Legacy Flying Tigers

1 legacy

1.1 transition usaaf
1.2 tributes , memorials
1.3 flying tigers wrecks
1.4 recognition united states
1.5 popular culture

legacy
transition usaaf

the success of avg led negotiations in spring 1942 induct usaaf. chennault reinstated colonel , promoted brigadier general commanding u.s. army air units in china (initially designated china air task force , later 14th air force), while continuing command avg virtue of position in chinese air force. on 4 july 1942, avg replaced 23rd fighter group. avg pilots refused remain unit result of strong arm tactics usaaf general sent negotiate them. however, 5 pilots accepted commissions in china including tex hill, 1 of chennault s loyal devotees, others remaining two-week transition period. (u.s. airmen , press continued use flying tiger name refer usaaf units in china end of war, , name continues applied air force , army aviation squadrons.) avg pilots became transport pilots in china, went america civilian jobs, or rejoined military services , fought elsewhere in war.

one of pilots drawn success of avg robert lee scott, jr. flying supplies kunming on hump india. convinced chennault loan him p-40 flew protect supply route; aggressiveness led chennault s recruiting him commander of 23rd fighter group. scott brought recognition exploits , of flying tigers 1943 best-selling autobiography god co-pilot made warner bros. popular film in 1945.

tributes , memorials

flying tigers monument ocala, florida memorial park



restored p-40 on display @ national world war ii museum

there several museum displays in united states honoring flying tigers. national museum of united states air force in dayton, ohio, has extensive display dedicated avg, including a-2 jacket worn avg pilot in china, banner presented aaf chinese government, , p-40e. national museum of naval aviation in pensacola, florida has flying tiger display. chennault aviation museum in monroe, louisiana has extensive collection of flying tigers , avg memorabalia. avg monument in national museum of united states air force memorial garden features marble sculpture of pagoda crowned brass model of p-40; monument stands 14 feet tall. palm springs air museum has display of memorabilia inside mockup of avg ground facilities, p-40n painted in avg markings. finally, memorial avg , 14th af located @ vandenberg air force base in california, depicting p-40 in avg markings bronze plaque describing unit s history , vandenberg s role headquarters 14th af.

there several memorials avg in asia. in chiang mai, thailand, marble obelisk dedicated on 11 november 2003, inscribed chennault; jack newkirk, killed in north thailand on 24 march 1942; , charles mott , william mcgarry, shot down , captured in thailand. in taiwan, madame chiang kai-shek requested statue of chennault in new park of taipei commemorate wartime friend after death (the statue has since been relocated hualian afb). flying tigers memorial located in village of zhijiang, hunan province, china , there museum dedicated exclusively flying tigers. building steel , marble structure, wide sweeping steps leading platform columns holding memorial s sweeping roof; on wall, etched in black marble, names of members of avg, 75th fighter squadron, , 14th air force died in china. in 2005, city of kunming held ceremony memorializing history of flying tigers in china, , on 20 december 2012, flying tigers museum opened in kunming. date 71st anniversary of first combat kunming of flying tigers. memorial cemetery anti-japanese aviator martyrs in nanjing, china features wall listing names of flying tiger pilots , other pilots defended china in world war ii, , has several unmarked graves such american pilots.

the largest private museum in china, chengdu jianchuan museum, devotes wing in military section history of flying tigers, including tribute wall featuring thousand porcelain photos of members of flying tigers many historical artifacts era.

in march 2015, flying tiger heritage park opened in guilin in collaboration flying tiger historical organization. park built on site of yangtang airfield , includes museum, aircraft shelters, , relics of command post located in cave.

flying tigers wrecks

the wreckage of p-40 caf serial number p-8115 on display in chiang mai, thailand. aircraft believed flown william mac mcgarry when hit anti-aircraft fire while flying top cover on chiang mai on 24 march 1942. aircraft crashed rain forest in northern thailand. mcgarry captured , interrogated, , spent of war in thai prison. toward end of war office of strategic services (oss) arranged free thai movement spirit him out of prison pby catalina in gulf of thailand. wreck of p-40 discovered in 1991, , consists of p-40 s allison engine, hamilton standard propeller , parts of airframe. today wreckage displayed @ tango squadron wing 41 museum in chiang mai, thailand.

the wreck of avg p-40 believed in lake dianchi (lake kunming). fighter believed p-40e piloted john blackburn when crashed lake on gunnery training flight on 28 april 1942, killing pilot. body recovered aircraft, submerged in 20 feet of water. in 1997 u.s.-chinese group called sino-american aviation heritage foundation formed locate aircraft , possibly raise , restore it. in march 1998, contacted china expedition association conducting recovery operation. on 300 aircraft believed have crashed lake dianchi (including second avg p-40) locating aircraft proved difficult. in 2003, aircraft believed blackburn s found embedded in 9 feet of bottom silt. effort made in september 2005 raise aircraft, recovery plagued difficulties , remains deep under lake bottom. since aircraft complete , relatively undamaged when john blackburn s body removed in 1942, hoped aircraft in condition , capable of being restored, possibly flying condition.

recognition united states

just before 50th reunion in 1992, avg veterans retroactively recognized members of u.s. military services during 7 months group in combat against japanese. avg awarded presidential unit citation professionalism, dedication duty, , extraordinary heroism. in 1996, u.s. air force awarded pilots distinguished flying cross , ground crew awarded bronze star medal.

popular culture

a number of feature films have referenced avg directly or indirectly, famous being flying tigers, 1942 black-and-white film republic, starring john wayne , john carroll fighter pilots. other wartime films avg angle included sky s limit (1943, starring fred astaire flying tiger ace on leave); hers hold (1943, joseph cotten); god co-pilot, (1945, dennis morgan robert lee scott, raymond massey chennault, , john ridgely tex hill); , china s little devils (1945).

similarly, flying tigers have been focus of several novels, including tonya, pappy boyington; remains, daniel ford; , spies in garden, bob bergin.

in star wars guidebook essential guide warfare, x-wing starfighter squadron named lightspeed panthers mentioned in book. warfare co-author paul r. urquhart confirmed in warfare s endnotes squadron intended direct reference flying tigers.

the air force falcons football team saluted chinese military , united states navy , marine corps wearing special flying tigers uniforms, including sharktooth designs on helmets, 2 games during 2016 college football season. team first wore uniform september 10 game against georgia state, , again arizona bowl against south alabama.