Page 66 - History of War - Issue 30-16

THE FLYING TIGERS

to engage in aerial combat fell to Japanese “ONE BY ONE THE JAPANESE BOMBERS WERE SHOT TO PIECES,
guns at an alarming rate. By 1941, although
complement of 500 planes, which was probably EXPLODING IN MIDAIR OR TRAILING THICK, BLACK SMOKE AS THEY
the Republic of China Air Force oficially listed a
overstated, barely 90 aircraft were considered SPIRALLED INTO THE GROUND. A SINGLE BOMBER SURVIVED TO
battleworthy at any given time.
However, during that morning mission to REPORT THE DETAILS OF THE HARROWING MISSION”
Kunming, the Japanese were made keenly
aware that the situation in the skies above
China, and neighbouring Burma, had been the harrowing mission. The crewmen described For years, Chiang Kai-shek had realised that
dramatically altered. As they approached their their attackers as heavy, single-engine ighters he needed help from the United States to stem
target, the Japanese pilots spotted something with snarling shark’s mouths painted on their the Japanese tide. However, a major obstacle
unusual. Four tiny dots were rapidly bearing engine cowlings. Their comrades had been to securing American aid was the simple fact
down on them, and it was soon apparent that the irst victims of the lamboyant airmen of the country was not a belligerent during the
these were hostile ighter planes. The Japanese the American Volunteer Group (AVG), popularly 1930s. An overt act to provide military support to
released their bombs 30 miles southeast of known as the Flying Tigers. China might, in fact, provoke the Japanese into
Kunming and turned for home at high speed. The initial aerial combat mission of the declaring war on the United States. Nevertheless,
These unexpected attackers were, in Flying Tigers had been a resounding success, Chiang possessed two quite powerful assets
fact, Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk ighters led by and newspaper reports lashed across the in his quest for American assistance. His wife,
Lieutenant John V ‘Scarsdale Jack’ Newkirk. globe. This provided a much-needed morale Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang,
Ten more P-40s joined the pursuit, and one boost for the American public, still stunned was a charming and shrewd political pragmatist,
by one the Japanese bombers were shot to by the sudden attack on Pearl Harbor that while the Nationalists also beneited from a
pieces, exploding in midair or trailing thick, had plunged the nation into World War II only powerful lobby in the United States led by her
black smoke as they spiralled into the ground. A two weeks earlier, and offering hope to the brother, TV Soong, who moved easily through the
single bomber survived to report the details of beleaguered Chinese. halls of power in Washington, DC.

Claire Chennault The Mitsubishi Ki-21 was the i rst Japanese Members of the 3rd Squadron, ‘Hell’s Angels’,
in his ofi ce at aircraft encountered by the Flying Tigers l y in formation, 1942
Kunming,1942

A Chinese soldier stands
guard over a P-40E
Warhawk. The plane was
l own by Major John Petach
who accumulated 5.25 kills

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