The Flying Tigers
American combat aviators in China during World War II
During the summer of 1941, a group of American aviators known as the Flying Tigers prepared to face the Japanese Air Force in combat.
Within weeks of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the daring exploits of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) captured the attention of the world. The Chinese called them Fei Hu, for the shark's teeth painted on their planes. The world knew them as the legendary Flying Tigers.
Commanded by Clare Chenault of Louisiana, the Flying Tigers were a bunch of hard-drinking airmen who became known as some of the bravest pilots to fly during World War II. In 1937, Chenault, a retired U.S. Army captain, was hired as an advisor to the fledgling Chinese Air Force. He began to lay the groundwork for the American Volunteer Group by having runways built and ordering planes from U.S. manufacturer Curtiss-Wright.
The first contingent of American Volunteer Group pilots left San Francisco on July 10, 1941, aboard the Dutch ship Jaegersfontaine. Just before leaving, Chennault received confirmation of Presidential approval for the second American Volunteer Group of bombers with a schedule of 100 pilots and 181 gunners and radio men to arrive in China by November, 1941, and an equal number to follow in January, 1942.
Upon returning to the Orient in the summer of 1941, Chennault arranged with the British for the use of the Royal Air Force Keydaw airdrome at Toungoo, Burma. Arrangements were made by the Chinese with the British for the assembly and test flying by the A.V.G. of its P-40's. The A.V.G. P-40's were assembled at Rangoon, and all radios, oxygen equipment, and armament were installed by A.V.G. group mechanics at Toungoo.
At Toungoo the volunteer pilots were trained by Chenault, who had taught school in rural Louisiana. The airmen received seventy-two hours of lectures in addition to sixty hours of specialized flying.
The Third A.V.G. squadron moved to Rangoon on December 12, 1941, to join the R.A.F. in the defense of Rangoon. The First and Second squadrons flew from Toungoo to Kunming on the afternoon of the 18th. The first combat for the A.V.G. occurred over southern Yunnan Province on December 20, 1941. In their first combat, a combination of the First and Second Squadrons, shot down nine out of ten Japanese bombers with a loss of one A.V.G. aircraft. The second engagement brought the Third Squadron onto action over Rangoon on December 23, with the R.A.F. flying beside the Tigers. The total damage for the japanese was six bombers and four fighters. The R.A.F. lost five planes and pilots and the A.V.G. lost four planes and two pilots. Overall, the Flying Tigers were undefeated against the Japanese Air Force in more than 50 air battles.
After the American Volunteer Group was disbanded on July 4, 1942, the China Air Task Force of the United States Army Air Forces, commanded by General Chennault, officially took over air operations in China. In early March, 1943, the 14th Air Force was activated under the command of Chennault and replaced the China Air Task Force. Chennault remained in command of the 14th Air Force until the end of July, 1945. General Chennault formally retired from the military for the second time in October, 1945.
Sources
Bond, Jr., Charles. A Flying Tiger's Diary. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. 1984.
Chenault, Clare. Way of a Fighter. Tucson, AZ: James Thorvardson & Sons. 1949. Reprinted 1991.
Smith, Robert M. With Chenault in China: A Flying Tiger's Diary. Schiffer Publishing. 1984.
