Lt. Wade V. Bowman Writes of Wonderful Sound of American Planes in France, 1918

“Liberty Motor Makes One Beautiful Noise,” from The Hickory Daily Record, Oct. 23, 1918. The photo is from http://centenaire.org/en/autour-de-la-grande-guerre/aviation/history-us-air-service-world-war-i

Lieut. Wade V. Bowman in a letter to his wife under sate of September 18 tells her how it feels to hear a German plane soaring overhead and again how it feels to hear a Liberty motor purring above one. There’s all the difference in the world in one’s feelings, and he assures her that the Hun hasn’t much chance on the American side of the fence these days.

The Lieutenant’s company was on the march and he explained that he slept on springs for the first time in many weeks—but they were wagon springs. All he wants is a chance to close his eyes because he is so hardened that any place makes a good bed.

Lieutenant Bowman told of an American soldier who had captured a German helmet, placing it on another American and with a string tied around the helmet wearer’s neck, was leading him about to the amusement of the other boys. They surely have their good jokes, and make the most of every situation.

Lieutenant Bowman was quite well when he wrote and although he wanted to see Mrs. Bowman and his parents, he was anxious to do his part of the work first.