[Servicemen sitting on wing of Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft]

Photograph of servicemen of the 1st Combat Cargo Group, U.S. Army Air Forces, sitting on the wing of a Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft (fuselage designation "The Great Snafu Fleet") at Kaitek Airstrip, Kowloon, China. The caption notes that the men served on the first mercy mission into Hong Kong. Individuals are identified in the caption on verso by rank, name, and home address. The second caption attached to verso does not refer to this photograph.

Typed on verso: "Hqs. Tenth Air Force, China -- Crew members and pilots of the first mercy mission into HongKong [Hong Kong] on the wing of their plane at Kaitek strip Kowloon. All are members of the 1st Combat Cargo Group of the Tenth Air Force in China, whose primary purpose since the end of the war has been evacuating Allied prisoners from the China Coastal areas. Left to right they are: Sgt. E. T. Crimmins, radio operator, [address in Tulsa, Oklahoma]; 1st Lt. F. L. Davis, co-pilot, Texhoma, Okla; S/Sgt. Ralph B. Cloninger, radio engineer, High Shoals, N.C.; Capt. Edward C. Sampson, communications officer, [address in Ithaca, New York]; 1st Lt. Larry Kichorn, navigator [address in Missoula, Montana]; and 1st Lt. F R Puerst, pilot, [address in New Hyde Park, New York]. (Official Tenth Air Force Photo)."

Typed on verso: "Hq. Army Air Forces, China. For immediate release. Hq. Tenth Air Force, China -- Troops of the Chinese Sixth Army board a 443rd Troop Carrier Group C-46 at Chihkiang, China, for the trip to Nanking. The redeployment of 30,000 men of the Sixth Army for reoccupation duty of formerly Jap-held China was completed by the Tenth Air Force in 25 days--20 days ahead of schedule. C-46's averaged 30 troops with full field equipment; approximately four tons per sortie. (Tenth Air Force Photo)."