Series 01 Part 02: Hughes family correspondence, 3 April 1917-22 September 1918 - Page 258
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[Page 258]
11.
why I thought it best to go out before the summer and avoid the worst time of the year. I am sure you will understand my reasons for thinking this the best course, and though we are now going out later in the winter it is still far and away the best thing to do. I have thought it all over time & time again and am looking at it from your point of view always. Once more I will sum up the whole situation so that it will be quite clear. It is certain that I will be sent out again sometime soon.
At the present moment I am, I suppose, at my very best as a pilot. I have had a lot of experience in the air both on active service and in England and my nerve and judgement are far sounder than ever before. The experience I have had has steadied me so that I am not likely to try foolish or reckless things, and yet I can handle my machine as well as most, as by taking things steadily and quietly I have been constantly "polishing" my style without trying my nerves. Our machines are simply magnificent and now even better than when I was expecting to go out before, as we have the very latest 275 Horse Power engine. I am going to make sure of having a really good crowd of pilots in my flight and will have the best observer & myself. We will probably have at least a month to practice in France before we start work, and that will be quite a large bit of my time out there spent in peace. The obvious handicap of having mostly "green" pilots is made up for by the fact that we will have a month or so to work together before starting real work and so will