Armament crew posing in front of B-25 Mitchell bomber at Chatham Field in Savannah, Georgia in 1943
Gift in Memory of John O. Spinks, Sr.
Description:
Armament crew, probably of the 106th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment), posing with .30 caliber machine guns and bullets in front of B-25 Mitchell bomber named Educated Death, nose art image is skull with graduation cap and crossed bombs instead of crossbones. Master Sergeant Spinks is in the front row, far right.'"Savannah, Ga. 1943." Reverse: "Armament section prior to going overseas in 1943. Chatham Field. Savannah, GA. 1943. Staging area prior to being shipped out to Guadalcanal."'Savannah, Georgia. 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
Soldiers--American--Georgia
Machine guns--American--Georgia