| Summary: | During World War I Stout was a pilot, eventually serving as a lieutenant in the 27th Aero Squadron, First Pursuit Group. In this letter he updates his family on his training and camp life since returning from the hospital in December. He and several soldiers from the hospital had been quarantined for 18 days after a spinal meningitis outbreak, and he describes his relief at being released from it: "Oh! It was glorious to be free again and someday when I'm a rich man I am going to buy a canary bird just to turn him loose so that he can feel as I did on that blessed day." Stout also draws diagrams of turns and other maneuvers learned in a spiral flying class, and he describes an in-flight equipment malfunction. He discusses recent activities in camp as well, such as attending a court martial, visiting the new Y.M.C.A., and making a visit to nearby Roman ruins. This letter includes sketches of Stout in the cockpit of his plane, pilots playing a game while waiting to fly, and humorous examples of military "camouflage."
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