United States. Army Air Forces. 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Search this
Extent:
0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
November 1944 - December 1945
Summary:
This consists of twenty-six color photographs taken between November 1944 and December 1945 by Frederick J. Poats in India at Panagar Air Base, and in China at Chengkung, Hangchow, Laohwangping, Luichow, Shanghai, and Suichwan.
Scope and Contents:
This group of 26 color photographs were taken by Frederick J. Poats. Aircraft and a few personnel (Poats, Lt. Leroy Price, and some Chinese) are seen in India at Panagar Air Base, and in China at Chengkung, Hangchow, Laohwangping, Luichow, Shanghai, and Suichwan. Two photos show Lockheed P-38 Lightnings of the 449th Fighter Squadron (449FS). Two photos show Poats' North American P-51D Mustang "Lady Marion" (named for his girlfriend, who became his wife after the war). One photo shows a Consolidated F-7A (s/n 42-64102) of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron. Other aircraft types depicted include: Lockheed F-5E Lightning, Douglas C-54 Skymaster, captured Japanese "Ida" (Tachikawa Ki-36) in Nationalist China markings, Curtiss C-46 Commando, Douglas C-47 Skytrain, and Republic P-47 (F-47) Thunderbolt.
Arrangement:
No arrangement.
Biographical / Historical:
Frederick J. Poats joined the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (118 TRS), 23rd Fighter Group (23 FG), in November 1944. He was stationed in Luliang, China, and assigned to temporary duty assignments with the 26th Fighter Squadron (26 FS) based in Chengkung until the 118 TRS had established themselves at a base in Suichwan, China. Poats was stationed with the 118 TRS from that point on. From World War II's end through mid-December 1945 Poats was involved with ferrying aircraft and materiel for the Chinese government as part of the "Diffenbaugh Project."
Provenance:
Frederick J. Poats, gift, circa 1984, NASM.XXXX.0595
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Kinney, Jeremy R. 2016. "North American P-51D Mustang." In Milestones of Flight: The Epic of Aviation with the National Air and Space Museum. Van der Linden, F. Robert, Spencer, Alex M., and Paone, Thomas J., editors. 90–99. Minneapolis: Zenith Press.
This collection consists of 74 modern 8 x 10 inch gelatin-silver print photographs and 41 digital image files (black and white and color) copied from photographs of the 16th Fighter Squadron and related subjects taken in 1944 by Kuo Ching "K. C." Li, Jr., a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighter pilot assigned to the unit. Subjects include squadron personnel, aircraft, and local scenes in China. Several portraits of Li and his North American P-51 Mustang "The Vicious Virgin" are included.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of 74 modern 8 x 10 inch gelatin-silver print photographs and 41 digital image files (black and white and color) copied from photographs of the 16th Fighter Squadron and related subjects taken in 1944 by Kuo Ching "K. C." Li, Jr. Subjects include identified portraits of squadron personnel, aircraft (including the Consolidated B-24J Liberator, Curtiss C-46 Commando, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Lockheed P-38 Lightning, and the North American P-51C and P-51D Mustang) and several photographs of other squadrons (the 9th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron and the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron), and details of aircraft nose art. Several portraits of Li and his P-51 "The Vicious Virgin" are included. Places identified include Nanking, Chengkung and Kwelin, China.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into two series; Series 1 (Physical) consists of 74 print photographs arranged in their original order. Series 2 (Digital) consists of 41 digital image files grouped into three subject folders: Aircraft and Activities, Aircraft Nose Art, and Views of Local Area.
Biographical / Historical:
Kuo Ching "K. C." Li, Jr. was born in Glen Cove, New York, in 1921, the son of Dr. Li Kuo Ching. He attended Friends Academy, Locust Valley, New York, and Kent School in Connecticut. Li studied engineering at Cornell University before enlisting in the Army Air Forces in June, 1942. He received his training at Craig Army Airfield in Selma, Alabama, in December, 1943. Li flew sixty-four missions in his P-51 Mustang "The Vicious Virgin," and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldier's Medal, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. After the war, Li received a degree from Swarthmore College. Later, he took over management of his father's company, Wah Chang International Corporation, selling it to Teledyne Inc. (later known as Allegheny Technologies Incorporated) in 1967. Li later opened a restaurant, K.C.'s, on West 10th Street in New York City.
The 16th Fighter Squadron was constituted on November 20, 1940 as the 16th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). Equipped initially with Curtiss P-40 fighters, the squadron was activated at Hamilton Field, California on January 15, 1941. Assigned to the Tenth Air Force, the squadron deployed to the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater in March 1942. The squadron initially defended the Indian terminus of the vital "Hump" airlift route over the Himalayas between India and China, operating from the Assam Valley of northeast India. The squadron flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943. In October 1943, the 16th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force and redeployed to southeast China for the defense of the Chinese end of the Hump and the air bases in the Kunming area. In 1944, the squadron was reequipped with North American P-51 Mustangs. The squadron returned to India in the fall of 1945 and sailed for the United States in November. The 16th Fighter Squadron was deactivated on December 13, 1945.
Provenance:
Robert L. Liles, Gift, 2013, NASM.2013.0053
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
This collection consists of 33 five by seven inch color photographs taken by Mark Strock of the following aircraft at the 2013 National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada: North American AT-6 Texans Big Red and Baby Boomer; North American P-51D Mustangs Ole Yellow, Voodoo, and Miss America; North American P-51 XR Mustang Precious Metal; PZL Mielec TS-11 Iskra (Spark) Hot Section; Hawker Sea Furies Sawbones and Dreadnought; Yakovlev Yak-11 Moose Czech Mate; Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat Rare Bear; Aero (Vodochody) L 29 Delfin (Dolphin) Mayas Miss Independence and Sluggo; and the Aero (Vodochody) L 39 Albatros (Albatross) aircraft Robin 1, Blank Czech, and American Spirit.
Biographical / Historical:
The National Championship Air Races take place each September at the Reno Stead Airport in Reno, Nevada. Begun in 1964, this event is the last pylon racing event in the world, and features multi-lap, multi-aircraft races on closed ovoid courses. Their are races for the following classes of aircraft: Biplane; Formula One; Sport; T-6; Jet; and Unlimited.
Provenance:
Mark Strock, Gift, 2014
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
