Bates

Allied gas train at the edge of the field, Liuzhou (Luichow), China Sept 1944, after a Japanese bombing raid, during WWII.

The day Old '59 left for home. Yangkai, March (?) 1944. Lloyd Kershaw, Eugene Montgomery, Peterson.

The crew of "Old 59", and well-wisher Barbara Vatter (American Red Cross Nurse at Yangkai) pose for a photo as the crew, after many, many combat missions, prepares to return to the USA. Once back in America they were scheduled to participate in a war bond tour. Frank Bates had noted, "That's Bill Murphy holding the bull." The crew stands...

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...

Lloyd Kershaw works in the bombardier's compartment of "Old 59". This B-25C of the 491st Bomb Squadron had completed 221 combat missions, as represented by the 'bomb' symbols painted above the Squadron's ' Ringers' insigne. Kershaw was preparing the aircraft for its trip back to the USA. An unidentified "Old 59" crew member stands beside a Chinese soldier, who would...

Large bombs being loaded onto a B-25 Mitchell bomber in China during WWII.

"When this was taken the wind was blowing cold, some time last spring. The boy on the left, Butch, is from Woonsocket, and Nash is from Maine. Center: Frank Bates, China 1944."

Pete Bertani, Peterson, Frank Bates, unknown, posing before a B-25 Mitchell in a revetment in China, likely Yangkai.

Overview of the American airbase at Yangkai (Yangjie) during WWII. Frank Bates notes, "Looking west across the valley. The newest planes' tail numbers are 336 & 340 and piloted by Alexander & Brillhart. Yangkai Army Air Base, China, early 1944." The 22nd and 491st Bombardment Squadrons arrived in January 1944 and shared the base with the 373rd Bomb Squadron (B-24s)...