396th Air Service Squadron

American mechanics of the 12th Air Service Group carefully ease the fuselage of a C-47 past a large concrete roller. In Guangxi, China, during WWII.

12th Air Service Group mechanics salvage a P-51 fighter in Guangxi, China, during WWII.

Salvage of P-51 #2103626 in Guangxi during WWII by the 12th Air Service Group.

An American airplane destroyed after a Japanese air raid, with another burning in the distance. In China, during WWII.

An American airplane burning in the distance after a Japanese air raid. In China, during WWII.

An American airplane burning in the distance after a Japanese air raid. In China, during WWII.

"What One Small Fragmentation Bomb Could Do--This B-24 was hit with one small fragmentation bomb during one of the nightly air raids at Luichow [Liuzhou], China.This particular plane just happened to be a new B-24 that had never flown a mission. As bad as it looks it was not a total loss since the engines were removed, inspected and run-outs...

"What One Small Fragmentation Bomb Could Do--This B-24 was hit with one small fragmentation bomb during one of the nightly air raids at Luichow [Liuzhou], China.This particular plane just happened to be a new B-24 that had never flown a mission. As bad as it looks it was not a total loss since the engines were removed, inspected and run-outs...

Burned American fighter, a P-51 or P-40, in Guangxi, China.

Photo of Elmer Bukey taken in Calcutta, India, in early 1944. Elmer Bukey was a member of the 396th Air Service Squadron, 12th Air Service Group, in the CBI during WWII, and spent much time in southwestern China, including very nervous and difficult days during the retreat in front of the Japanese Ichigo campaign during summer and fall of 1944...