China and the Flying Tigers
By Nina JobeThe Chinese Theater in WWII is most famous for the Flying Tigers, a story that began with the formation of the “American Volunteer Group” or “AVG” in April of 1941, well before Pearl Harbor, under Claire Chennault through secret arrangements authorized by President Roosevelt. Pilots from the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were permitted to resign from the military to head to China to train pilots for the Chinese Air Force under Chinese Nationalist leader, Chiang Kai-shek. Incentivized by the lure of adventure and/or high pay (approximately three times what they made in the U.S.), the first group arrived in Burma in Nov. of 1941. Once the attack on Pearl Harbor had occurred, their motivation changed to patriotism against Japan.Japan began their invasion of China in 1931 in the far Northeast section known as Manchuria and grew to full conflict by 1937, marked by the clash at the famous Marco Polo Bridge. Japanese occupation of eastern China left the only route for bringing food and military supplies, etc., to China via the Burma road into Kunming. Once Burma also fell to Japan, the only way left was by air transport from India over the Himalayas known as the “Hump”– initially by C47s (DC3s). China National Aviation Corp. (CNAC), in which Pan Am held a 45 percent ownership, pioneered the routes and was later joined by the U.S. Army Air Forces. This operation was later successfully copied as the pattern for the Berlin airlift.Flying the Hump was the most dangerous flying of all and claimed the lives of more pilots in China than all the fighter and bomber pilots combined. The route became known as the “Aluminum Trail” because it was strewn with so many irretrievable crash sites, many of which remain today. This airlift became the lifeline to saving China.The AVG joined the fight in the air over China and Burma beginning on Dec. 20, 1941. Flying early versions of the P40, made famous by the addition of painted shark’s teeth, they set combat records, which have never been equaled. The official record claims destruction of 296 enemy aircraft with the loss of only 14 pilots in combat in seven plus months until they were disbanded on July 4, 1942.The AVG was replaced by the Army Air Forces’ 23rd Fighter Group under what became the CTAF (China Air Task Force) – and the CTAF was later absorbed into the newly formed 14th Army Air Force in March of 1943, which also included the CACW (Chinese-American Composite Wing) – all under the superb tactical leadership of Gen. Claire Chennaulta – and all of these fell under the CBI (China-Burma-India Theater), which included those flying the Hump.While there are those who feel strongly that the label “Flying Tigers” should only apply to the original AVG, the label continued to be applied by both China and the U.S. Military to all those who followed. Most of the patches representing all the groups reflect a tiger with wings and/or in flight. Incredible records continued to be set by those who followed – those who were not there by choice, did not get rewarded by high pay, and served for much longer terms. Inspired by the AVG, they achieved similar remarkable records.Of special note is the record of rescue and return to one’s unit of so many downed U.S. pilots by the Chinese people – both Nationalists and Communists alike. A U.S. pilot who survived being shot down, if picked up by the Chinese, had a 95 percent chance (almost a guarantee) of being returned safely to his unit – and at great risk and peril to those who rescued him. We have heard many heart-wrenching tales from our vets of what the Chinese suffered to save our pilots. Those from the U.S. who served in China developed a lifelong affection for the Chinese people, and it is reciprocated to this day. Many Chinese pilots were sent to the U.S. to be trained and formed a lifelong affection for America as well.
While our two countries went separate ways after WWII, we have found this separation closing in recent years as China has evolved into the modern world and become a significant player. Many Chinese people have never forgotten that Americans came to help save their country. We have also found that few Americans know the story of the China-Burma-India Theater in WWII and the legend of the Flying Tigers. A new and better relationship is forming between our two peoples, built on the friendships formed during WWII.To that end, the American Aviators VIP Tour of China was created in 2004 to bring Americans to see the China we have discovered and to also visit one significant place where the Flying Tigers served in WWII. One of the most picturesque places in China is exotic Guilin (“Kweilin” in WWII), and this is where Chennault’s Command and Operations Cave was located. Reports from Chennault’s human radar network sent reports of Japanese movement to this HQ location so that our forces could best predict where Japanese fighters and bombers were heading. That allowed the least amount of precious limited fuel to be expended by launching our Flying Tigers just before enemy arrival at the right location.
On our 2006 tour, we noticed the main runway there was being changed into a divided highway along with construction of industrial buildings. At the suggestion of retired two-star Gen. James T. Whitehead (who was on our tour), we asked the mayor of Guilin to help us save access to this historic cave. The Chinese rose beyond expectation and have designed, built, and paid for the creation of the Flying Tigers Guilin Heritage Park and Museum at this site and asked us to raise funds to restore the inside of the Command Cave to its WWII appearance (a fundraising quest still underway).Gen. Whitehead and Larry Jobe (UAL Capt., ret.), along with others, then formed the nonprofit Flying Tiger Historical Organization (FTHO) for the purpose of raising tax-deductible funds for the cave restoration. The new Flying Tiger park and its 16,000-square-foot museum had its Grand Opening in March 2015, attended by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong among many other U.S. and Chinese dignitaries, as well as our tour members.
The Florence Fang Family Foundation made a $175,000 donation to the FTHO to purchase a restored C47 to fly over the Hump to commemorate the famous Hump flights one last time. The C47, currently located near Sydney, Australia, plans to start its nearly 7,000-mile journey on Aug. 15 across Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar before crossing the Himalayas into Kunming, China and finally into Guilin where it will be placed on display in front of the new museum there. The journey will of course be dependent on weather and unforeseen mechanical issues, if any. Californian, Dale Mueller, will be one of two of the required typed DC3/C47 pilots, and Larry Jobe will be one of two back-up pilots. The other two pilots are from Australia as is the mechanic/engineer. This adventure can be followed on www.FlyingTheHump.com.The 12th Annual AMERICAN AVIATORS VIP Tour of China is scheduled for March 15 through 31, 2017 (we always opt for March-April for best weather, crowds, and price) and will include a very special dedication ceremony of the C47 at the site of the Flying Tigers Park & Museum in Guilin where one can also tour Chennault’s Command and Operations Cave (still being restored to WWII livery).
The all five-star 17-day tour includes the following highlights, among others – Beijing’s Forbidden City, Summer Palace, the Great Wall, and Asia’s largest Aviation Museum, Wuhan & Yichang; a four-night Yangtze River Cruise with the Three Gorges Dam (world’s largest) and its five locks; Chongqing with Gen. Stilwell’s HQ and the local Flying Tigers Museum; Chengdu with its Giant Panda Breeding Center (babies); Guilin with its Flying Tiger Park & Museum, Li River Cruise, and Tea Plantation; Xi’an with its 8,000 Clay Soldiers, City Wall, and Tang Dynasty Show; Suzhou, the Silk Capital of the world, with its Grand Canal Cruise; and Shanghai, with its YuYuan Gardens, the Bund, and its famous acrobatic show – and so much more.Retired UAL Captain, Larry Jobe, and wife, “China Nina,” will personally be on the tour with you as we cover all the main points of interest that reveal both the old and new China plus points of special interest to aviators and WWII history buffs alike. Due to growing mobility issues, this will no doubt be the LAST tour we will be able to personally escort. See our ad elsewhere in this issue. Details can be found at www.TravelAireTours.com.
While our two countries went separate ways after WWII, we have found this separation closing in recent years as China has evolved into the modern world and become a significant player. Many Chinese people have never forgotten that Americans came to help save their country. We have also found that few Americans know the story of the China-Burma-India Theater in WWII and the legend of the Flying Tigers. A new and better relationship is forming between our two peoples, built on the friendships formed during WWII.To that end, the American Aviators VIP Tour of China was created in 2004 to bring Americans to see the China we have discovered and to also visit one significant place where the Flying Tigers served in WWII. One of the most picturesque places in China is exotic Guilin (“Kweilin” in WWII), and this is where Chennault’s Command and Operations Cave was located. Reports from Chennault’s human radar network sent reports of Japanese movement to this HQ location so that our forces could best predict where Japanese fighters and bombers were heading. That allowed the least amount of precious limited fuel to be expended by launching our Flying Tigers just before enemy arrival at the right location.On our 2006 tour, we noticed the main runway there was being changed into a divided highway along with construction of industrial buildings. At the suggestion of retired two-star Gen. James T. Whitehead (who was on our tour), we asked the mayor of Guilin to help us save access to this historic cave. The Chinese rose beyond expectation and have designed, built, and paid for the creation of the Flying Tigers Guilin Heritage Park and Museum at this site and asked us to raise funds to restore the inside of the Command Cave to its WWII appearance (a fundraising quest still underway).Gen. Whitehead and Larry Jobe (UAL Capt., ret.), along with others, then formed the nonprofit Flying Tiger Historical Organization (FTHO) for the purpose of raising tax-deductible funds for the cave restoration. The new Flying Tiger park and its 16,000-square-foot museum had its Grand Opening in March 2015, attended by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong among many other U.S. and Chinese dignitaries, as well as our tour members.The Florence Fang Family Foundation made a $175,000 donation to the FTHO to purchase a restored C47 to fly over the Hump to commemorate the famous Hump flights one last time. The C47, currently located near Sydney, Australia, plans to start its nearly 7,000-mile journey on Aug. 15 across Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar before crossing the Himalayas into Kunming, China and finally into Guilin where it will be placed on display in front of the new museum there. The journey will of course be dependent on weather and unforeseen mechanical issues, if any. Californian, Dale Mueller, will be one of two of the required typed DC3/C47 pilots, and Larry Jobe will be one of two back-up pilots. The other two pilots are from Australia as is the mechanic/engineer. This adventure can be followed on www.FlyingTheHump.com.The 12th Annual AMERICAN AVIATORS VIP Tour of China is scheduled for March 15 through 31, 2017 (we always opt for March-April for best weather, crowds, and price) and will include a very special dedication ceremony of the C47 at the site of the Flying Tigers Park & Museum in Guilin where one can also tour Chennault’s Command and Operations Cave (still being restored to WWII livery).The all five-star 17-day tour includes the following highlights, among others – Beijing’s Forbidden City, Summer Palace, the Great Wall, and Asia’s largest Aviation Museum, Wuhan & Yichang; a four-night Yangtze River Cruise with the Three Gorges Dam (world’s largest) and its five locks; Chongqing with Gen. Stilwell’s HQ and the local Flying Tigers Museum; Chengdu with its Giant Panda Breeding Center (babies); Guilin with its Flying Tiger Park & Museum, Li River Cruise, and Tea Plantation; Xi’an with its 8,000 Clay Soldiers, City Wall, and Tang Dynasty Show; Suzhou, the Silk Capital of the world, with its Grand Canal Cruise; and Shanghai, with its YuYuan Gardens, the Bund, and its famous acrobatic show – and so much more.Retired UAL Captain, Larry Jobe, and wife, “China Nina,” will personally be on the tour with you as we cover all the main points of interest that reveal both the old and new China plus points of special interest to aviators and WWII history buffs alike. Due to growing mobility issues, this will no doubt be the LAST tour we will be able to personally escort. See our ad elsewhere in this issue. Details can be found at www.TravelAireTours.com.