Second Lieutenant

Mr. Dickins describes formation flying, chain of command in the air, and difficulty maintaining a full complement of aircraft in a flight.

Mr. Dickins describes an incident wherein a piece of shrapnel disables his engine and he has to fly back to base “dead stick.”

Mr. Dickins describes the strengths and limitations of the German and British fighters, and the vulnerability of aircraft flying outside of a protected formation.

Mr. Dickins describes the DH-9's weapons, flying in formation and protecting other aircraft in a flight. Included is his description of shooting down a German Fokker D-7 fighter in a head-on confrontation.

Mr. Dickins describes the DH-9 bomber and its armaments, and the different types of bombing missions he flew.

Mr. Dickins describes getting his commission in the Royal Flying Corps and outlines the various aircraft which he flew.