World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Paul C. Yates, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Houston, Texas
Honored By
A Grateful American
IN 1942 HE JOINED THE AIR FORCE AND SERVED AS A NAVIGATOR ON THE B-29 BOMBER 'SNOOPIN KID' WITH THE 20TH AIR FORCE, 1ST PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON IN AFRICA, INDIAN, CHINESE AND PACIFIC THEATERS. HIS CREW FLEW NUMEROUS COMBAT MISSIONS AGAINST JAPAN AND SURVIVED A FORCED LANDING IN HOSTILE TERRITORY ON THE CHINESE MAINLAND. ONE OF THE LAST MISSIONS INVOLVED PHOTOGRAPHING THE AFTERMATH OF THE NUCLEAR STRIKE ON NAGASAKI, JAPAN.