Up In
The Air
The World War I Diaries of Balloonist Cyril Gordon Jones
1917
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7th Jan
"...Saw one of our aeroplanes attacked by a Hun and set on fire..."
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Jan 10th "...
attacked and burnt by German aeroplane, an Albatross Scout..."
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Jan 16th
"
Found my room half covered with snow in morning.
.. "
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1917
17th Jan
"Capt Child dined here and played poker."
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2nd Feb " Skating on Serpentine and other lakes in London"
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1st March
" No 2 balloon was shelled at 2.15pm today... "
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Ist April
"They were caught in a squall whilst crossing the wires"
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8th April
" I was hit on right arm by a piece of anti aircraft shell..."
1917
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1st May "I saw a very exciting scrap..."
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27th May
"...balloon was damaged by a collision with a tree"
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8th June
" ...examined their balloon which was leaking at diagonal seam ..."
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17th June
" No 9’s balloon was shelled but not hit."
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June 28th
"...struck by lightning and burst...."
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21st July
"...balloon was shelled in the air and several holes made in it."
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1917
22nd July
"...No 9’s balloon ... was shelled...telephone cable was cut...."
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August 9th
"All balloons up A few targets done."
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29th Sept
"old position deflated and packed up... "
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11th Oct
"Bad tooth ache..."
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27th Oct
"48 targets done..."
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30th Nov
"...balloon eventually deflated, after being hit several times. ..."
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8th Dec
"All went well till I landed..."
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9th Dec
"My leg was X Rayed today..."
1917
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17th Dec
"...
taken to Boulogne and put on board Hospital Ship St Dennis
"
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1917
ca. 19th Dec
"...air raid alarm on the way to London and the train was stopped
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25th December
"Xmas day. I was of course in bed. We were well looked after and had Turkey, Champagne and Port Wine."
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22nd Jan b..."Court of Enquiry..."