Monday, October 8th.

Yesterday morning I missed getting a Hun, d - it! I was on his tail (he was a two seater) and put three bursts of fire into him, but my gun jammed three times and threw me off my aim. He went down in a h - of a hurry towards home. I could see his observer trying to get his gun on me, but I dodged from side to side and defeated him. I was given lots of attention from the Hun "Archie" on my way back to our lines but I flew in different directions for intervals of 30 seconds and baffled them, so that they didn't know where they were shooting. Later I picked up a Frenchman in a machine same as mine and we went in to get a balloon down but got chased out by a bunch of eleven scouts.

I was feeling very frisky in the cold air and I wanted to do something to the blighters before I got home, but luck was against me! The Frenchie waved at me and seemed to want to follow me around, so we spent our time keeping Huns off the line and dodging "Archie" which is good fun sometimes ‘cause I can just see the beggars cursing on the ground when their bursts are nowhere near!!

Don't think there will be any flying today as wind is high and clouds thick.

Later - October 8th.

I have been on a stunt today over the lines but Fritz was scarce and our worst enemy was "Archie" which was poor owing to poor visibility I think.

We got into a hailstorm at 10000 ft. and had to come down to 3000. I came home at 500 - the weather was terrible - rain and bumps near the ground.

Our Padre came in to dinner, a fine old fellow (a Colonel) and gave us an hour's lecture on religion. It was the most sensible and broadminded I've ever listened to. He was wounded and got the M.C.

All evening we have been arranging matters for a show tomorrow.

I am on a low "stunt" at 7.45 A.M. Shooting up roads, troops and transports, etc. I hope we have decent weather for it. Low clouds are good as we can sneak over above the clouds and dive down quickly on our targets, engage them and climb into the clouds again. Great sport!!