Diary of a Night Bomber Pilot in World War I

By Clive Semple

Flying at 18, demobbed at 20, Semple's astonishing experience has been meticulously put into context. How do you fly a Handley Page across France in total darkness? The answer is the 'Lighthouse system', just one of the revelations in this unique record of ingenuity and courage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spellmount
• Release date: Mar 28, 2008
• ISBN: 9780750967105

Reviews for Diary of a Night Bomber Pilot in World War I

[douboy50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author, Clive Semple, is the son of Leslie Semple. Upon Leslie's death, Clive finds a box filled with his father's WWI diaries, photos, newspapers clippings, etc. This information forms the basis for Diary of a Night Bomber Pilot in World War I. Other information, reasearch and particularly the assistance of Retired Wing Commander Alan Mawby fill out the book.At the age of 18 Leslie joins the Royal Naval Air Service. His choice, rather than to be conscripted into the Army. He ends up in flight school as a PFO (Probationary Flight Officer), if you can imagine an 18 year old being trained as a combat pilot! When the time comes for advanced training, Leslie chooses to go the bomber training. The majority of the narative deals with his training and the general life of a PFO in the RNAS. It may sound dry, but I found it interesting. Flight school during WWI was a very dangerous occupation. Apparently it was more dangerous than flying bombing raids against Imperial Germany. Leslie does make to France toward the end of the war. He participates in several raids, experiencing aerial combat first hand; including some crashes. In additions to his training, I also found interesting his views and experience with the merger of the RNAS and the RFC to form the new RAF.A merger favored by no one within the two services. However, it was necessary for logistics, training and control. Ultimately, Leslie ends up with the Army of Occupation in German after the war. I recommend this book because it presents information not generally covered elsewhere: training, the merger of the services and the occupation of Germany after the war. A great many photos are included in the book. These are photos I have never seen before. Most of them were personally taken by Leslie.