Books with author R. SIDNEY BOWEN

The Dave Dawson War Adventure Series encompasses 15 novels about young Dave Dawson, just our of high school and following his father to Europe at the start of the conflict that would become World War 2. After befriending a young English lad, Freddy Farmer, the two teens find themselves fighting along side the brave British troops determined to keep the Nazis from ever setting foot on English soil. Through the series they do not age but do travel around a lot taking part in such operations ad Dunkirk, Guadalcanal and Truk Island. They distinguish themselves as they fly and shoot down the enemy whether they are on European soil, in the Pacific or even at home where Nazi infiltrators are bent on wrecking havoc. The two lads make a name for themselves, form an unbreakable friendship, and fight against the odds. overcoming them at the very last moment. As with many series for young boys, the themes are built around patriotism and bravery, friendship and loyalty. And, while some of the references might seem rude or racist, they were products of the time in which they were authored. That author, Robert Sidney Bowen, was an American teenager when he flew for the Royal Air Force during World War 1. He became a journalist and author starting at the end of the war in England and later in Chicago. He was responsible for at least three series of adventures for boys plus numerous individual books built around his love of sports. He was active from 1930 (at the age of 20) until his final book, Hot Rod Doom, in 1973, just six years before his death. Millions of his books were sold when first published or republished and some are still available today as used books and as new publications, however many of these new releases have been edited for spelling mistakes and errors in typesetting, plus many do not include any of the original cover art. Thackery Fox & Associates is proud to offer these low-cost editions using scanned text mostly from first editions that—for historical reasons—include all the typesetting mistakes and strange spellings of the day that seem wrong to us now.

Freddy Farmer scooped up a handful of sand and let it trickle down between his fingers as he stared thoughtfully out at the broad expanse of the sky-blue Pacific Ocean. He and Dave Dawson had been granted seven days’ leave from special duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, and they were spending it at Laguna Beach, just a few miles south of Los Angeles, in California. Only three days of swimming and taking it easy in the sun had passed into time history, but Freddy was beginning to get restless. With the whole world at war, somehow he just couldn’t relax and enjoy a well earned and much deserved rest. “Dave, know something?” he grunted presently. “I’ve got a feeling.” The dark-haired, well built youth sprawled face down on the sand beside him didn’t make a sound. He didn’t so much as move a single muscle. Freddy looked at him, made a face, and jabbed him in the ribs with a thumb. “I said, I’ve got a feeling,” he repeated. Dave Dawson groaned, rolled over on his side, and gave his English born pal an exasperated glare.

Bowen turned to writing in 1930, using his prestige as editor-in-chief of Aviation Magazine to write Flying From The Ground Up, a non-fiction work on how to fly an airplane. He began freelancing for pulp magazines. In 1934, he started his own pulp magazine, Dusty Ayres And His Battle Birds, for Popular Publications. Twelve issues were released, the first eleven published monthly from July 1934 through July 1935, with most issues released monthly. Bowen continued writing for mystery, adventure, sports, and aviation pulp magazines through the 1950s. After the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 sparked World War II, Crown Publishers called Bowen, asking for an adventure story based on the war. The Dave Dawson series , also known as the War Adventure series, was the result. Bowen got to work immediately, and the first book, Dave Dawson At Dunkirk, was published in 1941. A total of 15 volumes were released between 1941 and 1946.

Bowen turned to writing in 1930, using his prestige as editor-in-chief of Aviation Magazine to write Flying From The Ground Up, a non-fiction work on how to fly an airplane. He began freelancing for pulp magazines. In 1934, he started his own pulp magazine, Dusty Ayres And His Battle Birds, for Popular Publications. Twelve issues were released, the first eleven published monthly from July 1934 through July 1935, with most issues released monthly. Bowen continued writing for mystery, adventure, sports, and aviation pulp magazines through the 1950s. After the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 sparked World War II, Crown Publishers called Bowen, asking for an adventure story based on the war. The Dave Dawson series , also known as the War Adventure series, was the result. Bowen got to work immediately, and the first book, Dave Dawson At Dunkirk, was published in 1941. A total of 15 volumes were released between 1941 and 1946.