Series 01 Part 02: Hughes family correspondence, 3 April 1917-22 September 1918 - Page 126
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[Page 126]
10.
more & more experience and profiting by that experience have got even better results. During my last month there not a single machine was damaged even to the extent of a broken undercarriage. So I have really done what I set my heart on doing and I do feel proud of it. I am quite satisfied with the knowledge that I have done my best at my own little bit of a job and that my C.O. appreciates it. I do not want any credit for the success we have had among people outside the squadron because my only job was to do my best for my C.O. Our little show has not been boomed or anything of that sort – in fact we are probably regarded as quite the ordinary average RE8 training squadron. Various people have come to see our dual control and copy it, but even now there are many places where no dual is given on these machines. The machine is still spoken of with dread in many places and there are still accidents happening. It is true that the machine is not dreaded as universally as it was before and that accidents are not so frequent, but I have proved in my own little show that there is no need for any dread of the machine or any accidents at all (barring those accidents that are caused by sheer bad luck, & we escaped even these). I have done my darndest and being only a flight commander can do no more. If those, who should study these things care to open their eyes and see why it is that one squadron has no fatal accidents while others continue to do so, they could prevent such things but I cannot. So I felt very keenly having to leave the old squadron and the old flight and everything that I had to show for the work I put in since I came back from France. I handed over