Series 01 Part 02: Hughes family correspondence, 3 April 1917-22 September 1918 - Page 127
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[Page 127]
11.
to a chap I taught to fly the machines and I only hope he will keep things up to the old standard. I would hate to think that things were allowed to drift back again to the old state.
Now I am here with 38 Squadron and find that even a squadron in the same wing as old 17 is miles behind our standard in every way. I have the RE80, which are here only an intermediate machine before the Bristol Fighter. Apparently no one is much concerned with the machine which is held in wholesome dread by all the pupils – it is in fact cordially hated & is regarded as a nasty obstacle to be overcome as quickly as possible. There have been many accidents on them & several pupils have been killed. In short they stand where we were nearly six months ago. There is a dual control machine – a copy of mine but no proper use has been made of it. The machines are not looked after as they should be or at least the mechanics have no pride in their machines. The mechanics are slack and show no initiative. My flight sergeant is no good. Everyone regards the machine as a "dud".
So here I am away from my old flight and right back at the beginning again, with all the old weary fight battle to be fought over again.
I feel very very disheartened and fed up at the prospect. After six weary months hard work I've got to make