The Flying Tigers, or the American Volunteer Group, was made up of American volunteer pilots who were drafted by Colonel Claire L. Chennault from 1941 to 1942 to fight with Japanese air force in China and Burma. At that time the harbors and transportation system in China were under control by the Japanese army, isolating the Kuomintang government from outside world.
The small squadron of Flying Tigers, driving old and shabby fighters kept defeating the Japanese air force, which was well equipped and much bigger in scale.
The Flying Tigers transported supplies, provided cover for the Burma highways, and fought with Japanese in most regions in China.
On July 4, 1942, the American Volunteer Group was incorporated into the 10th Air Force and became the backbone of the China Air Task Force of the US Army Air Forces. In 1943, the 14th Air Force was activated and replaced the China Air Task Force.
During WWII, the Flying Tigers transported ammunitions and material for China and fought against Japanese invaders. From 1941 to 1943, the Flying Tigers shot down 193 Japanese aircrafts and destroyed 75, hence an important force supporting China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Claire L. Chennault, founder of the Flying Tigers. (People's Daily Photo)
P-40 fighters of the Flying Tigers flew over Burma. (People's Daily Photo)
Five Flying Tigers pilots who were saved by the New Fourth Army posed for photo in August 1944. (People's Daily Photo)
Flying Tigers pilots took a group photo. (People's Daily Photo)
A member of Flying Tigers painted a shark on the P-40k fighter. (People's Daily Photo)
A funeral was held for a dead Flying Tigers pilot in Kunming in 1942. (People's Daily Photo)
