Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) to Jacob Stone and Beatrice Stone

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09620.027 Author/Creator: Stone, Robert L. (1921-2009) Place Written: Ellington Field, Texas Type: Typed letter signed Date: 22 May 1943 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 26.4 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): Transcript of document

Addressed to "Dad and Bee." "Busy as heck with tests." Completed two classes with flying colors and now has time to focus more on physics, which lasts as long as preflight training. Mentions that he is jealous that Don got to go home for a few days, but always looks forward to getting a letter from him and thanks Dad and Bee for writing so often. Moves on to talk about the movie stars who visited the field, including the leads from "Bombardier." He closes the letter writing that he hopes to go to Galveston tomorrow, and take a break from the army life.

The letter is dated "Saturday Night the 22nd," and "Letters in a Box" notes the letter was written on May 22, 1943.

Robert "Bob" Stone was a Bombardier in World War II and served in the Pacific Front. These letters, were compiled by Bob's wife, Sheila M. Stone, and Ali Adair into a book named Letters in a Box. This book details Bob's service to his country, and his life after the war. Bob's letters were donated to the collection by his wife, Sheila M. Stone, in 2017. It contains a variety of letters, postcards, patches, pins, photographs, and scrapbooks that relate to Bob's training and combat missions.

[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Saturday Night the 22nd.
Dear Dad and Bee:
Excuse the long absence without mail, but for the last week or so I've been busy as heck with tests and one thing or another. Life goes on as usual with classes following on day after day.
This week I completed two of my courses with flying colors. I got a 93 on the Aerial Photography and Maps and Charts final for a final average of 95. I also surprised myself on the math final by getting a perfect paper on vectors for a final average of 95 in math also. Vectors has to do with plotting flight courses allowing for the wind drift and the other atmospheric phenomenon that enter into flying.
From now till the rest of the time I'm here, I'll be concentrating on the physics which is coming along lots better now. That course is longer than all the rest and lasts for the entire time we're at pre-flight. This week we started a course on Aircraft Identification and one on Naval Identification. In Aircraft we have to learn to recognize all the U.S. Army planes as well as most of the enemy ships. On the whole a most important course for when we actually get into the fray. In Naval Forces they teach us a little background of the navy as well as the recognition features on our major ships, so that we won't be out some time and bomb our own navy as the Italians did.
I was certainly envious when I heard that Don was home for a few days. I'd surely give alot just to get home for even a day. I haven't heard from him this week and so I imagine he's probably moved on by now. I do hope he gets a decent field so it isn't too tough for him. It was certainly a shame he couldn't have gotten into something he really would have liked a little more!
Thanks both of you for being such good correspondents. All your letters are really appreciated even though I don't get a chance to answer them as often as I'd like to. Your trip to Deerfield sounded fun, Bee, as did yours to Atlantic City Dad.

[2]
This week the field was visited by Pat O'Brien and several other movie stars. You see he is in a new movie that just opened called "Bombardier". He and the leading lady were out here on Thursday and they rode by in an open jeep waving to all the cadets who were lining the streets in their honor. All in all it was a pretty sour affair to stand around and gape at a broken-down actor, but orders are orders. None the less we're all looking forward to seeing the picture because it's supposed to be quite good.
Didn't leave the post last week-end as I had to stay put to study for my two exams this week but needless to say it was more than worth it. I almost died when I got back a 100 on the vector exam. If the weather is good tomorrow I plan to go to Galveston tomorrow to get some more sun. It's far from an exciting place but it's such fun and relaxation to get away from army life for a few hours.

Can't think of anything more now so I'll stop here
Lots of love,
Bobby

[envelope]
A/C R. L. Stone 12120188
Bombardier Wing
Group 21, Squadron D
Ellington Field, Texas

Lt. Comdr. J. C. Stone
375 Park Avenue
New York City

Stone, Robert L., 1921-2009
Stone, Jacob, fl. 1894-1985
Stone, Beatrice Hecht Marks, 1901-1962

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources