The AVG (Anerican Volunteer
Group)"Flying Tigers”have always been in my life.Ever since Iwas a small boy building model airplanes,the
famous “shark teeth”on the Curtiss p-40 is the only thing I remember as I
built many of these nodel airplanes. I believe this is what started my interest
in the AVG.
As I became older. I learned
about the AVG and what they accomplished in China but more so had a deep adniration
for Chennault. I considered him someone who was ahead of his time in fighter
tactics and new techniques and also disliked by senior military because of
his straying away from standard military operating procedures. His determination and devotion to duty
always remained in my mind and he became one of my first heroes.
After returning home from
the US Army, I began to do more research on Col. Chennault and the AVG. I resumed collecting anything I could
find on the AVG, “Flying Tigers,” Col. Chennault and the P-40. In the 1980s I started collecting any
and all photos, lithographs and prints related to them. My main interest has always been the AVG
and not the 14th Airforce (under the command of Chennault, now a General)
who were also know as the “Flying Tigers.” I found that many of the original “Flying Tigers”stayed with
Gen. Chennault and the 14th AF so my collection did include some of their
memorabilia.
When I was invited to China in 2002 by Yunnan Provincial Committee of the
Chinese PeopleÕs Political Consultative Conference for the 60th Anniversary
of the Chinese Kuomingtang Army fighting against Japanese invaders in Myanmar
during World War two, I was honored. My experiences in China with the culture
and people left an impression that I will never forget. The hospitality and courtesy shown me,
I can only begin to express how much I love the country and the Chinese people.
While I traveled in China for three weeks, I wore my leather “Flying Tiger”
jacket, with squadron and AVG patches and the famous “blood chit.” The full impact of how famous the “Flying
Tigers” are in China now came to me while wearing the jacket. I traveled to Beijing, Kunming, Dali,
Baoshan, Tengchong, Xi’an, Shanghai, and other cities. EVERYWHERE I went I was stopped by Chinese
students, elderly people, business men, women because they recognized the
jacket. All knew the history
of the “Flying Tigers”and how they helped China and the Chinese people defeat
the Japanese. We visited memorial
and monuments on WW2 and cemeteries and almost everywhere I visited, the Americans
who fought alongside the Chinese, were honored. I also learned that the history of the
war is taught in all schools, as maybe someday it will be taught in the USA.
The young Chinese students that I did meet were very knowledgeable
and appreciable of the ÒFlying TigerÓ and their victories against
the Japanese. I only wish that
American students would learn about all veterans and how they help to make
America free.......maybe someday.
Because of my jacket, I was upgraded twice on the different airlines because
the agent recognized it and what it stood for. While at Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden
City, my jacket was recognized by men in the Chinese Air Force and the Chinese
Army and we struck up a friendship especially after I had pictures taken with
them and I let some of them wear my jacket for picture taking. In various shops, Friendship Store and
other places where I shopped, I was given discounts, given gifts, free meals
and entered into discussions about the “Flying Tigers” all because I was wearing
the “Flying Tiger” jacket. I
took a chair lift to the mountain top in Guilin (the old Kwelin) as I wanted
to see the site of the old “Flying Tiger” airfield and the 6000 foot runway.
While taking pictures, I was approached by high school students who
wanted to have their picture taken with me because I was wearing my jacket.
They explained that they knew what “Fei Hu” did for China during the
war and I allowed one of the students to try on my jacket and take a picture. All 18 students proceeded to put on my
jacket and have his or her picture taken in it. This was a great honor for me and a great tribute to the “Flying
Tigers.” Another experience in
a clothing store in Shanghai while I was looking at suits. My jacket was recognized, I was given
a discount on a hand made tailored suit and 24 hours later, I had myself a
beautiful new suit. In Xian at
a factory where replicas of the famous Terra Cotta soldiers are produced,
the factory owner recognized the jacket, came over to me and thanked me for
what the “Flying Tigers” did in helping China and gave me a gift of a ceramic
“tiger” tile. We also had our
picture taken together with him wearing my jacket. My stories can go on and on and the wonderful treatment and
hospitalities from the Chinese people.
