Robert Sidney Bowen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Sidney Bowen, Jr.
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Robert Sidney Bowen, R.A.F.
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| Born | October 4, 1900 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 11, 1977 (aged 76) |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Other work | Journalist and writer |
Robert Sidney Bowen, Jr. (October 4, 1900 – April 11, 1977) was an American aviator who flew during World War I. He was also a newspaper journalist, a magazine editor, and a popular author. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he later became famous for his adventure book series for boys, especially the Dave Dawson War Adventure Series and the Red Randall Series. He also wrote under the name R. Sidney Bowen and the pen name James Robert Richard.
Contents
Robert Sidney Bowen's Life Story
Early Life and World War I Adventures
Robert Sidney Bowen was born in Allston, Massachusetts. When World War I started in Europe, he left school to help out. He drove an ambulance for the American Field Service (AFS) in France.
Joining the Royal Flying Corps
In May 1917, the American Army took over the AFS. Robert was too young to serve in the army, so he went back to the United States. When he turned seventeen in October 1917, he joined Great Britain's Royal Flying Corps as a Flight Cadet. He trained in different places, including Canada and Texas. On June 20, 1918, he became a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force.
Flying in France
In July 1918, Robert went to England and then to France. He joined the 84th Squadron of the R.A.F.. He flew SE5 fighter planes and saw some air combat. He once wrote to his family about his plane having 33 bullet holes. This showed he was in some very close fights. After the war ended, he transferred to the United States Army Air Service.
After the War: A Journalist's Path
After World War I, Robert became a journalist. He worked for newspapers like the London Daily Mail and the Paris edition of the Chicago Tribune. For several years, he was the editor-in-chief of Aviation Magazine. He also edited other magazines about flying and cars.
Becoming a Famous Author
In 1930, Robert started writing books. His first book, Flying From The Ground Up, taught people how to fly. He also wrote for popular magazines called pulp magazines. In 1934, he even had his own pulp magazine called Dusty Ayres and His Battle Birds. He kept writing for these magazines through the 1950s.
The Dave Dawson and Red Randall Series
When World War II began in 1939, a publisher asked Robert to write an adventure story about the war. This led to the famous Dave Dawson series. The first book, Dave Dawson At Dunkirk, came out in 1941. He wrote 15 books in this series between 1941 and 1946. By 1945, over 2,000,000 copies of the Dave Dawson series had been sold!
Because the Dave Dawson books were so popular, another publisher hired Robert. He then created the Red Randall series, which started in 1944. This series sold 200,000 copies in its first year.
Robert was a very fast writer. He lived in Wilton, Connecticut, and wrote seven days a week. He could write about 10,000 words a day and finish a whole novel in just ten days! He believed in writing his stories perfectly the first time and rarely changed them.
Writing for Young Readers
After World War II, Robert continued writing books for young boys. He wrote about exciting topics like aviation, cars, and baseball. He also wrote books about horses using the pen name James Robert Richard. Many of his baseball books were later reprinted as "Famous Sports Stories."
Robert Sidney Bowen passed away in 1977 at the age of 76. He left behind a legacy of exciting adventure stories that entertained many young readers.
