Vintage Military - Part 106

Frank Bond

Frank Bond served in the Army Air Corps in a combat photography unit in World War II.  In 1944 he was assigned to the 40th Reconnaissance Squadron, stationed near Calcutta, India, where he specialized in development of aerial photography film.

But Frank also took lots of photos of street life around Calcutta and life at the base where he was stationed.  Aside from some photos of naked street urchins, the only nude photos that he took were self-portraits.  Above, "Rolling Out in the Morning", 1944.

In 1945 the unit moved to Akyab Island on the coast of Burma.  Burma had been occupied by the Japanese and the Allies were fighting to retake it.  Again, Frank photographed many Burmese street scenes, but the only nudes were self-portraits.  Above, Frank in the showers of the 40th photo squadron, and there's another naked guy on the left.

Frank labeled this self-portrait "New Air Force uniform for summer heat."

In the spring of 1945, Frank was assigned to a special photographic mission to accompany British troops as they entered Rangoon.  This photo from May, 1945 shows Frank in the street, which is littered with money.  What's going on?  The money was Japanese occupation currency, which was worthless now that the city had been freed from Japanese occupation.

After the war, Frank returned to Maine, where he became president and lifetime-vice-president of the New England Camera Club Council.  He died in 2007 at age 90.