evacuation/retreat

Al's notation is "Burning everything before evacuation." American hostels at the base burn during the American and Chinese retreat before the Japanese arrive in the fall of 1944. Guangxi province, Liuzhou air base.

The notation provided by Al on the back of the photo is simply, "Waiting to evacuate." This is just prior to the Japanese over running the base (at Liuzhou or Guilin) in October 1944, as part of Ichigo.

Retreating at the very last minute from Liuzhou in the face of the Japanese Ichigo advance. During WWII.

Getting a few last vehicles across a bridge at Liuzhou before the Japanese advance in the fall of 1944. The bridge decking planks have been removed, but there are enough free planks that by moving a few planks, then moving forward a bit on those planks, then moving a few more planks, the jeep can creep across. To see a...

Rigging a bridge with explosives at Liuzhou before the Japanese advance during Ichigo in the fall of 1944.

Rigging a bridge with explosives at Liuzhou before the Japanese advance during Ichigo in the fall of 1944.

Chinese civilians looking over a bridge destroyed near Liuzhou before the Japanese advance in the fall of 1944.

A WWII Guilin destroyed with fire by the allies before the Japanese advance in the fall of 1944. See another view before the city burned.

Allied destruction at Guilin before retreating in front of the Japanese advance in the summer/fall of 1944. From the collection of Hal Geer.

Allied destruction at Guilin before retreating in front of the Japanese advance in the summer/fall of 1944.