“This is a B-25 C/F/G I worked on in 2 years in India & China.The plane was in Alameda, CA helping to celebrate Navy/Fleet Week in Oct. 1995" --Frank Willard Bates, Sr.
Frank W. Bates was a member of 491st Bomb Squadron, and served in the CBI during WWII. Assigned to 491st on December 1, 1942 as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, MOS 750, rank of Sergeant (Sgt).
Relieved from assignment to 491st Bomb Squadron (at Yangkai) on April 14, 1945 as Aircraft Maintenance Flight Chief, MOS 751; aka Line Chief, rank of Master Sergeant (M/Sgt), and placed on temporary duty at Kunming awaiting transport to USA.
The job description for his position includes: "Supervises the inspection, maintenance, adjustment, and minor repair of aircraft and aircraft equipment. Performs prescribed inspections of aircraft to determine necessary servicing, adjustments, or parts replacements. Determines priority of jobs and assigns crews or individual specialists to tasks. Thoroughly checks maintenance work to insure proper condition of aircraft. Instructs subordinates in interpretation of technical orders and in maintenance methods. Analyses and trouble shoots unusual malfunctioning of aircraft. Coordinates all maintenance operations to expedite restoring aircraft to serviceable condition. Supervises maintenance of shop records, airplane and engine maintenance forms, and requisition and care of tools, equipment, parts, and supplies. Warms up engines and taxis airplanes, checks weight and balance computations of aerial engineer-gunner."
His collection of photographs (collected by him, but not all taken by him) predominantly features locations such as Chaukulia, India, and Liuzhou, China, in 1944 and 1945.
Frank W. Bates passed away in Alameda, California in 1998 at 78 years of age. He had been born in Cranston, Rhode Island, in 1920.
Background on the photographs was provided by Tony Strotman and Bates' daughter, Evelyn. We greatly appreciate their contributions.
