Old 59

Sgt. William R. Zieman of Chicago, Illinois chalks up the 121st mission on the North American B-25 "Old 59" at an airbase somewhere in China during WWII. 341st Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Squadron. Image courtesy of Tony Strotman.

Eugene Montgomery passes a .50 cal machine gun up to Lloyd Kershaw, leaning out of the "green house" at Yangkai Airbase, China, in March 1944. They were preparing "Old '59'" for the beginning of its trip back to the USA where the the war weary B-25 and its original crew, from the 491st "Ringer Squadron" would tour on a War...

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...

American service men and women pose before "Old 59," March 1944.

Maj. Joseph Callaway, 491st Bombardment Squadron C.O., Capt. Robert Ebey (pilot - Old 59) and 1Lt Paul Sjoberg (copilot) observe as well-wishers offer a safe journey to other crew members of "Old 59" (in flight suits), prior to departing Yangkai for the USA in March 1944. 'Old 59', a B-25D, had completed over 200 combat missions in Burma and China...

491st Bombardment Squadron maintenance personnel wish "Farewell" to 'Old 59' and its crew, Yangkai, March (?) 1944. Left-right, William 'Bill' Byran shakes hands with Capt Robert Ebey (pilot), who hides Capt William DeVries (engineering officer) , Lt. Hilliard Ebey (nav), Lt Paul Sjoberg (copilot), Lt George Jernigan (bombardier) shakes hands with M/Sgt Cecil ' Bo' Noe (line chief) with Sgt...