Stuart Walcott was a senior at Princeton in the winter of 1916-17.
In view of his approaching graduation in the spring his father wrote
to him that he had best begin to think about what he was to do after
graduation in order that he might get on an independent basis as soon
as practicable. In response under date of January 7, 1917, he wrote:
“You spoke of my being independent after I graduate in the spring.
If I go to Europe, as I want to, to drive an ambulance or in the
aeroplane I will be doing a man’s work and shall be doing enough to
support myself. If the work is unpaid, it is merely because it is
charitable work and as such is given freely. If you want to pay my
way, I will consider it not as dependence on you, father, but as a
partnership that may help the Allies and their cause. I will furnish
my services and you the funds to make my services available. If not,
I will be willing to invest the small amount of capital which has
accumulated in my name. I have been thinking of this work in Europe
for over a year now, and am still very strong for it. I don’t know
what the effect will be on myself, but if it will be of service to
others, I think that it is something I ought to do.”
Being assured that the expenses would be provided for, he then began an
investigation as to the best method of procedure to obtain training as
an aviator. In a letter dated January 26 he said:
“Many, many thanks for sending me the book on the French Flying Corps
by Winslow. I read half of it the night that it came and stayed up
late last night to finish it. He gives a very straight, interesting
and apparently not exaggerated account of the work over there, which
has made it somewhat clearer to me, just what it is that I want to
get into. Now I am even more anxious than I was before to join the
service over there. The more that I think about it and the more that
I hear of it, the more desirous I am of getting into the Flying
Corps. If a man like Winslow with a wife and daughter dependent on
him is willing to take the risk involved, I see no reason why I
should not.
“You mention the Ambulance service in your last note. I have thought
of that quite a little and would definitely prefer the aviation.
The ambulance is worth while, I think, in that it gives one an
opportunity to be of great service to humanity, but not so much so as
the other. There will be a number of my classmates who will enlist in
the American Ambulance this spring, but the air service appeals to
me.”
He then made arrangements with the American representatives of the
Lafayette Escadrille to go to France on the completion of his college
year. On January 29 he wrote:
“I will get a physical examination in a few days. In regard to
getting the training over here first, I do not think that it would be
worth while. The instruction over there would be first hand, bright,
for a definite purpose and on the whole superior to what I could get
here. I could also be picking up the language and the hang of the
country at the same time.”
On February 24 he received word that his papers presented with his
application for admittance to the Franco-American Flying Corps assured
him on their face of a welcome when he presented himself in Paris. He
was informed that if he utilized his spare time in availing himself of
any and every opportunity to familiarize himself with flying, it would
shorten his stay in the Student Aviators School in France. On March 26
he wrote:
“I haven’t been able to find out anything definite about the school
at Mineola. As yet, no change has been announced to my knowledge, in
reference to hastening up the course in event of the coming of war.
Over a hundred men have left college [Princeton] already to start
training for the Mosquito Fleet, and the rest of them are drilling
every afternoon. What do you think of the advisability of stopping
college and going to some aviation school? Considering that it takes
several months to become at all useful as an aviator and that war is
practically inevitable now, I think it would be wise to get started
right away.”
And again, on April 3:
“I saw in the morning paper that the American fliers in France would
be transferred to American registry immediately after the declaration
of war. When you next see General Squier, I wish that you would sound
him on the probability of a force being sent to France to learn to
fly according to French methods. That is the one thing above all
others that I want to get into. If there is any chance of that I do
not want to get involved in anything else....
“It is quite certain that seniors who leave college now, to go into
military work, will receive their degrees. I would not object to
losing the work as it is not my present intention to keep on with
theoretical chemistry and that is what I am devoting my time to this
spring. From the standpoint of education alone, I think that my time
could be more profitably spent in the study of aviation.”
Leave was granted by the University, and on April 6 Stuart Walcott
was appointed a special assistant to Mr. Sidney D. Waldon, Inspector
of Aeroplanes and Aeroplane Motors, Signal Service at Large. He
immediately reported to Mr. Waldon and worked with him through April.
May first he went to Newport News, Virginia. May 2 he reported:
“My first trip up was this afternoon with Victor Carlstrom. We were
out 16 minutes and climbed 3,500 feet. It was all very simple getting
up there--a little wind and noise and some bumps and pockets in the
air--a glorious view of the Harbor. Then we started to come down.
First, I saw the earth directly below through the planes on the
left. Then the horizon made a sudden wild lurch and Newport News
appeared directly below on my right. This continued for a little
while and then we started down at an angle of about 30 degrees to the
perpendicular, turning as we went. I later learned that Carlstrom had
executed a few steep banks or sharp turns and then spiralled down. It
ended with a very pretty landing, following with a series of banks to
check speed. Flying from my first impression is a very fascinating
game and the one I want to stay with for a while. I have signed up
for 100 minutes in the air. While this hundred minutes will not make
me a flier by any means I think it is well worth the while in that it
gives me a little element of certainty in going abroad. I will know
if all goes well that I am not unable to fly.”
The next day he wrote:
“Two flights this morning, 25 minutes _in toto_. The greatest sport
I ever had. Wonderful work. I did most of the work after we got up a
safe distance.”
Having obtained a certificate of 100 minutes flight and passed the
necessary physical examinations, he left for France, arriving at
Bordeaux May 31, and soon reported at Avord for training.