World War II and the Home Front: Vivian Schleihs Works at Aircraft Plant in Des Moines

During some of the breaks between flying missions there was time for relaxation and, of course, letter writing, the most common long distance communication device of the day. Back in Iowa, Ray Schleihs' wife, Vivian would hurry home from her factory job at the Solar Aircraft Company in Des Moines to see if any letters had arrived.

During some of the breaks between flying missions there was time for relaxation and, of course, letter writing, the most common long distance communication device of the day. Back in Iowa, Schleihs wife, Vivian, would hurry home from her factory job at the Solar Aircraft Company in Des Moines to see if any letters had arrived.

(Vivian Schleihs) I know that I would rush home from work each day, hoping that there would be a letter there. But if one wasn’t there, I didn’t really worry. I figured, well, maybe next day there would be one.

One of several letters written by Ray Schleihs to his wife Vivian between April and June 1941.

(Vivian Schleihs) Dearest wife. Today, four more letters arrived: three from good old USA and one from Wade. Guess, darling, you have read quite a bit about each day doings in the local paper and it usually involves us, of course. That's what we are here for to do as much damage to the enemy as possible.