B-25 Mitchell bomber with a damaged nose cone resulting from a bird strike at Chatham Field Savannah, Georgia on 8 July 1943
Gift in Memory of John O. Spinks, Sr.
Description:
B-25 Mitchell bomber, close up of damaged nose cone and nose machine gun from hitting a bird during flight. A nose cone pane of glass is broken out and the bird is hanging from the gun. '"Damaged airplane, Chatham Field. 8 July 43. 43-32."' Reverse: "Buzzard damage to B 25. Savannah, Georgia. 1943."' Savannah, Georgia. 8 July 1943
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John Oliver Spinks was born 27 November 1913 in Greensboro, Georgia and moved to Birmingham, Alabama during the depression to work in the steel mills at USX Fairfield Works. Spinks joined the Alabama National Guard in 25 March 1937 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 25 March 1940. He was sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations in October of 1943. He saw service at Guadalcanal, New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Bismark Archipelago with the 100th Bombardment Squadron. During his service he was awarded the Bronze Star and had attained the rank of Master Sergeant upon separation. He was honorably discharged at Fort McPherson, Georgia on 11 September 1945. Mr. Spinks passed away in Midfield, Alabama on 24 October 2008. The collection contains camp and combat photographs taken on various Pacific islands as well as group photos of B-25 crews and stateside training.
Geography:
Savannah
Latitude:
32.083
Longitude:
-81.100
Thesaurus for Graphic Materials:
Bombers--American--Georgia
Jeep automobiles--American--Georgia
Vultures--Georgia
Machine guns--American--Georgia
Accidents--Georgia