Washington - Award of the Purple Heart Medal to Col. John R. Francis, infantry officer largely responsible for creation of the air ferry service across the Himalayas to China, was made by Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, commanding general of the Army Ground Forces, Wednesday, 2 December. The presentation was made in General McNair's office at the Army War College, A.G.F. Headquarters. Colonel Francis is now attached to the Ground Plans Section at Headquarters. Colonel Francis served as executive officer of the India-China Ferrying Command. His services included surveying for cargo plane bases in Assam and China. later he supervised operation of the established service, main United Nations supply link with Chungking after the Japanese cut the Burma Road last spring. The citation accompanying the award read as follows: "Colonel John R. Francis, Infantry, for his outstanding performance of duty in the establishment of the Air Ferry Service across India and into China. His original survey for bases in Assam and China; his far-sighted planning and his organizational efforts had contributed largely to the success of the Ferry Service. His supervision of the operation of the Ferrying Command as executive officer over a period of many months was largely responsible for the development and successful operation of the service. His experience, conscientious endeavor and devotion to duty is so outstanding that he proved to be of invaluable aid in an assignment normally held by an Air Corps officer." Guests present at the presentation ceremony included General Malin Craig, for Army Chief of Staff; Maj. Gen. James H. Burns; Maj. Gen. William D. Styer, Chiefs of Sections of the Ground General and Special Staffs at the A.G.F. Headquarters; Mrs. Floyd L. Parks, wife of Brigadier General parks, Miss Amy Holland and Walter McCallum. |
The visit starts upon arrival at an airfield in China, where Sgts. Anthony Barreshea, Ray Weiss and S. T. Schwartz (from left to right) are seen repairing auxiliary stream-lined belly tanks. Tanks like these enable fighter planes to accomplish longer missions than their ordinary gas tanks permit. |
Out in the open, members of an armament section's field repair unit work on machine guns as other men check over fighter planes. In foreground (from left to right) are Sgt. James Kelly, Sgt. Allen C. Eskridge, Corp. Joseph Reynoso, Sgt. Donald W. Dell, Sgt. Hugh L. Jenkins and Corp. Ralph L. Tennent. |
The alert sounds and pursuit pilots of the China Air Task Force dash to their planes. The shark-tooth designs were first used in China by the AVG. Frank Cancellare, Acme Newspictures war photographer, took all the pictures in this section. |
Pursuit pilots must be near their planes, ready at a moment's notice. Basketball helps pass the time and provides exercise. |
P-40's of the China Air Task Force fly in formation over enemy territory. Planes of this type have been largely responsible for lop-sided score in our favor that the CATF has chalked up in combat with the Japs. |
Pilots display the Chinese flag and personal message from Chiang Kai-shek, worn on the back of their jackets. Left to right are: Lt. J. T. Clark, Lt. W. A. Smith, Lt. R. W. Lucia, Capt. C. L. Blair, Lt. J. M. Williams, Lt. R. E. Atkinson. |
A Chinese makes adjustment on a P-40. The Chinese have become proficient in helping to maintain our planes. |
Here is the dispersal area of an airfield. A Chinese soldier stands guard as Chinese mechanics work on a plane. The planes are stored in the camouflaged sheds seen in the background. |
American soldiers, escorted by admiring Chinese youngsters, see the sights of a city in China. Left to right are: Sgt. Ivan O. Stanberry, Sgt. Charles M. Janes, Sgt. Robert Wrigglesworth, Sgt. Andrew Chemsak, Sgt. Lawson Hillman, Sgt. Claude J. Smith. |
Men of the Headquarters Detachment in China chat informally with their Commander-in-Chief, General Stilwell. The men (from left to right) are T/4 Frank Starr, Sgt. Jessie McCorkle, T/4 Barrow Welles, T/Sgt. William Janes, T/Sgt. James Lytle and T/4 Paul Gish. |
INTO THE RISING SUN Four lashing motors are straining them on Down the strip till they're borne in the air With loads of hell for old Nippon To blast his island bare. Nine lumbering monsters down the strip Nine giants of grace overhead - Three armored V's away to the East To strike the enemy dead! Fleet thru the sky at timing of dawn On - for there's work to be done! And they'll wing their way home at the end of this day When they've settled the Rising Sun! - 1st Lt. Wm. M. Gilbert |
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