Tag Archives: aviation

May 16, 1940

Thurs May 16, 1940.

My dear Ina & Folks,

The sleeper plane was just fine and for the first time I actually undressed & went to bed just as one would in a Pullman. From Cleveland we traveled upstairs most of the way (about 10 to 11 thousand feet). At Cheyenne Mr. Messenger joined me for the rest of the trip. Have spent two past evenings with him as he has been in the field & will leave again Sat or Friday night. R.A. is doing just fine. Dr. Wakeland is away with Mr. Dutton.

May 16, 1940

May 16, 1940

Two years ago today I had the first big fire built under me by a delegation from ND, then drove to Fargo that night. Was having trouble with one of my Butchers then. Today it is quiet and things are quite different for a grasshopper office. It has a disturbing pulse but no headaches.

The pictures made on our arrival at Great Falls seem fair & the ones of the falls look as though they will print OK, but the others did not show up well enough to try prints. Will mail them as soon as prints are obtained.

I have not written to anyone about not going to Menard and I think you should let Mother Lewis know of it. Could you break the news gently? Believe we should not say much about Panama City yet. I hope the Chief feels well enough to discuss it here Saturday or Sunday, although I do not intend to crowd him for any opinion or reaction. Think he will give it of his own accord & will give an opening for a discussion if he feels anything like normal.

With love
Walter.

Walter is apparently still helping with the grasshopper program as it gets going under new management, which is why he’s traveling back and forth between Denver and Washington. Meanwhile, it sounds as if he’s considering taking a post at the USDA research facility in Panama City, FL instead of the screw-worm facility in Menard, TX.

February 6, 1940

Stationery from the Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Railroad.

Tues Nite – En Route to Yuma.

My dear Ina & Boys,

I had a most pleasant day at El Paso with the Pettits and tonight the Trotters came to the train with me. Dinner at the Pettits’ tonight, chicken & all of the trimmings. Visited the irrigation plant this AM & this PM we drove on the River Road above the city.

February 6, 1940

February 6, 1940

Yesterday I had a good day at Amarillo. Attended the USDA Club luncheon at noon where about 250 were present. Was introduced to the club from the speakers table but was not called on for a speech. The weather was hazy & not good for flying so did not go up in the auto-giro or Cub plane but I did visit the storage & shop. Spreirs had me to dinner lats night (steak & all the trimmings including apple pie). Landrum took me out to his house to meet the Mrs & the new baby who is about 3 weeks old. Mrs. Landrum is still in bed & weak but baby has good lungs and a strong vocal apparatus. At both places I was entertained and all seemed very glad to see me. The trouble is that they want to transfer to me. Miss Anderson & I had a cup of coffee Monday afternoon & she wants to go to Menard or Uvalde too. I told her about Polly’s wish & that it looked like Miss Autrey would continue.

Wednesday I’ll be with Mr. Rainwater at Yuma & I expect to see Mr. Schroeder there too. I should be able to see Frank about Friday & Lindquist Saturday. Think I’ll try & call on Prof Harris at Berkeley & also visit the University Exp. Sta. at Davis for a little while.

On my return from Portland I want to stop at Hamilton to see the new Public Health Lab & to see what they are doing. I should get some ideas on construction of the lab at Uvalde. Also I hope to spend a little while at Fargo before reaching Mpls. I know that all of this seems a delay in our moving from Mpls but it is all important.

John thinks that things are moving rather slowly in Denver & that the general supervisors (now called field supervisors) should sit in on the state conferences with Wakeland, RA, Mr. Holton & Mr. Dutton. It seems Messenger is with Townsend at Denver & others are in the field.

With love to all three of you,

Your
Walter.

February 4, 1940

Stationery from the Amarillo Hotel, Amarillo, TX, “The Panhandle’s Meeting Place Since 1889.”

Sunday Night Feb 4, 1940.

My dear Sweetheart & Boys,

My train got here a few minutes ago and I have just arrived at the hotel, about ten-thirty PM. It is too late to phone any of the office folks though I am sure that Duck or Landrum would come down. I’ll see them tomorrow morning and will spend the day with them, arriving at El Paso Tuesday morning. Will see AK for a few hours & go to Yuma Tuesday night. From there I’ll go to San Francisco to see Frank, then drive or take a bus to Clear Lake to see Lindquist. Will be Clear Lake about a day then north to Portland about one day. Should you write me, the best address would be care Frank Prince, US Public Health Laboratory, San Francisco, or better still in care of his residence. I intend to go into Lundquist’s lab & to Portland without any notice.

February 4, 1940

February 4, 1940

Things are breaking much better in Texas than I had anticipated. After I talked with you I called upon Mr. Parman & gave him the news about moving to Menard. He questioned the wisdom of moving there or of consolidation of the stations and said that he guessed he would quit the Bureau even though he would like to get the program going in that area. I took him to lunch at the Kincaid & then he suggested that we should call on the Chamber of Commerce as a courtesy. The Secy was much concerned about it & thought we should find out how much Uvalde could do. He took us to the airport, Bureau of Fisheries & a new livestock pavilion west on US 90. The city C of C had donated land to all of these & he felt certain that he could give us 49 acres in one tract (which they have leased for 50 years) and that they could buy 6 acres with a 6 room house adjoining the livestock grounds and deed it to us for a building site. They have a good well 300 gals. per min. which will be used by us without charge, electricity available & we could also use the pavillion grounds when not in use by them. Land across the road & adjoining our tract can be rented & he is quite sure at 75ยข per acre. We pay 1.25 at Menard. It looks mighty fine & I think I have some good arguments for the chief. I have a feeling that Uvalde will be the place though I talked the advantages of Menard at Dallas. All of them except Mr. Parish at Menard seem to welcome the idea of Uvalde, even Dr. Laake. Strange to say Laake hopes that I’ll be in charge & that I’ll not be there just to organize but to direct the work. The notice (press) by Strong had prepared all of them for my visit & I received a most cordial reception everywhere. Different ones told me that they were glad & wanted to work with me. Mr. Parman did not say so, but seemed enthusiastic about the C of C offer. I am not worried about his cooperation.

I’ve tried to interest myself in the details of work of different men & how the move would affect them, though it does seem rather tame compared to ‘hopper work.

One thing I want to do here regards the use of an auto giro for tests at Uvalde. Parman & Barnett think we can find strong goats & sheep from the air & were enthusiastic about tests. It is worth trying soon.

Lots of love & hoping to see you before very long.

Your
Walter

Miss Autrey (Mrs. Baker) thinks she would like to go to Uvalde. My guess is that she will find a place at Dallas in a new govt. agency. WED.

July 22, 1939 (Walter)

707 Thorpe Bldg
Saturday PM

My dear Ina,

In order to keep peace in this family, separate letters are being enclosed to Lewis Dunbar & Walter White. They have been good boys at Uvalde and it looks as though we can take them places.

July 22, 1939 (Walter)

July 22, 1939 (Walter)

The week has been light for shipments but vouchers and payrolls have been heavy. Most every evening I have been able to leave here about 6 or 7 o’clock and I’ve walked home every evening. When the sun shines I park on a bench at Loring and read the evening paper, then go by a restaurant for dinner. Three times I’ve eaten dinner at home, eggs, bacon and hot cakes. I made up some syrup & then found some already made.

A letter finally came from the Olson Co. enclosing shipping tags for return of the rug. They say send to Chicago so I am arranging to do just that. I am not writing to them as the tags have numbers and they also show your return address.

It is surprising how long one can keep the same sheets on the bed and how long towels can be used. This week I’ll send them to the laundry.

I looked up our lease and find that it expires August 31st. It therefore seems advisable to look for a place to live. I’ve walked to a few places near our apartment. Tomorrow I’ll have a pickup truck so that I can see some that are not so near by. The Studebaker is at Mandam & will be returned when some one comes in to Mpls from up there, probably this week.

On Friday & Sat. we have a conference scheduled for survey & the general supervisors will be here. Also Wakeland & Gaddis.

Mrs. Quarterman came by for Kenneth and she looks just fine.

Polly was pleased to get your hello and love. She is about normal now and she came back at a good time.

Dorward phoned a few times last week. The planes are still working & flights are there but not nearly as serious as last year. The general opinion is that we have done a good job. Nebraska may be in for some criticism of us but most of the states have already expressed strong approval. Canada received some of our hoppers on Thursday & Friday of this week.

I love all three of you just lots and lots and lots, and I’ll be glad when you come back home.

Your
Walter

July 22, 1939 (Walter to Lewis)

July 22, 1939 (Walter to Lewis)

Dear Lewis,

You have been a pretty good boy and both Mother and Daddy are proud of you.

I saw Judy on the side walk last night.

I hope you have a good time and that you will be ready to go to school when you finish your vacation.

With love
Daddy.

Dear Walter White,

I was pleased to get your letters also the report from Mother that you had been a good boy.

During June we shipped 90,000 tons of grasshopper bait. A ton is 2000 pounds or 20 sacks. This much bait would make a line of box cars 41 miles long. In other words as far as Uvalde to Hondo. That is a lot of bait. Of the 14 airplanes, 3 have crashed so that only 11 are working now. They are still working in eastern Montana and we are getting some flights out there. Some of the ‘hoppers are flying into Canada.

I am proud of the way you can shoot a rifle and I hpoe we can go to Reagan Wells again.

With love,
Daddy

July 9, 1939

Stationery from the Katy Lines, “Missouri-Kansas-Texas R.R.”

Sunday En Route.

My dear Ina & Boys,

Had a good visit with the McDonalds at San Antonio and they brought me to the train last night. Mrs. Mc is going to write you and is expecting to see you at San Antonio. Mr. Mc is just getting ready for Pink Boll Worm clean up work in the valley and Mr. Dutton will report for duty soon to assist him. It will last about two months. They have about $600,000 which is about half the estimated needs. We should be able to release a number of our men & pickups to help them. Mr. Mc seemed willing to take my recommendations on any men for temporary transfer and I think the men will be glad to get work for a couple of months.

July 9, 1939

July 9, 1939

I started to spend today at Dallas but I am not enthusiastic about airplane travel. I could have left there at 8 tonight & reach Mpls about 10 tomorrow morning. By train & not stopping at Dallas today will reach Mpls 2:50 PM Monday, which is very good time. I have enjoyed the trip and I’ll feel fine on returning to Mpls.

With love,
Walter.

May 1, 1938

Stationery from the Pony Express/Union Pacific Railroad.

Sunday Night May 1

My dear Ina & Boys,

Am en route to Denver from the Northwest and from there I expect to return to Mpls. I left Mr. Dorward at Elks Nevada this noon. We called on committees in 5 northwestern states and I believe Mr. Dorward is on a good start. The preliminary arrangements seem to be going ahead.

May 1, 1938

May 1, 1938

Hope things are going OK at Mpls. I’ve talked to Kenneth a time or two and things seem to be moving along very well. Saw RA & Mr. Townsend but did not get to visit a great deal with them. Mr. Spencer went with Dorward & me from Mpls. No doubt Mr. Gaddis will be out soon, then Rohner & later Mr. Strong. He is in Europe now and is expected back about the 1st of June.

This PM the train crossed the Great Salt Lake. It contains 23% salt & there are no fish in it. I saw one seagull & it was near the shore.

Last Tuesday night Dorward & I drove from Logan to Salt Lake City & took a plane to Helena Mont. then Spokane that night. We crossed the Divide four times on that flight. We saved about 2 days traveling by making that flight & Dorward seemed to enjoy it. It was his first trip by air. RA seems to enjoy plane travel too. I take trains unless there is some distinct advantage to be gained in saving time.

Tomorrow I meet Mr. Phil McCampbell the State Ent. of Colorado. Last year he had to call out the National Guard to fight grasshoppers.

With love to all of you,
Walter

P.S. I wired Reitha to come to Mpls with you.

April 27, 1919

This postwar letter from one of Walter’s Army buddies reveals that he had bent the truth a bit when telling his parents how safe his aviation assignment had been. In addition to handling supplies for the squadron, he had also flown as a bombardier and reconnaissance photographer in the squadron’s Sopwith A2 aircraft, another detail he omitted from his letters home.

Flight “C” 800th Aero Squadron,
Le Valdahon, Sunday 27th April 1919

Dear Dove:

I am sorry to have to tell you about the misfortune that has befallen our little family here at this camp. But yesterday morning about 9:05 Pilot 2nd Lt. Oakley McKinney, Brooklyn, N.Y. and Sergeant Greeley Robbins fell in a Sopwith No. 11, from about 300 feet altitude, in a vrille, and crashed into the hill north of the barracks, where the sock is. Both were killed instantly. When the plane hit the gasoline tank exploded and went up in flames. We were all over to the plane about the same time, trucks, motorcycles, ambulance, and the mechanics on foot with fire extinguishers, but we were all too late. You can imagine the awfulness of the sight. Lt. Lawson and Sgt. Hoyt Hull were up about 1000 feet waiting for Lt. Cliff and Corp. Tullius, who were about 500 feet and also for Lt. McKinney and Sgt. Greeley Robbins to gain the same altitude so that they could ferry the planes to Colombey les Belles. Both the other pilots came down, Lt. Cliff was pretty badly broken up about the accident.

April 27, 1919

April 27, 1919

This is Sunday and today at 2:00 P.M. the funeral was held and I believe it was the largest ever held at the post. It started to snow about 1:00 o’clock but cleared up before 2:00 and the sun was out bright. There were two caissons drawn by six dapple white horses, a doughboy military escort or firing squad, all the officers of this post acted as pall bearers for Sgt. Robbins. The post band, the 140 F.A., headed the procession. A number of French Civilians, the Madam femme de chambre and Madam Peutlots, etc. The Motor Transports fellows were there and the Nurses as well as the Commanding Officer of the Post and the Camp Hospital; Colonels and Majors. Just after the services a Liberty Plane landed here at the field, they were just joy riding around, had landed up in Germany today. Just now another Liberty landed with a pilot to ferry the other Sopwiths to Colombey les Belles.

Did I tell you that Lt. McKinney was up giving me D.C. work about three weeks ago and the engine died on us and we had a forced landing on the Artillery range, making sufficient kindling wood for a good bon fire. Have been back from the Hospital at Dijon and they discharge me for duty saying that my eyes would get all right, my jaw was not broken, so they said, and would be always dislocated. But really I am feeling fine and the only thing that would make me feel better is to have one of them there honorable discharges from the U.S. Army, that would be perfect. Are there very many of the discharged soldiers that want to come back to France? I heard there was through a “Y” entertainer that just arrived. The states must be the h of a place if such is the case. However you know how much faith I place in the source of the information.

We are all expecting to get out of here the 15th of May 1919, but have no orders for the personnel as yet, except Capt. Brower and Lt. Payne two of the latest arrivals and the only two who requested continued service in the AEF have orders to proceed to Colombey les Belles for station and duty. So it looks pretty good for the rest of us. We have orders to get all material out of here and Tuesday the Motor Transport Co. is going to send three big trucks to 1st Air Depot with as much of our supplies as they can haul and continue to haul. The Q.M. have orders to be out of here the 15th of May, so we will have to get out.

Gee and Jones are on leave in England now. Hawkins, Banker and Gahan are in C.H. #12, with minor complaints. Otherwise all the fellows are O.K. They all enjoyed your last letter. With best of regards, I am,

Yours truly,
Louis D. Leland
Enl. Man

May 29, 1918

Army Post Office 704
A.E.F. France
May 29, 1918

Dear Mother and Father,

Your letter of recent date was received yesterday and as usual found me in the best of health.

Owing to the rules of the censors there are lots of things of which I cannot write, and if you have noticed my letters have always been written in such a manner that if they were intercepted nothing of military importance could be learned. We are obliged to refrain from writing anything which would give a spy a clue as to the location or movement of troops and supplies.

May 29, 1918

May 29, 1918

In a general way I have told you what I am doing and you know that I am located in the Advanced Zone near the Southern portion of the line. Our camp is near enough the front to hear the big guns, but as yet we have not been shelled or bombed. The only attacks that we could expect would be from the German planes, and for defense against these we are pretty well fixed.

Our planes are in excellent condition. We are doing some cooperative instruction with American artillery, and we have little fear of the (Bosch) German planes.

As you know, I trained in the infantry in the States and was transferred to the Aviation Section as a ground officer, which was due to the fact that there was a shortage of ground officers for this branch of the service. By doing this I was sent “over here” much sooner, and I am very glad that I made the change. Not because I dislike infantry, for such is not the case. I am still very much interested in infantry operations, and at times I feel that I could be doing more in that service.

Yesterday, in company with some of our pilots and Aerial Observers we visited the front lines and had an occasion to see some real activity. We witnessed at least six attacks on aircraft by anti-aircraft guns, some of which were our planes being attacked by the Germans. A late type of German bombing plane was brought down behind our lines by our men, but our planes returned safely. The clouds are used to good advantage by planes when they are attacked, as they easily conceal themselves when they are fired upon.

In going to the trenches we were unable to get gas masks and “tin hats” until we were pretty close up, and while we were without this essential paraphernalia we had an occasion to cross an open section in the automobile. A German observation balloon had just gone up and German artillery fire was directed upon our road, but the nearest shell missed us by two hundred yards. We did not lose any time.

Upon reaching battalion headquarters we were accompanied by an infantry lieutenant, who visited some of our strong points with us. We went to a “listening post” in “No Man’s Land” which we found very interesting. It had been taken from the Germans on the previous night.

Our men were in excellent spirits and had become accustomed to heavy fire. They were well protected in “dug outs” and appeared to be at ease. It seems strange but the residents of this section were cultivating their farms, children were going to school, and apparently they were not concerned with the shells which were constantly being fired over their heads. They felt as though they were sufficiently protected by our men on the line, and I believe our men will prevent the Bosch from doing anything. There is no doubt as to the outcome of the war, as “our boys are showing the stuff that men are made of.” All we want is a little time, plenty of artillery, equipment, ammunition, and air planes, and you can leave the rest to us.

Last night we took the planes out of the hangar, borrowed a piano from the Red Cross, found a few violin players in the “Flight,” and had a real entertainment. Had a few Mississippi Negroes to dance for us, but as I expected, our hypnotist could not hypnotize them. A couple of the Y.M.C.A. ladies came down and seemed to enjoy the little show.

Our men are rapidly building our repair shop and soon we will have it equipped for repairs on aero motors, plane repairs, trucks, small clock like instruments, vulcanizing, and any other thing that needs repair.

With love to all and assurances that everything is going well, I am,

Always,

Walter.

Army P.O. #704
A.E.F. France

Jan. 9, 1918 12 o’clock

Mineola, L.I. N.Y.
Jan. 9, 1918. 12 o’clock.

Dear Mother,

This may be another surprise but I think that I will be on my way to France within two days, possibly tomorrow. Today I had charge of some trucks hauling the equipment of my squadron to the port of embarkation. I understand that we leave tomorrow.

I am enclosing a witnessed copy of my application for insurance and you should keep this until you receive the policy. Two copies of this have been sent to Washington, and they will send you the policy. The premiums will be deducted from my salary. The insurance is in force as soon as I mailed the application and it is good no matter what the cause of my death might be.

Jan. 9 1918

Jan. 9 1918

I am having an allotment made you from my pay. They should send you seventy five dollars of my salary each month. I want you to keep this for me, and pay my insurance premiums in the Capital Life. Also I have two debts that I want you to pay. There is no hurry about either as they both know my condition. One is for uniforms and clothes at Sanger Bros., Dallas, Texas, amounting to $55.85 (Fifty five dollars and eighty five cents). Send them a check sometime before March 1, enclosing the statement I am sending in this letter.

The other bill is a last payment on my Liberty Loan Bonds. I have two hundred dollars worth at the City National Bank, Dallas, Texas but at present I owe them Seventy. Please pay them this amount and hold the receipts I am enclosing. Also keep the receipt they will give you. I have not had my bank book balanced but I think I have drawn about all of my money from the bank.

I do not owe anyone else any money as I have not received any from Mr. Miller at Natchez, and could not get in touch with Mr. Pool at Dallas. So I do not owe either of them any money. I do not see why Mr. Miller did not wire me the one hundred, but he did not. I have managed to get along fine without it as I received my December pay OK.

I have brought lots of heavy clothes, another quilt, and am pretty well supplied for service abroad. You should not worry about me as I will not be fighting, but will have charge of some trucks in shipping supplies for the Aviation Service. Possibly I will have an office and will see to the loading of the trucks. I am greatly pleased with my assignment.

You cannot expect to hear from me very often at first as it will take about one month for a letter to reach you after I have written from there. The censors will read all of your letters to me and all of mine to you. I will write every week after I arrive and you should hear from me once each week. I have arranged to telegraph you when I arrive abroad so that you will know that I landed safely. My telegram will be sent through Washington so do not be frightened when you find out that I have telegraphed. I may telegraph you every now and then just to let you know that I am all right.

I have been assigned to a new squadron for service abroad and your letters should now be addressed very plainly to me as I write it:

Lieut. W. E. Dove,
121st Aero Squadron,
A.E.F.
New York, New York.

The postmaster at New York City will know where the mail goes and will send it OK. In case anything happens to me you will be notified by the government. Unless you receive a telegram from them you may know that I am getting along all right.

It is getting late and I must close. With lots of love and regards to all, I am, always your,

Walter.

P.S. I have not received any packages from you to Leon Springs but think they will be forwarded to me.

The $75.00 will be deposited with the City National Bank, Dallas, Texas in your name (Mrs. T. W. Dove). It will be there by the 5th of each month beginning Feb. 5 and continuing until one year expires.

Walter.

December 24, 1917

Camp Stanley, Dec. 24 1917

Dear Papa and Mama,

I have been ordered to report to Kelly Field in San Antonio on the 26th. I am assigned to the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. A number of men are being sent there who have trades and will be used in France, but before sending them they will be given training. A large number of the officers here are sent there for duty to train them.

December 24, 1917

December 24, 1917

We have not had any further vacations and it is understood that we will not have any more. We begin active work with our companions on the 27th. Have not had time to buy any Christmas presents. Most of the men here have not sent any either.

I understand that we will have quarters in a wooden frame building. We will get meals for $1.05 per day. You already know that we furnish our own clothes etc.

Leon Cygon is yet in camp here and has not been assigned but they may assign him at any time. He did not want to try this temporary duty at Kelly Field. If I like it I may transfer to that section. If I do not like it, I can return to the Infantry. I cannot tell just what is ahead of us.

With love to all and a Merry Merry Christmas, I am, Always, Walter.

Address me: Lieut. W. E. Dove, Kelly Field, Aviation Section, South Aan Antonio, Texas.

Put “Lieut” on letters so that my mail goes to officers quarters.

Another page enclosed in the same envelope:

Christmas Day

Your letter came this morning and I enjoyed it very much. I appreciate the package you were to send me today but I have my doubts as to whether it will reach me or not. We will probably be at Kelly Field but I’ll try to have it forwarded from here. I appreciate the fact that Mrs. Bennett of Meadville is to send a package and of course I will write a few lines of thanks upon receiving it.

We are to have a real good dinner today. The meals have been very good since I came back and I understand that they are good at Kelly Field.