Posted on Dec 19, 2021
The Flying Tigers: How a group of Americans ended up fighting for China in WW II
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https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/ [login to see] /flying-tigers-americans-china-world-war-ii-history-japan
Eighty years ago this week, a small group of American aviators fought in their first battle in World War II.
Their mission was unusual: They were mercenaries hired by China to fight against Japan.
They were called the American Volunteer Group and later became known as the Flying Tigers. Though only in combat for less than seven months, the group became famous at the time for its ability to inflict outsize damage on Japan's better-equipped and larger aircraft fleet.
Their victories came when Japan seemed unstoppable. "The AVG was a bright spot in history when everything was bleak and black, and they have received a lot of recognition for that," says Larry Jobe, president of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization.
On the 80th anniversary of their first combat, here's an abbreviated history of how Americans ended up fighting for China.
Eighty years ago this week, a small group of American aviators fought in their first battle in World War II.
Their mission was unusual: They were mercenaries hired by China to fight against Japan.
They were called the American Volunteer Group and later became known as the Flying Tigers. Though only in combat for less than seven months, the group became famous at the time for its ability to inflict outsize damage on Japan's better-equipped and larger aircraft fleet.
Their victories came when Japan seemed unstoppable. "The AVG was a bright spot in history when everything was bleak and black, and they have received a lot of recognition for that," says Larry Jobe, president of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization.
On the 80th anniversary of their first combat, here's an abbreviated history of how Americans ended up fighting for China.
The Flying Tigers: How a group of Americans ended up fighting for China in WW II
Posted from npr.org
China
WWII World War Two
Flying
Japan
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Flying Tigers historians are quick to point out how essential ordinary Chinese people were to the mission. Those who paved runways did so as volunteers, Tam says, "to help the American fighters because they were fighting for China, fighting for freedom."
Chinese villagers also suffered immensely to help when pilots were shot down. "The Japanese would go into these villages and they would torture and mutilate and kill the villagers in an attempt to find out where the Flying Tigers were. And in most instances, the villagers would not tell them," Jobe says. "They would suffer the consequences."
"I think, really, the remembrance and the respect for the Flying Tigers was really genuine in China," Tam says.
"The people of the United States volunteered to help China. They put their lives at risk to save the Chinese," he adds, leading many Chinese to think of those Americans as "always friends of China."
..."Flying Tigers historians are quick to point out how essential ordinary Chinese people were to the mission. Those who paved runways did so as volunteers, Tam says, "to help the American fighters because they were fighting for China, fighting for freedom."
Chinese villagers also suffered immensely to help when pilots were shot down. "The Japanese would go into these villages and they would torture and mutilate and kill the villagers in an attempt to find out where the Flying Tigers were. And in most instances, the villagers would not tell them," Jobe says. "They would suffer the consequences."
"I think, really, the remembrance and the respect for the Flying Tigers was really genuine in China," Tam says.
"The people of the United States volunteered to help China. They put their lives at risk to save the Chinese," he adds, leading many Chinese to think of those Americans as "always friends of China."
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It is my understanding that this was a “semi” official operation. Not mentioned in the article is that the flying Tigers literally stopped Japan’s advance not China. They showed up as the Japanese were attempting a bridging operation across a river. The Japanese were strung about across mountain roads with no place for cover. It was shooting fish in a barrel. The other thing not mentioned is that the Japanese Zero was a much better aircraft than what the Flying Tigers had but Chanault developed better tactics with better pilots. Outstanding share.
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While instruction JROTC in the Wilmington area of NC, I had the honor of knowing one of those guys. A pastor in later life, he told me the story of making a gun run on a group of Japanese bridge builders in China when a bullet entered the left side of his cockpit at about eye-level exiting to his right. He was doing about 300 MPH at the time and understood at that moment that had he been flying a tenth of a MPH faster, that bullet would have exploded his brain. On landing, he hit the wing, then the ground and, on his knees, pledged the rest of his life to the Lord. As I remember, he flew about 30 missions with the Flying Tigers. Can't remember his name--unfortunately. Thanks for the post, PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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