In April 1941, American President Franklin Roosevelt issued a secret executive order authorizing reserve officers and enlisted men to resign from the Army Air Corps, Naval and Marine air services for the purpose of serving in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) under the command of Claire Lee Chennault. Chennault divided his unit of 100 P-40 fighters into three squadrons, stationing two in Kunming and the third in Burma to protect China’s passage to the sea (Yu 38).
The AVG first saw combat on December 20, 1941 when ten enemy heavy bombers raided Kunming. AVG fighters intercepted the bombers, shooting down six and damaging three while sustaining no casualties of their own. With the support of Chinese code breakers and signal intelligence, the AVG continued to provide cover for Chinese ground forces and to defend Chinese cities against attacks by enemy bombers. Their exploits garnered them the legendary nickname the Flying Tigers.
The entrance of the United States into the Second World War meant that the American Volunteer Group was replaced by the American military. The group disbanded on July 4, 1942. By the end of its seven-month existence, the Flying Tigers of the American Volunteer Group had fought more than 50 air battles, and won them all. They destroyed 299 enemy planes at the cost of 12 of their own (Yu 45).
Near Yunnan, members of a convoy traveling the Ledo Road see a monument erected by the townspeople to a fallen American Volunteer Group hero. "Fight for Righteousness" is painted on the wall in the background. The monument commemorates the price that at least one American paid for that privilege. Source: National Archives and Records Administration.
P-40 Pilots from the Panda Bears squadron. Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4824607370/in/set-72157624587561232
Refueling stop at Yunnan-yi, China on May 28, 1942. Seated from left to right are R.T. Smith, Ken Jernstedt, Bob Prescott, Link Laughlin and Bill Reed. The person standing on the left is Tom Hayward. Arvid Olson, standing on the right, flew P-40 Tomahawk #68 (in the background) on this mission Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4838999064/in/set-72157624587561232
AVG staff in Kunming. Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4824607858/in/set-72157624587561232/
Chennault and Executive Officer C.B. "Skip" Adair in Kunming China. Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4838999104/in/set-72157624587561232
Members of the AVG's 3rd Pursuit Squadron, Hell's Angels, pose for a photograph. Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4838348915/in/set-72157624587561232
3rd Squadron Hell's Angels, Flying Tigers over China, photographed in 1942 by AVG pilot Robert T. Smith. Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum
P-40 assembly plant. The post reads, "Working for Righteousness and Peace.” Source: San Diego Air and Space Museum https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/4823993409/in/set-72157624587561232/
P-40 with Orin Welch, Dick Rossi, Charlie Sharkey, Dick Snell, and Jimmy Fox in Kunming China. Source: National Archives and Records Administration via San Diego Air and Space Museum.
