American mercenaries, held in high esteem in China, find themselves among the select group of US attendees invited to Xi's World War II commemoration parade, with their family members in tow.
The Flying Tigers: A Band of American Aviators Defending China Against Imperial Japan
The Flying Tigers, also known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG), were a group of American pilots who played a crucial role in defending China against Imperial Japan during World War II. Formed in the late 1930s, the AVG was led by American Claire Chennault, a retired US Army captain.
In 1940, Chennault was commissioned in China to form an air force to support the fight against Japan. He was later made a brigadier general in the US Army and agreed that the Flying Tigers would become a US military outfit on July 4, 1942.
The AVG initially focused on building airbases and an air raid warning network in China. In December 1941, they were deployed to Rangoon, the capital of British colonial Burma. The Flying Tigers spent only a total of 25 P-40 fighters in Rangoon during their time there.
The AVG pilots were a diverse group, including fresh graduates from flight school, ferry pilots, and some who joined for the money or adventure. The training of the Flying Tigers was rigorous and deadly, with three pilots killed early in accidents.
The AVG's first combat mission took place on December 20, 1941. They shot down three Japanese bombers, losing only one fighter that ran out of fuel and crash-landed. During their 10-week stay in Rangoon, the AVG destroyed 217 Japanese planes and probably destroyed 43 more. They also tied down Japanese planes that could have been used in India or elsewhere in China and the Pacific.
Unfortunately, the AVG suffered losses. They lost four pilots killed in the air, one killed while strafing, and one taken prisoner during their time in Rangoon.
When the US entered the war, US military leaders wanted the Flying Tigers assimilated into the US Army Air Corps. The AVG flew their last mission on July 4, 1942. Most Flying Tigers pilots either wanted to return to their original services or stay as civilian contractors of the Chinese government.
Today, the Flying Tigers are still revered in China for their contribution to China's defense during World War II. The bond between American mercenaries and China, formed 80 years ago, remains untarnished, with at least half a dozen museums dedicated to the Flying Tigers in China.
A notable fact about the AVG is that their P-40 fighters lacked a modern gun sight. The pilots had to aim their guns through a homemade, ring-and-post gun sight. Despite this limitation, the AVG was credited with destroying as many as 497 Japanese planes while losing only 73.
In conclusion, the Flying Tigers played a significant role in defending China against Imperial Japan during World War II. Their bravery, skill, and determination earned them a place in history and the admiration of the Chinese people.
