Wednesday Night,
September 12th.

I was on a hot show today eight miles over the lines with three other chaps. We, or rather another chap and I, saw three Hun single seaters diving on one of our machines. We were at 12000, the Huns about 10000. They saw us diving and started manoeuvring for position, but we opened fire and I think hit them for they dove into a cloud and disappeared. It was very cloudy, but there were large spaces between the clouds and our formation got split up. We had been up for two hours and my engine started to sputter so I turned on my emergency which is good for fifteen minutes; even then the thing missed a bit and I was afraid I might have a forced landing in Fritzland. However, it picked up soon and to add to my discomfort the "Archie" started in on me, how many batteries I do not know, but they gave me hell. I did all the stunts I knew to dodge but they put them all around me and I only got away from them when well over our lines. One of the four of my formation is missing and some chaps on another patrol said they saw three Huns diving on one of our fellows. He must have got lost in the clouds and run into Fritz and too far away for help. Poor chap it was only his second time over.

I hope you get word of Elmer; undoubtedly he is O.K. as you would have heard something.

I have no further news tonight, Dad. I feel very tired, which is only natural after a long patrol at a great height. Don't know whether I'm on an early show tomorrow or not so will run along to the Mess now and find out.

Later - September 12th.

You should see the mobs that collect on the ‘drome in the evening to watch us fly - and come in from patrol. They think it great when someone lands at about 150 miles per hour and piles the bus up against a tree or ditch.

I have had a very busy day. I was on a two hour offensive patrol, eight miles over the lines and had rather a nasty time.

On the way home I ran short of petrol and had to use my emergency tank, which caused my engine to sputter and I was afraid I'd have to land in Hunland! To add to my discomfort the "Archie" fired all around me and I certainly did all the stunts I know to get away from it. Finally a huge cloud showed up and I said, "Welcome, little stranger!" Got home O.K. with a little petrol left and no holes in the bus.