+ Photographie du pilote allemand Hermann Becker (1887-1970), 1918. De la collection du Musée d’histoire militaire de Dresde (VK000014-009).
+ Photo of the German pilot Hermann Becker (1887-1970), 1918. From the Collection of the Bundeswehr Military History Museum Dresden (VK000014-009).
+ Foto des deutschen Piloten Hermann Becker (1887-1970), 1918. Aus der Sammlung des Militärhistorischen Museums der Bundeswehr Dresden (VK000014-009).
Transkription:
Stotzheim den 25 Aug. 1918.
Lieber Sohn und Bruder Peter.
Am Freitag Dein lieben Brief vom 17 dankent
erhalten, der in dem Paketchen war, mit der Strüm-
fe und Schokolade, für letzteres vielen Dank, ist ja
noch sehr gute. Ich habe mir aber auch mein Tafel
gleich gut weg gethan. Heute ist ja wieder ein
stiller Sonntag hier, alles ausgeflogen.
+ Photos des pilotes françaises Charles Nuville (1889-1965, à gauche) und Jean Dubois de Gennes (1895-1929, à droite). De la collection du Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
+ Photos of the french pilots Charles Nuville (1889-1965, left) und Jean Dubois de Gennes (1895-1929, right). From the Collection of the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
+ Fotos der französischen Piloten Charles Nuville (1889-1965, links) und Jean Dubois de Gennes (1895-1929, rechts). Aus der Sammlung des Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
Transcription:
[P. 1]
– Lewis Automatic Machine Guns –
Action Gas operated automatic
Weight
Unloaded 25 ¼ lbs
Stripped Aero Type 17 ½ lbs
Drum (loaded 4) rounds 4 lbs
Ammunition Mark VII . 303
Rapidity 600 rounds per min. Or 1 drum in 5 secs.
Trajectory 2ft. in 400 yds.
Rifling 4 leads at hand. 1 turn in 10 ‘’
Drum Rotates clockwise by motion imparted by feed arm.
Faults Wearing on cartridge guide (C.G.) spring
Tools Cartridge. 2 guide springs. Charging handle should always be carried.
Mechanism Gas pressure at approx. 19 tons. Per sq. in. Operates on piston in gas chamber.
“Piston operating rod”
“Strikerpost” Locks bolt with 1/8 of a turn
Transkription:
20. VI. 18.
Meine Lieben!
Nachdem ich mich nochmal kräftig mit einem
saftigen „Butterbrot mit Speck“ gestärkt habe, will ich
Euch noch ein kleines Briefchen schreiben.
Mit vielem Dank erhielt ich gestern Abend Eure
lieben, beiden Briefchen. Einer von Samstag und
der andere von Sonntag, aber erst am 17ten mit
der Post abgegangen.
Transkription:
[S. 1]
9.V.18.
Lieber Bruder!
Deinen lieben Brief vom 25.IV.
vor einigen Tagen erhalten und
recht vielen Dank für denselben.
Ein Brief, den ich noch nach Deiner
Komp. geschickt hatte, kam mit dem
Vermerk: „Erkrankt, Lazarett unbekannt“
zurück. Lege ihn hier bei. Nun wird
auch schließlich derjenige, welchen
ich Dir zum Lazarett geschickt hatte,
Dich nicht mehr dort angetroffen haben.
Oder ist es doch noch der Fall gewesen?
Hast Dich also nicht lange dort aufgehalten.
Wollte Dich mal gelegentlich mit dem
Transcription:
[P. 1]
5 mai 1918
Mon cher Papa
J’ai reçu votre lettre recommandée et vous en remercie. Je ne vous ai pas écrit plus tôt car j’ai été en voyage et viens de retrouver votre lettre en rentrant. Cela va toujours bien ici
+ Photo of an aluminium message buoy containing hand written message (in German). From the Collection of the Royal Air Force Museum (74/R/1282).
+ Photo d’une bouée de signalisation en aluminium contenant un message manuscrit (en allemand). De la collection du Royal Air Force Museum (74/R/1282).
+ Foto einer Aluminiumnachrichtenboje, die eine handschriftliche Mitteilung (auf Deutsch) enthält. Aus der Sammlung des Royal Air Force Museum (74/R/1282).
Transkription:
22.IV.18.
Meine Lieben!
Euer liebes Kärtchen vom 19. ten gestern
Abend schon erhalten und danke Euch recht herzlich.
Danke Euch auch vielmals für die Anweisung
beim Verhalten gegen feindliche Flieger.
Transkription:
[S. 1]
13.IV.18.
Lieber Bruder Johann!
Es ist schon sehr lange her, daß ich Dir von hier aus
ein Briefgen geschrieben habe, aber noch garnicht’s von
Dir gehört habe. Wie nun der ganze Betrieb bei so einer
Schlacht zugeht, weiß ich ja noch genügend von mir aus,
als ich noch bei der Infanterie war.
Transkription:
[S. 1]
6.IV.18.
Meine Lieben!
Gestern Abend Euren lieben Brief vom 2.ten und
heute den schon vom 4.ten April erhalten und danke
Euch recht herzlich. Also machen sie die Briefe schon auf
und glauben noch darin Geheimnisse zu entdecken.
Damit werden sie aber nicht viel Schwein haben.
Transcription:
[P. 1]
[P. 2]
[P. 3]
[P. 4]
[P. 5]
Transcription:
[P. 1]
– Log of Flights –
No. 2 Sqdn. 1915-1916
Sept 18 11.0 A.M. – 2.30 hrs. – Total 2.30
Took air for first time with Carthew in
all the stiffness of new leather coat. Most
bewildering experience at first. Soon got
accustomed to regarding country as one
vast map. Picked up main features.
Splendidly clear day. Called up a battery
and shelled some “Archie” guns in houses
on outskirts of LENS. Saw three houses
wrecked. Then registered a 9’’. How on the
station much to the detriment of latter.
Coming down from 8,000 felt very deaf.
Sept. 19th 10.40. – 3’.20’’ hrs. Total 5.50
Beautifully bright morning. Went up
with Carthew on trench registration.
Got some excellent shooting in. Hun
“archie” very busy, Had my first
taste. Counted fifteen shrapnel
holes in our planes.
Sept 20th 4.5.p.m. to 6.10 p.m. Total 7.55
Clean sky. Went on test reconnaissance
to Dunkerque with Medlicott. Had
Transcription:
[P. 1]
| – War Dates Diary – | |||
| War declared | Aug | 4: | 1914 |
| Left. Coventry with section of 30 ft. Daimler lorries. | ‘’ | 6 | ‘’ |
| Enlisted. at Avonmouth as M.T. driver. | ‘’ | 8 | ‘’ |
| Embarked ‘’ on | ‘’ | 15 | ‘’ |
| Landed Rouen | ‘’ | 18 | ‘’ |
| First under shell Fire | ‘’ | 26 | ‘’ |
| ‘’ ‘’ Rifle ‘’ | Sept | 1st | ‘’ |
| Started advancing from Marne | ‘’ | 6 | ‘’ |
| Took over motor cycle | ‘’ | 13 | ‘’ |
| Promoted Corporal i/c D.R.s | ‘’ | 29 | ‘’ |
| Left Aisne for North | Oct | 8th | ‘’ |
| Eddy’s smash | Nov | 3rd: | ‘’ |
| Went up to Ypres | May | 16th. | 1915 |
| Left Ypres for Albert | July | 23rd | ‘’ |
| Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant. Gen. List. | Aug | 27th | ‘’ |
| Left 4th Division | Sept | 5th | ‘’ |
| Joined No. 2. Squadron. R.F.C. | ‘’ | 15th | ‘’ |
| Qualified as Observer | Oct | 12 | ‘’ |
| Gazetted Flying Officer | Nov | 22 | ‘’ |
| Left No. 2. Squadron | Jan | 26 | 1916 |
| Joined No. 1. R.S. | Feb | 4th | ‘’ |
| Took ticket No 2696 | Apr. | 2nd | ‘’ |
| Joined No. 41. RS. Gosport. | ‘’ | 7 | ‘’ |
| ‘’ No. 16. ‘’ Beaulieu | ‘’ | 26 | ‘’ |
| Crashed and went Hospital with fractured femur | May | 14 | ‘’ |
| Discharged from Hospital | Aug | 14 | ‘’ |
| Rejoined No. 16 R.S. | Oct | 16 | ‘’ |
| Took wings. anti-dated 22.11.15. | Nov | 7 | ‘’ |
| Left No.16. R.S. | ‘’ | ‘’ | ‘’ |
| Joined No. 27 RS. as instructor | ‘’ | 10 | ‘’ |
| ‘’ No. 8 Squadron B.E.F. | ‘’ | 17 | ‘’ |
| Promoted Lieutenant (Gazette July 12: 1917) | |||
| ‘’ Captain | Mar. | 24: | 1917 |
| Awarded Military Cross | April | 24 | 1917 |
| – Continued on Previous Page – | |||
Transcription:
[P. 1]
42. T.S.
RFC
Hounslow
Monday 9.20pm
Dear old Dad.
Here I am flapping again. What a life!
I am flying a machine called D.H.6 which refuses to
do anything funny and dodders around in quite
a drunken fashion. Capital machine to learn on.
They have only just got them, and nobody
understands the RAF engine so I’ll be busy.
The C.O. is a very young major named Neale
he seems a decent sort of fellow, I will get on
with him alright. My quarters are not a patch
Transcription:
[P. 1]
Royal Flying Corps
Hounslow Heath
29/10/17
Transcription:
[P. 1]
Royal Flying Corps,
Hounslow Heath.
8.10.17
My dear old Dad,
Umpteen dozen returns of the
third, your birthday. I meant to have
written you for the day but Hell
I forgot to write. Do you know I’m
darned busy they keep me going
like blazes 27 pupils to look after, and
only 7 of them able to fly themselves as
Transcription:
[P. 1]
The Raiders Retreat
7.8.17
Dear Old Dad,
Soft time be damned! Just got your
Letter of 30th, do you know what we are
doing? Night raiding my boy, night raiding.
First you find your objective then you bomb
it Singing to the tune of “A perfect Day” the while:-
“As we draw near the end of a perfect raid”
“I sit in my quirk all alone.”
I will leave the verse unfinished as don’t know
Who may get hold of this letter!! We had a
Transcription:
[P. 1]
Quirk Manor 17.7.17
Dear Old Dad,
The cake and ultimatum have arrived,
hence this. The cake was good, please thank
the manufacturer, and tell her I will write off
a dish of letter soon. I got caught good, and
proper, a few days ago it will make you laugh!
I received an invitation to tea from the nurses at
the local C.C.S. so ofcourse {sic} accepted prompt
like, and duly turned up. After tea there was
a general thrill went round on hearing of H.M. visiting
Corps Cleaning Dressing Station opposite, so in
Transcription:
[P. 1]
~ No.8 Squadron ~
18 May
to 21 May
Dear old Dad
Wilt do slight job for me? I enclose
cheque for £1. for Johnny Morgan’s licence. Thanks
v.much if you will. The above is symbolical
of a dose of leave which I am expecting shortly.
Bill, a brother flight C.O., goes early this next
week, then Lewis, one of my pilots the week after,
and I go next. What ‘opes? {sic} I will probably
be home for my birthday so tell Mary with
suitable messages from me to have a dish of
Transcription:
[P. 1]
10 mai :
J’ai vu aujourd’hui une des choses les plus impressionnantes de ma vie. Le combat singulier d’un triplace français contre un monoplace allemand qui s’est terminé par l’écrasement du triplace en flammes dans nos lignes.
Le combat fut absolument splendide des deux parts et livré par l’allemand avec une maitrise extraordinaire
Transcription:
[P. 1]
Quirk Cottage
10.5.17
Dear old Dad.
What lovely weather! What heat! What a
life! So many thanks for your letters of 29; and
4, and the congratulations contained in the letter.
Please convey my thanks to Sisters Edward, and
Theitre. About leave, people in the squadron
are getting it again in order of their last
entry into the country. Three months must elapse
after entering the country before one is again
eligible, so that I am not eligible before May
27, and as things go now my turn may come
in June, towards the end I expect.
I am writing this on the verandah {sic} which we
have fixed up outside the “Cottage” and have
Transcription:
[P. 1]
The Dormitory
No. 8 BEF
29.4.17
Dear old Dad.
Summer like Spring is really come &
we are all flying just for the joy of it.
Eddy came over to dinner two nights ago on a
side-car, and gave me an awfully nice
surprise. He is a cheery bloke dear old thing.
He looks awfully well too, inspite of his late
attack of Hun malady. The following day
he came over on his own monster to lunch
and stopped with us until six o’clock when
he landed his biplane, and proceeded to stunt
Transcription:
[P. 1]
Quirk cottage
BEF
11.4.17
Dear old Dad.
Still smiling and well. Have you been getting
any P.Cs.? Am writing to tell you the latest yarn to
be passed round in your mess. It is quite a nice one.
“ ‘Phone message to brigade. Lorry blocked by a tank
on Cambrai road. Result satisfactory, a Ford.”
How’s that? G.O.C Flying Corps landed here a few
days ago, and congratulated us on our excellent work.
And expressed a wish that we would let you at home
know what we are doing. (By the way this mustn’t
be published now, because it would mean a count
martial for me!) So I am going to let you into
some of the work we do. You can tell people about it
as much as you like. In the first place there is no
reason to be alarmed at our casualties we are not
Transcription:
[P. 1]
-No. 8 squadron-
-B.E.F.-
9th Mar 17
Dear old Dad.
That was a good spot of leave
By Jove. I was getting a little bit shakey {sic} before
I left here, and now we feel ready for
anything. Losses have been a bit stiff
since I came back, & I’ve attended (?)
double funeral, and skipped another,
cheeky isn’t it? However most of these
things can be accounted for by inexperience
+ Reçu pour le transport en ambulance de Jean Chaput, juillet 1915. De la collection du Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
+ Receipt for the ambulace transport of Jean Chaput, July 1916. From the Collection of the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
+ Quittung über den Krankentransport von Jean Chaput, Juli 1916. Aus der Sammlung des Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
Transcription:
[P. 1]
19 juin 1916
Si je continue pendant une dizaine de jours à faire la guerre comme ces trois derniers, je vais certainement me faire descendre. Par trois reprises différentes j’ai reçu des balles dans mon appareil et
Transcription:
[P. 1]
22 mai 1916
Ma chère Jeanne
Je crois qu’il y a fort longtemps que je ne vous ai envoyé de nouvelles. J’ai été très occupé ces temps-ci. Il a fait des temps radieux et j’ai travaillé beaucoup pour préparer une expédition
Transcription:
[P. 1]
30 avril
L’aviation allemande se souviendra de cette journée ; elle a voulu montrer de l’activité, mais elle l’a payé cher. Un Aviatik tout neuf et chargé de bombes a été abattu par le canon. Un Albatros a dû atterrir du côté de Ste Menehould par suite de balles dans le moteur. Un autre avion est tombé du côté de Verdun ; enfin j’ai abattu un Fokker.
J’avais été réveillé vers 5h par tout un vacarme de bombes, de moteur, éclatement d’obus contre avion etc. Je me suis habillé en hâte et j’ai bondi dans mon
Transcription:
[P. 1]
24 avril 1916
Je me suis couvert de ridicule aujourd’hui. J’ai fait 4h ½ de vol, et comme résultat j’ai abîmé mon appareil. Je m’étais offert le luxe d’attaquer dans leur lignes deux avions allemands qui croisaient ensemble ; tandis que deux autres étaient aux environs. Ma mitrailleuse a raté et reraté : j’ai dû abandonner et j’ai reçu 3 balles. 1 dans la queue de l’appareil, 1 dans le plan gauche, et une dans le droit; celle-ci a fendu un mat et le longeron avant du plan supérieur.
Transcription:
[P. 1]
29 mars 1916
J’ai enfin obtenu un Nieuport. De nouveau en prenant cet appareil j’éprouve une fois de plus la sensation désagréable de monter un engin neuf, qui n’a pas été mis à l’épreuve par soi-même. Il marche bien cependant ; et contre toute attente ne me change pas trop après le Morane.
Mon brave Marot me le prépare, et [ illisible ] minutieusement. Quelle sera la destinée de cet avion ? Je veux qu’elle soit glorieuse comme celle de son devancier.
Transcription:
[P. 1]
18 mars 1916
Dans la matinée je fais une première croisière ; pas un ennemi en vue. Après le déjeuner, nouvelle sortie ; avec le Capitaine. Pas de combat.
Transcription:
[P. 1]
Le 3 mars 1916
Mon cher Papa,
J’ai été désolé de quitter Paris ou tout au moins ses environs sans avoir pu vous dire au revoir. Marot a dû vous le dire, j’ai été expédié directement en voiture légère en moins de 2 heures, je suis arrivé sans encombre à B.L.D. [Bar-le-Duc] dans la soirée du 1er. Presque impossible de trouver un logement. J’ai fini par trouver un taudis dans un hôtel [illisible] et j’ai partagé un mauvais lit avec un de mes camarades de voyage. Le lendemain je me suis présenté au
Transcription:
[P. 1]
17th Jan. ‘16
Dear Father.
How is life? Are there any more
engagements in the family? Vin? Laddie?
Sanday my flight commander, has just got the Military
Cross for Valour in the air. Likewise Gilbert, an
observer, both for work done before I came here. I
believe they were some stunt jobs they did too. It has to be something pretty good to get recognised
in the R.F.C you know. Best of all good old
Sison has got the cross too! I am so glad. You know he did twenty long reconnaissances {sic} last
Summer! He is an awfully stout lad. I should like
to see my pilot Allcock get something too. I expect
he will someday he is an awfully fine pilot and
+ Deutsches Maschinengewehr 08. Aus der Sammlung des Imperial War Museums London (Q 35445).
+ German Machine Gun MG 08. From the Collection of the Imperial War Museum London (Q 35445).
+ Mitrailleuse allemande type MG 08. De la collection du Imperial War Museum London (Q 35445).
Transcription:
[P. 1]
19th Mar. ‘15
Dear Father
Ever so many thanks for the parcel of
supplies which arrived yesterday in excellent order.
My good hostess was absolutely charmed with the
“cadeau” and insists on “concerving” it for the special
occasions when she gives a “soiree” entre sa famille
or in other words intends to use the things on
special occasions only. You have no idea what
rottenly made stuff they use out here it is
mostly lead I think, & the knives never cut.
Half the village has been in to inspect I am
told, but luckily I’ve been out!
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