This item is currently up for auction at Gustafson’s (gustafsons.co) with a starting bid of $200. The letter was written just 41 days before the end of WWI. However, the danger was far from over for Avon Dale Babb (5-6-12-12).
Between October 1st, 1918, and November 11th, 1918, the final stages of World War I saw significant casualties. The period included major offensives such as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which was the deadliest campaign in the history of the United States Army, resulting in over 350,000 casualties, including 26,277 American lives1.
On the last day of the war alone, November 11th, 1918, 2,738 men died. While exact numbers for the entire period are challenging to pinpoint, the overall toll was substantial as the war drew to a close.
The 22nd Aero Squadron was directly involved in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The squadron was part of the 2nd Pursuit Group of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and played a significant role in providing air support during the offensive. Their mission included engaging enemy aircraft, providing escort to reconnaissance and bombardment squadrons, attacking enemy observation balloons, and performing close air support and tactical bombing attacks along the front lines.
Despite all of the chaos surrounding Dale, he maintains a sunny disposition, though he is decidedly unhappy about the weather in France.
Additionally, I find no information on the identity of Miss Margaret. The surname has been ripped through but appears to start with an “Fr”. A cursory check of the 1920 Census revealed no matches. I checked for matching relatives but didn’t find one by the name of Margaret.
So that we may preserve the contents of the auction page for posterity, I am copying its contents below:
WWI U.S. Airman Sgt. Avon Dale Babb’s Letter Documenting German Souvenir Hunting (1918)
Description
Here we have an incredible account of a WWI U.S. airman, Sergeant Avon Dale Babb, 252367, describing to his female friend in Texas, Miss Margaret Francis, his experiences trying to secure German war souvenirs. View the Veteran’s Information section for more details regarding Sgt. Babb’s life and military service. The letter is transcribed below:
“France,
Oct. 1, 1918.
Dear Margaret,
I received your letter four days ago and am answering as I agreed.
I am well and cheerful as usual is like positions.
The climate here is beastly bad. Rain and wind, then wind and rain, etc.
You now live in Texarkansas (sic) do you not?
Are you going to high school this winter?
(Pardon my use of a lead pencil but I am a long way from ink and my pen is dry.)
Do you ever secure aviation magazines such as the Aerial Age, Motor Age, Aviation, etc.?
If you do, won’t you send a few copies to me? They are unavailable over here unless sent by the Red Cross or by friends. I need not mention that they will be appreciated.
We have a number of hun helmets, rifles, bayonets, armour, belts, etc. It is very hard to get a permit to send souvenirs home tho (sic).
You are a noble senior now, aren’t you?
From what the papers say we may be home in 6 or 8 months. I hope so for one of many.
Has Texas its old monopoly on changeable climate? We have four or five Texans in our squadron, and they are longing for Texas. Texas has it on this climate in one way anyway, in Texas you don’t know what kind of weather you are going to have, here it always rains.
Well good-bye and good luck.
Yours,
Dale
S’g’t Avon D. Babb
22 Aero Sq’d’n
A.E.F.”
Provenance
Private Collection, Malvern, Pennsylvania
Condition Report
Fair
Good
Excellent
For being well over 100 years old, this letter is in good condition. The paper has yellowed with age; however, the writing is still quite legible, and the envelope’s damage was likely done by Miss Francis when first opening the letter.
Veteran’s Information
Interestingly, this is not the only known letter from Sgt. Babb to Miss Francis. At least one other exists, dated May 15, 1918, and thanks to the efforts of its owner we know that Sgt. Babb was born on August 19, 1895, in Eugene, Oregon. His unit, the 22nd Aero Squadron played a crucial role during the war by engaging and eliminating German aircraft in the skies. They were responsible for escorting reconnaissance and bombardment squadrons over enemy territory, as well as attacking enemy observation balloons. Additionally, they provided close air support and conducted tactical bombing missions against enemy forces on the front lines. A wartime photograph of Sgt. Babb in front of his biplane can be found on the Babb Family website. Sgt. Babb survived the war and died on July 25, 1986, at the age of 90.