Hammett

These 491st Bomb Squadron maintenance personnel pose for a photo after preparing "Old 59" for its triumphant return to the USA. Wishing the plane a safe trip are Clayton E. "Fred" Nash, Wilbur Carter, Atkinson, Joseph A. Bicagalupo, Joseph F. Burns, Karl E. Hammett, center rear -- Frank Bates, William W. Byrant, Elmer M. Peterson, Arnold B. Christensen, Lloyd E...

There were no hangars at Yangkai AB, nor any airbase in China. This required all aircraft maintenance to be performed in the open, regardless of weather conditions. These 491st Bomb Squadron mechanics are changing engines on squadron aircraft #444, "Shark Mouth", in the spring of 1944. Frenchy Beaudetter, George Butsika, John Burns, John Aspinwall, Karl Hammett, Frank Bert, Frank Bates...

Gas detail, Yangkai, 1945 Puloski, Baker, Christensen, Hill, Carter, Hammett, Aspinwall, Desmond, Kealy, Myers, unknown, Peterson, unknown, Brillhart, Bertani, Alelunas, Schumaier.

Gas detail at Yangkai, 1945 Grady Dawkins, Chuck Alelunas, Meyers, Baker, Big Chris, Kealy, Schumaier,Desmond, Hill, Keiser, Aspinwall, Puloski, Hammett, Carter.

Kealy, Johnny Burns, Schmidt, Hammett, Alexander, Nash, Nyreen, Alelunas, Sam Knox, Liuzhou, September 1944. Train in the background is full of barrels of fuel. The disturbed ground in the foreground is likely caused by bombing.

#444 at engine change, Yangkai, China, July 1944 Hammett, Basil Turko, Aspinwall, Bert, unk., and Burns From the collection of Frank Bates.

At #444's engine change, Yangkai, China, July 1944. S/Sgt Domonique Beaudetter, T/Sgt George Butsika, S/Sgt Elmer Peterson, S/Sgt Joseph Burns, M/Sgt John Aspinwall, T/Sgt Karl Hammett, S/Sgt Frank Bert. (Info courtesy Tony Strotman)

Swinging 59 gear, about June 1943, Chaukulia, India. Dick Hoffman, Johnnie Burns, Pappy (Olin A.) Knowles, Karl Hammett, John Damanick[?], Farrin (?) in cockpit.