING FOR TROUBLE 195

II. "ONE OF OUR MACHINES IS MISSING" 205

III. A BOMB RAID 213

IV. SPYING BY SNAPSHOT 220

V. THE ARCHIBALD FAMILY 235

VI. BATTLES AND BULLETS 243

VII. BACK IN BLIGHTY 252

INTRODUCTION

BY MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. BRANCKER

(DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF MILITARY AERONAUTICS)

Every day adds something to the achievements of aviation, brings to
light yet another of its possibilities, or discloses more vividly its
inexhaustible funds of adventure and romance.

This volume, one of the first books about fighting in the air, is
written by a fighting airman. The author depicts the daily life of the
flying officer in France, simply and with perfect truth; indeed he
describes heroic deeds with such moderation and absence of exaggeration
that the reader will scarcely realise that these stories are part of the
annals of a squadron which for a time held a record in the heaviness of
its losses.

The importance of the aerial factor in the prosecution of the war grows
apace. The Royal Flying Corps, from being an undependable and weakly
assistant to the other arms, is now absolutely indispensable, and has
attained a position of almost predominant importance. If the war goes on
without decisive success being obtai