Two former WWII airmen
now in their 80s met for the first time in Chongqing Municipality
on Saturday. Long Qiming and Edward Komyati, both of whom had been
in the Flying Tigers, shared a hug delayed for more than 60
years.
"The Flying Tigers have
become history, but we take every opportunity to call for a
peaceful world," said 82-year-old Long, the only Chinese squadron
member still alive in the country. "The war killed too many people
and destroyed lots of families, including those of our enemies. It
was so horrible that we don't want to see it again."
Komyati is now deputy
head of a mission of veterans getting together for the 60th
anniversary of victory in the Anti-Fascist War, which will be held
in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, in August.
"Komyati joined the Hump
flight in late 1944 when I had been assigned to fly bombers. We had
heard of each other but never met," Long said.
Long was beside himself
with excitement when he learned early this month that 84-year-old
Komyati, who served with the Flying Tigers between 1944 and 1945,
was to land in China on a visit with 16 other US
veterans.
"My last reunion with my
American comrades-in-arms was seven years ago when I paid a visit
to the United States," Long said. "There are only 14 Flying Tigers
still alive."
The Flying Tigers, the
nickname of the American Volunteer Group, was formed by US Army
Colonel Claire L Chennault during World War II.
Consisting of around 200
pilots, they lent significant support to the Chinese air force,
shooting down 2,600 Japanese planes and ferrying more than 800,000
tons of military cargo.
The visit is Komyati's
17th to China after returning to the US 60 years ago, but he had
never previously included a stop in Chongqing as he was not aware
that Long lived there.
Komyati said it was a
big surprise to find another member of his former squadron this
time around.
"The former Flying
Tigers are now spread in different countries. We are getting old.
Any news about a surviving member is exciting," Komyati was quoted
as saying by the Chongqing Morning News.
During the emotionally
charged meeting, the two revisited the old days and promised to
meet again in August.
(China Daily
May 16, 2005)