No. 3 Wing
April 17.17

Dear Sister Ann

My Darling

I wrote you the day before yesterday telling you we had once more big raid to pull off & I would be back to England on leave. Well it's all over little girl & I am O.K. I have a story to tell you would make your blood run cold. I had the luck of a Texas mule.

Well to begin with, it was a raid on what we call an open town - that is, the first reprisal of the wing for the sinking of a British hospital ship. You can realize what that would mean. The day broke clear as I predicted in my letter the night before it was to be mailed to you if I did not come back.

After a long wait, we at last were sent off, a strong blow up top making it very hard for us to get back. You will see in the papers where it was to. My flight going first the fighters going up first to get height. The first lieut., lieut Colonel, a flight sub & myself were the fighters circling. We soon were all in formation & off we went for the lines where we were very heavily shelled crossing, the all came through all O.K. Then on for a long time to the objective away over the Rhine. Nothing happened. All the bombers let go their bombs. My gunlayer Kimberly let go a big package of pamplets explaining in German what we were doing this for & we turned home. Well all went well. We came through very heavy shelling over the objective but no huns so far. I was just thinking well this is going to be pie when crack crack crack went the machine guns & six Huns were at my tail. The Wing Commander, Lieut Colonel - was on my left. The Huns came up from behind and under my right wing. One went in a loop over my tail and a roar from my gunlayer's Lewises brought my head around to see a Rowland flash over not twenty feet off with our tracer's bullets paring into the fuselage. Over went my machine in a bank towards the wing Commander who was just on my right, in doing this my tail showed up a Fokker biplane under my tail. Down went the two Lewises into him at point blank range. Two of them were firing 500 per minute each) he simply crumpled up & went down, but not before he riddled me with bullets cutting my tail about off & cutting my elevator control wires. I was then practically helpless. On we went and back came two huns and whir went the machine guns again and Mr Hun came on no more. On went little willie just holding my height & sogging along with a big blow against me bound for France. My gunlayer Kim tapped me on the shoulder again that there's another Hun. Well I shook my head. I had given up hope now of ever getting down 12,200 feet. Around my head I could see a machine now diving for me. My flight was far off in the distance now, well I gave up hope again, but he did not come close. My gunslayer Kim got his glasses out. He tapped me. off went the engine for a second he yelled French Newport I said thank God. On we went. Then whoof whoof we were in shell fire again - that meant the lines & I sogged through it getting some too near for my health.

Then came the job of landing with controls gone. It is an impressive country all mountains & forests. I spotted a little drone far below some 11000 feet there. I started to come down, not knowing where my tail would fall off. That meant instant death. I yelled to my gunlayer, what is that drone. He got his glasses out but the machine was rolling so he could not get on it. Down we came. I spotted the French marking on a plane again, thank God. In we came & I landed her. There was a rush of French flyers out to the machine. They dragged poor Kim out. He was pretty well all in then, wounded in the leg & wrist with explosive bullets. I am afraid I just got out & cursed for fully five minutes. Some of the French flyers could speak English & they took me for an American. I think it was the language.

Poor Prince the American flyer was killed landing in this drone about 8 months ago. There is no use telling you the different parts where the machine was struck. I was simply riddled with bullets & shells, or part of one had gone through my tail plane. Well that's two we were sure of. I will tell you all the details later on. I got back to my drone by car. The captain was very good to me & packed me off to England on special leave & I am not to go to the Front anymore but stay in England. I think they figure I will never fly again & I am, so I am not putting up any argument. I have just got a letter from the Admiralty to say my application for leave to Canada cannot be considered, but all that will be changed now.

I was intending this letter for Eloise, sister, but I think it is too strong and might upset her so I will send it to you instead, hence the opening.

Well sis, I am sure all tired out so will cut short now and try to get my mind off this kind of stuff or I will go dippy.

Lots of love, Pete

Just mail me to Admiralty after this. I can't tell where I will be.
P.S. The three other fighters with me are all missing. Lieut Col, Wing Commander, First Lieut of the Station.