Red Randall on Active Duty
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1944. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. [8], 211, [5] pages. Illustrated endpapers. Frontispiece. Some page discoloration noted. Dust jacket is in a plastic sleeve and has some wear, tears, soiling, and chips. Robert Sidney Bowen, Jr. (October 4, 1900 – April 11, 1977) was an American World War I aviator, newspaper journalist, magazine editor and author who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and died of cancer in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of 76. He is best known for his boys' series books written during World War II, the Dave Dawson War Adventure Series and the Red Randall Series. He also worked under the name R. Sidney Bowen and under the pseudonym James Robert Richard. 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 headlined his own pulp magazine, Dusty Ayres and His Battle Birds, for Popular Publications. Twelve issues were released, the first ten published monthly from July 1934 through April 1935. 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. The Red Randall series debuted in 1944. The 8 volume Red Randall Series is a series of World War II aerial adventures written by Robert Sidney Bowen and published by Grosset & Dunlap from 1944 to 1946. All Red's action took place in the Pacific Theater. Volume 2--Red Randall and his buddy Jimmy Joyce have completed their flight training and been assigned to a base in Darwin, Australia. They're looking forward to getting some revenge against the Japanese for Pearl Harbor, but there's not much excitement at the moment. Until suddenly there is! The young pilots distinguish themselves in the combat, and are picked for a special secret mission. It seems Douglas MacArthur needs new planes and pilots to hold the Philippines against the Japanese invaders. Surprisingly, our heroes botch their mission and are captured by the Imperial forces. Can they free themselves in time to save the day? Condition: Good / Good.
Keywords: Red Randall, Jimmy Joyce, Flight Training, Darwin, Australia, Pilots, Aerial Combat, Secret Mission, Philippines, Prisoners of War, Escape, Crash Landing
[Book #89394]
Price: $25.00