Ringer Squadron

Crewmembers of the 491st Bombardment Squadron pose before a B-25J at Yangkai AB, China, probably taken in early 1944. Front: T/Sgt Ronald W. Hirtle (radio), S/Sgt Chester R. Bigelow (?) (armorer), T/Sgt David E. Murphy (engineer) Back: Capt. George L. Velan (bombardier), Lt. Douglas H. Gassett (pilot)

491st Bombardment Squadron crew stands before a B-25J at Yangkai AB, China in summer of 1944. Left to right; back row: Lt. Walter P. Guest (cp), Capt Albert V. Toney (p), Lt Albert A. Barling, Jr. (n), Lt. Curtis A. Siria [Curtis H Siria?] (b) front row: S/Sgt Ernest J. Ross (EG), T/Sgt Oliver D. Swanson (RG), S/Sgt Joe D...

B-25H, "Wabash Cannonball", of the 491st Bomb Squadron in flight over China. Notice the 'smudge' behind the squadron emblem and below the pilot's side window. The smudge is the residue of the powder from when the side-mounted .50 caliber machine guns, are fired during a low-level attack on trains, rail yards, bridges, convoys, barges, troops, etc. From the collection of...

A B-25J of the 491st Bomb Squadron, drops bombs on a target somewhere in SW China or Burma. Named "Niagra's Belle", the squadron assigned combat id number '439' is visible on the tail and on the nose.

Photograph of B-25C in flight in the CBI, tail number 130367 (serial number 41-30367). Notice the machine gun (.50 cal.) barrel sticking out of the belly of '367.' This 491st Bomb Squadron aircraft was damaged by flak on 20 Dec 1943 and the crew bailed out. 2nd Lt. Charles H. Redd, navigator, became a POW. He survived and returned to...

An unidentified B-25H of 491st Bm Sq in formation flight somewhere over karst formations in SW China. Photo was taken from the right, waist gun position of an aircraft.

This unidentified B-25C has its bomb bay doors open as the formation approaches a target somewhere in Burma. From the collection of Wozniak, combat photographer for the 491st Bomb Squadron, in the CBI.

Three aircraft of the 491st Bm Sq, including B-25C, 42-64650, and B-25D, 41-29930, fly in formation somewhere over the Naga Hills in Burma in 1943.

491st Bomb Squadron aircraft #438, a B-25J appears smooth in formation flight in spite of large, turbulent clouds filling the China sky behind it. Notice the barrels of three .50 caliber machine guns sticking out of the nose of the aircraft. One is a flexible gun, used by the bombardier or navigator to defend the nose from attack. The other...

B-25 tail number 435, of the Ringer Squadron, above a runway in Yunnan.