Name/Title
Valencia's Flying CircusDescription
A black and white photo of Harris Mitchell, Eugene "Gene" Valencia, James French, and Clinton Smith of Fighting Squadron Nine (VF-9) in flight gear. The group of pilots nicknamed "Valencia's Flying Circus" stand under the wing of an F6F Hellcat on the USS Yorktown (CV-10)'s flight deck celebrating their combined 50 victories against Japanese aircraft.Context
Warren "Bill" Tucker was a Photographers Mate in the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10) during World War II.
Transferred aboard the USS Yorktown in 1944 with no photography experience, Seaman Tucker was assigned to the photo lab and found he had a talent for the work. Tucker received his promotion to Photographers Mate 3/c in 1945 with most of his work documenting the final days of World War II and the beginnings of Occupied Japan.
From the Collection of Warren Tucker.Collection
Warren Tucker CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2024.3Source or Donor
Post Air Airport Military Herritage MuseumAcquisition Method
DonationUpdate Date
June 16, 2025