1945

23rd Fighter Control Squadron barracks at Luliang, Yunnan province, China. During WWII. From the collection of David Axelrod.

B-29 "Under Exposed." Likely in Yunnan, China. From the collection of David Axelrod.

A Chinese and American search party being organized to find an American pilot whose plane had gone down in a location pinpointed by the 23rd Fighter Control Squadron, which was one of its duties. The sign on the stairway in the background reads "Air Transport Command Operations." Below that is a sign that says "SALUTE PROUDLY!" A sign on the...

Sgt. David Axelrod, 23rd Fighter Control Squadron, standing in front of the headquarters tents and building at Luliang Airbase, Yunnan, China, where he was stationed from January to August, 1945. David Axelrod was born in New York City on April 21, 1921. David was a graduate of City College of New York, and then served in the United States Army...

Newly-minted Medal of Valor recipients in India, 1945. The officer in the picture on the left is First Lieutenant Donald J. Lochner, followed by Second Lieutenant Harold N. Olive, and finally Harry J. Hartz, all 24th Combat Mapping Squadron. The two men to the right are unknown. (Thanks to Randy for sharing his research. See more here.)

3rd Bomb Squadron's B-25J "Smilin' Jack" (named after the popular 3rd Bomb Squadron commander, Maj. Jack M. Hamilton, thence “Smilin’ Jack”). This B-25, A/C #714, serial #43-27809, was taking off from Liangshan on mission #112A to bomb and strafe railroad yards at Loyang when the pilot lost control and crashed just to the side of the runway. 3nd Bomb Squadron...

"Print Stripping" at photo lab of the 24th Mapping Squadron--laying out related photographic prints as they were photographed on the negatives. February 12, 1945.

Flight "A" of 24th Mapping Squadron at APO 690, Gushkara, India. March 1945. With B-24/F-7.

Camera port of F-7A/B-24 "The Flying Anvil," on February 22, 1945. 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photo Reconnaissance Group, 10th Air Force.

Carlisle Shepard posing with pistol at Chanyi (Zhanyi), Yunnan, China, during WWII, in February, 1945.