[Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft of U.S. Army Air Forces Tropical Science Mission]

Photograph of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft (tail number 5559) of the U.S. Army Air Forces Tropical Science Mission parked at Kiangwan Airfield, China, circa 1940s.

Typed on verso: "Four engine U.S. Army Transport, C-54 Douglas Skymaster, at Kiangwan Airfield, Shanghai. The plane shown above is a completely equipped flying laboratory, used by the U.S. Army Air Forces Tropical Science Mission. Lt. Col. Nimmo C. Thyson, Chief of the service engineering branch, engineering division of the AAF Air Technical Service Command, is in command of the mission. Dr. Kenneth G. Compton, electro chemist, supervisor of the research department of the Bell Telephone laboratory, is in charge of the scientific and research staff. Twenty-three persons are included in the mission. Before arriving in Shanghai the mission after leaving the United States visited the Hawaiian Islands, Canton Island, the Fijis, New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, Biak, Manila, Guam, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and the Islands of Japan. From Shanghai the mission will cross North Africa and the Atlantic Ocean to continue studies in South America and the Panama Canal zone before ending its 40,000 mile trip at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. The AAF Tropical Service Mission is studying the effects of tropical conditions on AAF equipment. (Official USAAF Photo)."