The Flying Tigers of Yunnan
The Flying Tigers were a volunteer group of American aviators, who formed a squadron of fighter pilots during WWII to help the Chinese living in Yunnan Province to defend themselves against the Japanese invasion.
Captain Claire L. Chennault set up a squadron at the request of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, who had taken over the task of reorganising the Chinese Air Force. He ended up with a squadron of volunteer ex-US airmen, who were basically mercenaries acting outside the authority of the US Government. However, connections in high places eventually saw the squadron successfully equipped and transported to China.
Their air base was located by the Yang Zong Lake, near Kunming. Unfortunately this was destroyed, not by the Japanese, but by the Red Army during the Cultural Revolution. However the barracks that the aviators lived in are still standing today and have been protected by the Chinese Government, as a historic site.
Captain Claire L. Chennault set up a squadron at the request of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, who had taken over the task of reorganising the Chinese Air Force. He ended up with a squadron of volunteer ex-US airmen, who were basically mercenaries acting outside the authority of the US Government. However, connections in high places eventually saw the squadron successfully equipped and transported to China.
Their air base was located by the Yang Zong Lake, near Kunming. Unfortunately this was destroyed, not by the Japanese, but by the Red Army during the Cultural Revolution. However the barracks that the aviators lived in are still standing today and have been protected by the Chinese Government, as a historic site.
The story of the Flying Tigers makes fascinating reading and is published in paperback. You can also read about them on http://www.flyingtigersavg.com/tiger1.htm
This photo was taken today, Monday 17th September and show some of the barracks in which the aviators lived, during their time in Yunnan Province.
2 comments:
Hi
I am a friend of Judi,Sandy and Annette and I have been following the trip via your Blog. I just wanted to say thanks for the effort and to let you know how much I am enjoying it
Trish Harding
Thanks for the memory! The photo you show may be "Adobe City," otherwise known as Hostel Number Two, used by the Tigers. Their airport however is very much with us: they flew out of Wuchiaba, now an international jetport. The runway at that time was paved with crushed stone. Note also that there were three squadrons in the group, each squadron consisting of about 20 planes in theory but more like 10 in the usual event.
More about all this at Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942. Blue skies! -- Dan Ford
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