14th Air Force

The B-24J bomber "Chug-A-Lug (Junior)," serial #42-73310, and crew in China during WWII.

The B-24 "The Frendlin" and crew in China during WWII. This B-24J, serial #42-73265 was assigned to 425th Bomb Squadron at Kunming. The plane departed Liuchow on 20 May 1944 for a planned sea sweep mission with return to Kunming. However, it was hit by enemy fire during the mission forcing the crew to bail out prior to reaching a...

A B-25D of the 22nd Bomb Squadron 'Bombing Eagles' of the 341st Bomb Group rests down on its belly at an airfield in Kunming, China, February 3, 1944. This wrecked B-25 Mitchell should be B-25D-15, #41-30385. Major Weatherly, the pilot, surveys the crash damage, as does and MP. At the base of the wing is a dark area: damage caused...

B-24 bomber "C. E. 'Shack'" with crew on the ground. 425th Bomb Squadron, 308th Bombardment Group. Names painted on the nose of "C. E. 'Shack'" include those of 2nd Lt. Gordon C. Weems (copilot), 2nd Lt. Charles R. Thompson (navigator), and an unknown "Chick," who was possibly bombardier. (Info courtesy of deployment name list.) The crew apparently trained together at...

B-24s in flight in the CBI during WWII, including "The Goon" (tail #124183) in the top image.

The B-24 "中国美人" (China Beauty) in the CBI during WWII.

Missions Outreaches Amid the Battles Chaplain Mengel lead his men to participate in outreach to the wartorn and impoverished Chinese countryside. These photos from Chaplain Mengel's private collection, show him he and the men visiting mission schools, interacting with the children and teachers, and assisting blind children's homes. The US airmen also gave out collected donations to help bombed out...

Flying into Battle to Pray His Men Home! Pictured above in western Yunnan province, China, with Colonel William F. "Frank" Grubb, his war-time best friend, Chaplain Mengel went 'above-and-beyond the call of duty' by flying into battle with his men. Colonel Grubb recounted stories of how Chaplain Mengel rode in his co-pilot seat during bombing runs to pray until they...

Missions Outreaches Amid the Battles Chaplain Mengel lead his men to participate in outreach to the wartorn and impoverished Chinese countryside. These photos from Chaplain Mengel's private collection, show him he and the men visiting mission schools, interacting with the children and teachers, and assisting blind children's homes. The US airmen also gave out collected donations to help bombed out...

Missions Outreaches Amid the Battles Chaplain Mengel lead his men to participate in outreach to the wartorn and impoverished Chinese countryside. These photos from Chaplain Mengel's private collection, show him with General Chennault, giving out donations from the US airmen in Yunnan province. A collection had been taken to help rebuild bombed villages. They also visited mission schools, and assisted...