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Albert Earl Godfrey

5 Dec 1916 Sopwith Strutter B1 familiarization and flight trials

The morning was spent in course learning some basic combat manouvers and techniques.
In the afternoon I had the opportunity to take up the Strutter B1, a single seat scout. A darling of an aircraft. I at once fell in love with her. She had all the handling characteristics of her sister but without the added weight. I would be pleased to be in a scout squadron with her as my mount. I spent an hour putting her through the paces and applying some of the manouvers from the morning class. Regrettably, I had to bring her down. The boys were again, heading in to town for a night at the Café Vincent. I however thought better of it since I had to fly out to Calais and then Farnborough early next morning. I accepted the lift explaining my situation and told the boys I would be taking a leisurely dinner at the L’Hotel de Ville, which I had been told served some fine meals.

Arriving at the Hotel I was shown to a table and presented the menu. I chose the fois gras torchon as an appetizer, followed by Canard au romarin et à l'orange with Pommes de terre et épinards. A bottle of Châteauneuf Du Pape and for dessert Poires Belle Helene.
As I was leaving the hotel, I noted a dispatch rider stopping at the entrance. I asked of transportation back to base and he indicated that was his next stop and would I be interested in riding in the side car.
I indicated I was for it for sure. He said to hop in he would be right back and so I was back at base within an hour. I cleaned up and tucked in for the night.



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