Chapter 6 Chapter 4 Air Cowboys
Emma——At that time, she was a nurse in the American Volunteer Air Force to China
Bai Siden——At that time, he was an ordnance engineer of the American Volunteer Air Force to China
Charles Bond—a pilot of the U.S. Volunteer Air Force to China
Robert Cotton——then was a pilot of the American Volunteer Air Force to China
Lowinski - then a mechanic of the U.S. Volunteer Air Force to China
Herman Stanley - Hump Airline Pilot Guide
Huang Cheng——At that time, he was a staff member of the Kunming Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government
Long Qiming——At that time, he was a pilot of the 22nd Bomber Squadron of the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing of the 14th Air Force of the U.S. Army
Cheng Dunrong——At that time, he was a fighter pilot of the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing of the Fourteenth Air Force of the U.S. Army
Jin Yiqun——At that time, he was a pilot of the First Squadron of the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing of the Fourteenth Air Force of the U.S. Army
Bi Chaofeng——At that time, he was the chief of staff of the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing Command of the Fourteenth Air Force of the US Army
Wang Yanzhou——At that time, he was a fighter pilot of the Third Brigade of the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing of the Fourteenth Air Force of the U.S. Army
This is a song that was not selected for the Chinese Air Force's sea election during the Anti-Japanese War. It was widely circulated after it was performed by "Golden Voice" Zhou Xuan.The lyrics are so affectionate, it really doesn't look like a military song, but if it is really chosen, it will definitely be a good story.Adding some romantic elements to war is the only remaining illusion of war.
The Flying Tigers may be the most romantic team during World War II. A group of 20-year-old men in suits and ties, led by an old man who was expelled from the army, came to a strange country full of wars. , shouldering the mission of eradicating the strong, helping the weak and maintaining justice, piloting an old fighter plane, winning more with less, defeated the Japanese Air Force that dominated the Pacific at that time, won the respect of people in foreign countries, and some people also ushered in love.Such a Hollywood-style story, no wonder many people want to put it on the screen.
In order to enhance this romantic atmosphere, there are more stories and rumors in the market.For example, the U.S. military does not recognize the service experience of these volunteers because it is jealous of the achievements of this group of motley troops.Speaking of motley crews, it was true, many of them were coaxed by Chennault.Some people want to achieve a career, some want to make more money, and some just want to experience the exotic atmosphere.When such a group of people came to China, to put it bluntly, they were a bit of a part-time job, and it was difficult to improve military discipline.For this reason, Chennault specially hired a group of military inspectors to manage these Americans.But one thing must be admitted is that Americans are very serious about their work and are meticulous about their work. This is what many old people who had contact with Americans at that time would mention. I will say a few words.
Americans also applied their attitude towards work to aircraft manufacturing. The P-40 was no match for Japanese aircraft. The most important point was that it was too heavy.There are no road restrictions in the air, and whoever is lighter will definitely take advantage.The Japanese Type Zero fighter was built under this concept. In order to achieve the purpose of lightness, the cockpit armor and fuel tank armor were saved.That is to say, once a Japanese aircraft is hit, the pilot is easily killed directly or blown to death by the fuel tank. This kind of design idea of only killing the enemy but not protecting itself may only be thought of by the Japanese who advocate the spirit of bushido. come out.Americans don't do it. It's not just a matter of attitude towards work. It's okay for people to lose a few planes. The family's business can be rebuilt. This person can't be resurrected, especially pilots with actual combat experience. .As mentioned in the film, in the later period of the war, due to the fact that the Zero fighters were too inexperienced and lacked excellent pilots to take advantage of their flexibility, they eventually became suicide aircraft.And its ups and downs are more like a microcosm of Japan's rise from prosperity to defeat.
And about Emma.The undeniably romantic story of her and Petach makes this ending all the more sad.One thing is not mentioned in the film, in fact, they could have gone back to China. Since Chennault was their matchmaker, and the newly formed Fourteenth Air Force still lacks the necessary training, this young couple stayed to overstay their military service in order to help Chennault. After two weeks, they finally separated.After returning to China, the old man devoted herself to the cause of women's rights, and met her current husband Hanks in the 1960s.Hanks is a Hump pilot, and his story in China is also legendary.At that time, a transport plane of model C-53 crashed on the hump, and there happened to be a friendly plane behind it, making this C-53 the only one on the hump route that crashed that knew where it crashed. The mother of the crashed pilot Upon learning of this, please ask Hanks and two other teammates to help find the remains.On the eve of returning to China, the three trekked across mountains and rivers, but due to lack of energy, they turned back when they were one kilometer away from the crash site.After returning to China, Hanks did not give up, but practiced for fifty years. Finally, at the age of 80, he returned to the hump and found the crash, telling people what commitment is.
On February 22, 1932, at Suzhou Shengli Primary School, 12-year-old Jin Yiqun looked up and saw three Japanese bombers. "They were idling above the school, and there was the red sun of Japan under the wings of the plane. There were 3 planes, and 6 red suns were spinning in the sky." Jin Yiqun recalled.
Less than a month before that, the "January 28th" Incident broke out, and the Japanese army sent planes to bomb Shanghai.
"The Japanese planes bombed people so badly. After I saw it, I was really angry—why did the Japanese occupy the airspace of my country?"
Jin Yiqun remembered that when the three Japanese bombers in the sky had already made a dive and were about to drop bombs, "a plane flew over us at a low altitude, rushed up, and hit the Japanese plane." The three planes of the Japanese army fought together, which immediately disrupted the enemy's air attack plan. Three Japanese fighter jets in charge of escort swooped down on the mysterious fighter plane from high altitude.In the face of 6 enemy planes, instead of fleeing, the mysterious fighter plane bit the Japanese bomber and fired fiercely at one bomber at close range.
Due to being outnumbered, the mysterious fighter was shot down.
Later, when people found the mysterious crashed fighter plane, they unexpectedly discovered that the person who died in the cockpit was a foreign guy.
The foreign guy came from the United States, named Robert Short. He was 27 years old at the time. He was a retired pilot of the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was a sales representative of the Boeing Company in the United States. He wrote: "I hope to fly a plane to a duel with the Japanese army like a cowboy in the west and uphold justice." He drove the prototype to join the Chinese Air Force as a volunteer.
Robert Short became the first American pilot to die in the Chinese War of Resistance.In recognition of his charitable deeds in aiding China, the National Government awarded him the title of Air Force Captain posthumously.At the memorial meeting held for him from all walks of life in Shanghai, Wu Jingxiong, a representative of the public and a scholar, delivered a eulogy saying: "The blood shed by Short can be used as the glue between the Chinese and American nations."
Jin Yiqun, who watched Short's air combat, determined to become a pilot when he grows up. In 1941, Jin Yiqun was admitted to the Central Aviation School. In 1943, he and a group of classmates went to the United States to learn flying skills. After returning to China, he became a pilot of the First Squadron of the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing affiliated to the 14th Air Force of the US Army.
In October 1942, a black-and-white film called "Girls of the Flying Tiger" appeared on American screens. In the film, a group of American pilots traveled thousands of miles to China to engage in air combat with the Japanese.The film starring John Wayne is famous for his westerns. The pilots in the film are also like the cowboys in the westerns. They fight for money, wear suits and fly fighter jets. They are jealous and even fight for the beautiful nurses in the team.In reality, there really was such a team that came to China. They were called the "Flying Tigers". They were American cowboys who flew over China during the Anti-Japanese War.
On July 10, 1941, a ship carrying nearly 260 young Americans set sail from San Francisco for China.If you only look at the expressions of these young people, no one would guess that they are going to fight across the Pacific Ocean.
There was a 25-year-old girl named Emma on board.Years later, she recalled that ocean voyage: "We danced on the boat and had a lot of fun. I took pictures of them and they were so young. I thought, how could they go to war? They were just kids."
These playboy-style American youths, like their predecessor Short, will serve as volunteers to help strangers in China fight strangers in Japan.Their team is called the American Volunteer Group (AVG).
The founder of this team is Claire Lee Chennault, an instructor of the U.S. Army Air Corps who retired with the rank of lieutenant in early 1937. He is a man from Texas with a "strong build, dark brown and rough face", superb flying skills and a strong competitive spirit. Huang Cheng, who was a staff member of the Kunming Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government, said: "Chennault, this name is fundamentally wrong, because when the telegram came, the Chinese translated Chennault into "Chennault" according to the English spelling. Chennault, actually not, he is of French origin, and should not be translated as Chennault according to the French spelling."
In the spring of 1937, Song Meiling, who was the Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee of the Nationalist Government and actually led the Chinese Air Force, was looking for foreign advisors, and Chennault was invited.In early July of that year, Chennault arrived in Shanghai, and Song Meiling met him.
Chennault wrote in his memoirs: She is the wife of Mr. Chiang Kai-shek, twenty years younger than I thought.When she speaks English, she draws slowly, like a wealthy Southerner.I will never forget this meeting.This day is etched in my mind.I wrote in my diary at night: "She will always be my queen." Since then, we have passed through the long and difficult years of the War of Resistance together.
Song Meiling asked Chennault to help China develop the air force.
After inspecting the situation of the Chinese Air Force at that time, Chennault sent a telegram to Song Meiling: China had 500 aircraft in name at that time, but in fact only 91 could take off and fight, and there were only 600 qualified aviation personnel.
In August 1938, according to Song Meiling's request, Chennault went to Kunming to organize an aviation school, train Chinese pilots, and assist the Chinese Air Force and the Soviet Volunteer Air Force against the Japanese Air Force.
In 1940, Chennault was entrusted by Chiang Kai-shek to return to the United States for assistance.President Roosevelt of the United States provided China with 100 P-40 fighter jets, and at the same time allowed retired or reserve U.S. troops to go to China to serve as volunteers to fight against Japan—because Japan and the United States had not yet gone to war at this time.
Chennault recruited pilots and ground crews in the United States, and some reserve and retired personnel of the Army Air Corps and Marine Corps applied for the recruitment.Bai Siden, who was recruited as an armorer, recalled: "In the spring of 1941, my buddies told me that the Chinese Air Force wanted some Americans to go there. I was not a pilot. I was earning 70 dollars a month as a sergeant, and the Chinese I was being offered $300 a month, which was a lot more than I was used to, so I decided to give it a go and signed a one-year deal with them."
Emma enlists to be one of two team nurses.Unlike most of her companions, she has been to China and is familiar with China.
In 1935, 19-year-old Emma came to Lingnan University in Guangzhou as an exchange student. "It was a great experience for me. The professors there are very good, the men there are real gentlemen, and they treat me like a lady. In America, men are not like Chinese men. The way men treated me was very impressive, and I was used to being treated like a lady," recalls Emma.
Founded in 1888, Lingnan University was the first institution of higher learning in China that allowed men and women to study in the same room. Emma, who left fond memories here, returned to the United States a year later, still obsessed with everything about China. "I found the experience in China very rewarding and I loved every minute of it."
Emma hopes to go to China again. "My father is a doctor. Although I never wanted to be a doctor, I knew the best way to go back to China was as a medical staff. But it takes a long time to become a doctor, so I went to Yale University to study nursing. .Yale has the best nursing education in America."
After 3 years at Yale, Emma worked at a community medical center.Although her life was stable, she always missed her life as a lady in China at the treatment table, until one day, a man with a serious expression stood in front of her and asked her if she would like to go to China.
"They recruited medical personnel and went to Yale. At that time, there were no women in the American and European aviation teams. The Yale teacher told them that there was a girl who always wanted to go back to China. So they found me, and of course I went to China. Participated," said Emma.
In this way, Emma can finally return to the China she dreamed of, among those gentlemen.However, she didn't expect that during the long ocean journey, she was captured by a cowboy on board—the young pilot John Petach.
"There was a pool on the boat and I put on my bathing suit and went for a swim and that's when he met me...we had a really good time on that boat and did a lot of fun things. We danced and talked on the deck , he gave me everything he had, and we fell in love."
When Emma and Petaci set foot on the land of China with everyone, Chennault looked at the 109 pilots, 150 mechanics and logistics personnel, and wrote in his diary: "During the battle against the Japanese army, for the first time I had Everything we need to defeat them."
On August 1, 1941, Chiang Kai-shek issued an order to formally establish the American Volunteer Brigade of the Chinese Air Force, and appointed Chennault as the captain of the brigade with the rank of colonel.The Volunteer Brigade has 99 P-40A and P-40B fighter jets, with a total of 3 squadrons.On September 1 of that year, the headquarters of the Volunteer Brigade was set up at the "Central Aircraft Manufacturing Plant" in Leiyun, Yunnan, and these Americans were nominally employees of the plant.
At this time, what appeared in front of the American cowboys was a country ravaged by war. There were almost no Chinese planes in the sky, and the Japanese bombed Chinese cities frequently and aggressively.
Huang Cheng recalled: "The Japanese planes were not obstructed at all. In Kunming, all the bombs were dropped, and the bombing was so pitiful. I translated a book, which was an American's impression of Kunming at that time. He said: 'When I first arrived in Kunming, I was shocked to see the Chinese people on the street pile up those corpses one by one, neatly, in piles.'"
The Chinese expected Chennault and his men to teach the Japanese a lesson.However, these American cowboys looked wild and unreliable. "The recruited volunteers are almost all irregular or expelled from the regular army, so their discipline is very bad. They drink heavily, behave promiscuously, and chase after women when they see them." Huang Cheng said.
When it comes to discipline, the old cowboy Chennault is not much better. In the United States, he was forced to retire early because he was a maverick and contradicted his boss.
In order to appease these American cowboys, on February 28, 1942, Chiang Kai-shek and Song Meiling held a special party for the team members at the volunteer team station in Kunming.
Huang Cheng recalled: "Chennault was very careful and told the team in advance that alcohol was prohibited that day, but those old beauties didn't care. They hid alcohol in their trouser pockets and listened to Chiang Kai-shek's speech reeking of alcohol. An old hooligan yelled Got up and yelled something nasty like no women don't fight, it's not easy to translate. Chennault was so embarrassed that he called his military police and dragged the soldier out, which I witnessed .”
When Song Meiling spoke, she said, "Without discipline, we will accomplish nothing. Like your distinguished commanders, I will also talk about discipline to you endlessly. I mean the self-conscious discipline in our hearts. However, I do not I'm not asking you to pretend to be little sages made of clay and wood. I consider myself human and don't like stereotyped people, but I do want you kids to remember one thing, the whole country cares about you, and I ask you to behave like those great traditions which you have established in the world. I ask you to make an impression upon my people, an impression of what an American really is..."
Song Meiling knew very well that when dealing with these American cowboys, one aspect is to be emotional, and one cannot do without some practicality.
Huang Cheng remembers, "Song Meiling called them angels, and she spoke very humorously and very interestingly. She promised to shoot down a Japanese plane and give a reward of 500 US dollars. At that time, 500 US dollars was a huge amount, and everyone was very happy. Later, their morale rose , it cannot but be said that it is backed by bonuses.”
"You can interpret the Flying Tigers in any way you want." Long Qiming, who became a pilot of the 22nd Bomber Squadron of the China-U.S. The soldiers in the army are also a group of rabble, and many of them come here with the dream of getting rich, and they get a reward of 500 US dollars for each plane they shoot down. I remember that when I applied for the exam, I also considered that the salary of the Air Force is relatively high, and this is the truth. But we were never intimidated."
According to Cheng Dunrong, who joined the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing in 1943 and became a fighter pilot, the American comrades who fought side by side were certainly not a rabble: “The pilots of the Flying Tigers require at least two years of fighter flying experience, and their personal skills are very good. Yes, the cooperation is very good, very similar to the American professional star team. Chennault is also like a prestige and capable coach. The vivaciousness, sense of justice and adventurous spirit of American youth. Although there are a few who come here for better treatment and funds, most of them are sympathetic to China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and realize that the relationship between the United States and Japan is bound to end. Participated enthusiastically because of the inevitable battle."
The volunteer brigade conducted combat training in Toungoo (also translated as Tonggu) in Myanmar, and Chennault personally taught the tactics of the Japanese Air Force.
"Before the battle, they practiced flying fighters over and over again," Emma said. "At that time, he (Petaqi) was practicing flying. When he found me, he deliberately flew close to me. Other boys came to make trouble. Girls like to be beaten. When others noticed, he put a sign on his plane so that I could identify which plane was his. Then we got married."
Emma recalls: "The night before we got married, Chennault invited us to dinner at his apartment. He was a fantastic wedding planner. I played a game with Chennault and he gave me a push when I spun too hard. Well, one eye touched the corner of the table, and I got married the next day with a black eye."
On December 7, 1941, Chennault led the first and second squadrons to Kunming (the third squadron was stationed in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar).On the same day, a group of Japanese bombers escorted by Zero fighter jets attacked Pearl Harbor.
On September 13, 1940, the newly developed Zero fighter jet shot down and damaged 24 Chinese fighter planes at the cost of only one plane being damaged in the first battle in China—the Bishan air battle near Chongqing. The Chinese pilots of the Yi-15 and Yi-16 fighter jets that were manufactured and already lagging behind killed 10 people and injured 8 people.
The Zero fighter has a long range, fast speed, and exceptional flexibility.Later, Bi Chaofeng, chief of staff of the Sino-U.S. Air Force Mixed Wing Command, thought: "This fighter was the latest and best in the world at that time." Wang Yanzhou, a fighter pilot of the third brigade of the Sino-US Air Force Mixed Wing, said: "The Zero fighter The turning radius is small, and in air combat, you can’t do it in circles in horizontal combat, and if you turn around, you’ll get bitten, and it’s very dangerous for a fighter jet to get bitten.”
Chennault was under a lot of pressure.Compared with the Zero fighter, the P-40 of the Volunteer Team is considered to be a "not good in any respect" fighter.Of course, it also has characteristics: strong, strong firepower."The P-40 had synchronized machine guns that fired bullets between the rotations of the propellers," Bisden said. "It was the oldest model in the Air Force at the time, but luckily the guns for the newer aircraft were on the wings."
After comparing and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the P-40 and Zero fighters, Chennault formulated the tactics of four-aircraft formation: "When encountering this kind of aircraft, we can't still use the formation of three aircraft. If you want to suffer, you can only fly in a circular turn, staggering forward and backward, covering each other, making full use of the advantages of the aircraft's flexible turning, waiting for the opportunity to take a sharp turn and attack head-on to counterattack..."
Charles Bond, who was a pilot of the American Volunteer Air Force in China at the time, recalled: "I still remember his words. He said, no matter when and where, don't try to fight face to face, don't try to circle the enemy, because they Their planes are more advanced than yours, don't fight them, you can pretend to flee, go up and down, and then attack suddenly."
Chennault's tactics were based on the solid fuselage and good dive performance of the P-40 fighter. When encountering a flexible Japanese aircraft, the Flying Tigers drove the P-40 to quickly climb to a high altitude, dive and attack the enemy plane, and then flew away immediately. , The Japanese army who suffered from it called it "one hit and escape", which simply means hit and run.Wang Yanzhou said: "Only fight for one round, and then run away. If you don't love fighting, you will suffer losses if you love fighting."
Of course, "your anger is your more powerful weapon, use it to your advantage." Charles Bond said.
The cowboys later came up with some unreasonable tricks in actual combat, such as turning off the throttle of the plane in the air. "When the throttle was turned off, the turning radius became smaller. Instead, it turned to the back of the Type Zero and shot it down," Wang Yanzhou said.
In the pre-war training, Chennault explained the tactics he developed to the team members. He said: "If you don't want to die at the hands of the Japanese, you have to listen to me."
Chennault, who was called "Old Man" by the players, was a ruthless character.Huang Cheng mentioned an interesting fact: Chennault attended the Cairo Conference in 1943 as an adviser to Chiang Kai-shek. "He stood behind Roosevelt. Churchill looked at him and asked Roosevelt: 'Who is standing behind you?' Roosevelt said: 'This is the commander of our Fourteenth Air Force.' Churchill said: 'Thank God, he On our side.' So he's a very formidable man."
The pre-battle training under Chennault's supervision was short but fruitful.
Robert Cotton, who was a volunteer pilot at the time, recalled: "We mastered the operation of the P-40 proficiently. It is very strong, powerful, and has a lot of ammunition."
Lowensky, who was a volunteer ground crew member at the time, recalled: "We are with the pilots, and we have flying missions every day, and accidents will happen, because some of our pilots were former navy pilots, and they often flew P-40B fighters over the ship. boat, so when they come to land there is an adaptation process."
Practice is over, and the Cowboys are about to take to the skies.The identification marks were sewn on the back of their flight suits, with a national flag of the Republic of China on it, and a line of words: Come to China to help foreigners in the war, and the military and civilians provide medical assistance.
Several team members asked Chennault: "Can you draw a shark's head on the nose of the plane?" When they were training in Burma, they saw in a magazine that a P-40 fighting in North Africa had a shark's mouth painted on it. and teeth.They found the pattern fresh and exciting, and wanted to paint shark heads on their planes.Chennault agreed.Within days, ground crews had painted shark heads on every plane in the Volunteer Squadron.The pattern designer cleverly used the side of the engine radiator of the P-40 nose to depict a huge, open shark mouth, above the mouth are ostentatious fish eyes.The team members said, let the shark scare the Japanese.
On December 20, 1941, Japanese bombers flew over Kunming.Chennault recorded his mood at the time in his memoirs:
The critical moment that I have been waiting for for four years has finally arrived - American pilots, with the assistance of the Chinese ground warning network, using American fighter jets, are about to start a contest with the Japanese air power sweeping across the Pacific.I feel that the cockpit of the P-40 aircraft is carrying the fate of China, flying over Yunnan.I wish I was ten years younger and still in the cockpit of a plane instead of this bunker.
Chennault ordered a squadron of fighter planes to take off to meet the enemy.The battle situation was recorded by the Kunming Air Defense Headquarters as follows: "At 9:18 on December 20, ten enemy light bombers crossed the border and invaded; they arrived in Chenggong at 10:10. When they encountered our destroyer fleet, Our fleet immediately attacked head-on, and the enemy plane fled in a panic. Our plane followed and pursued it. At 10:35, the enemy plane fled to Sanjiangkou, which belongs to Luoping County, and was surrounded by our plane again. A fierce air battle broke out. The enemy plane three One was shot down by our plane, and the other three were seriously injured and appeared to have fallen, and escaped across the Yunnan-Guangxi border at 11:25. Our plane returned safely."
In his memoirs, Chennault recorded what the pilot saw and heard after his return:
When the P-40s dived and attacked, everyone was so excited that they forgot all about Toungoo's training—it was a complete melee.All pilots concede that it was luck that the P-40 did not hit itself.During the ensuing 130-mile round-trip battle, the pilots experimented with thrilling ninety-degree deflection shots and other crazy tactics.Fritz Wolf of Shawano, Wisconsin, after shooting down two bombers, cursed at the munitions manufacturers because his machine gun jammed.But when he checked the machine gun after landing, he found that it had run out of bullets.Three Japanese bombers were shot down when the P-40s were withdrawn from the battle, the rest were also smoking and suffering varying degrees of damage.Ed Rector is the only injured number of the Volunteer Team.He ran out of fuel after chasing the Japanese plane for a long distance, made an emergency landing in a frozen rice field east of Kunming, and was slightly injured.
Most pilots were incoherent with excitement when they returned to the airport.
"Boys," I said to the excited pilots, "you played well, but it wasn't the best. Shoot them all down next time."
The Kunming Air Defense Command stated: "The province has been frequently attacked by enemy planes in the past four years, and has been repeatedly intercepted by our air force, which has dealt a major blow. However, the results obtained are not as great as the US Volunteer Team this time. ... This victory When it comes, everyone celebrates."
Most Chinese people don't recognize the shark head painted on the plane of the volunteer team and find it strange.The next day, a newspaper in Kunming used the term "flying tiger" to describe the volunteer team's planes. Since then, the "Flying Tigers" have been called out.
Huang Cheng said: "People in Kunming thanked the Flying Tigers. They all said, "Lao Mei is great." Those girls also rushed out to say to the team members, "Lao Mei, hello."
Chennault mentioned the widespread attention the Flying Tigers received in 1942:
Before I left the United States in 1941, I entrusted several friends of mine in Louisiana to keep an eye out for me in the newspapers about us and to send me clippings.Now my place is full of newspaper clippings from the United States, and my subordinates are pleasantly surprised to find that they have become famous all over the world as members of the "Flying Tigers".
Chennault resumed active duty in the U.S. Army and was promoted to Brigadier General.This once little-known retired Army Aviation Captain has become a well-known "Flying Tiger General" in the United States.
On July 3, 1942, the American Volunteer Squadron of the Chinese Air Force was disbanded, and the 23rd Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps was formed with some members of the volunteer brigade, and the U.S. Air Force in China was formed with the 16th Fighter Squadron stationed in China. Task Force, part of the U.S. Army Tenth Air Force.Chennault was appointed commander of the U.S. Air Force Task Force in China.
On July 4th, Chongqing, at the farewell dinner of the Flying Tigers, the host announced the achievements of the Flying Tigers: "Since its establishment, the American Volunteer Team has fought in Burma, Indochina, Thailand and China for 7 months, shooting down a total of 299 Japanese planes, 153 were damaged. 4 pilots of the American Volunteers were killed in air battles, 6 were killed by anti-aircraft guns, 3 were killed by enemy bombs, 3 were captured, and 10 were killed in air accidents .The American Volunteer Corps lost 12 aircraft in the air battle and 61 aircraft on the ground (including 22 fighters that self-destructed during the retreat)..."
Most of the Flying Tigers pilots chose to return to the United States.
Emma remembers that before the members of the Flying Tigers went to China, the US government promised that "their level will still be the same when they return to China", but the actual situation is not the same.
"The Navy didn't recognize me as a member of them. It took a long time for us to get official certification from the units we served in," Bisden said. Another sad thing is that he originally had a girlfriend in the United States — " When I was in China, she didn't tell me she was married."
The members of the Flying Tigers who were born and died in China were not officially recognized after returning to China, and they became real volunteers.
After the Flying Tigers disbanded, Emma did not return home immediately. "We had a one-year contract. When it was up, they said the recruits hadn't arrived, so we decided to stay an extra two weeks to help Chennault."
Petacchi stayed on to overstay his military service in order to help Chennault train recruits.Emma, who is pregnant, is by her husband's side and is looking forward to returning home together in two weeks.
With two days to go home, Petacci received an air strike mission.After completing the mission, the returning Petaqi was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire.
"I lost him forever. I never used the word 'we' again," Emma said.
Two days later, Emma returned to the United States six months pregnant and gave birth to her daughter.Regarding Petaqi's sacrifice, she always thought that love slowed down the pace of "Flying Tiger".
"These pilots are heroes, they're great. I'm nothing, I'm just a stupid woman in the army. I'm so stupid, went to the army, did a lot of damage, and it's something I can't get over."
Until 9 years later, at a party, Emma met Hanks, a retired Hump pilot.
After "Flying Tigers", "hump" became another Chinese-related word familiar to Americans during the war.
Herman Stanley, who used to be the pilot guide of the Hump route, said: "At that time, the route over the Hump was the only route that could transport supplies to China. This route was very important for fighting the Japanese army. We brought munitions, gasoline, food, medicine, Anything China needs."
The hump route across the southern foot of the Himalayas was the most dangerous route in the world at that time.Herman Stanley said: "Many planes flying over the hump have crashed on the mountain, and the route is full of aircraft wreckage reflecting the sun, so they call the hump route Aluminum Trail (aluminum-paved route)."
Emma always joked with Hanks: "Our Flying Tigers are responsible for masturbating, but you are crashing planes."
At that time, China Airlines, a joint venture with Pan American Airlines, and the U.S. Army Airlift Corps, which leased part of the aircraft of China Airlines, carried out the Hump flight mission.
On March 11, 1943, the "No. 53 aircraft" of AVIC crashed on the mountains near the Nujiang River, and the whereabouts of the 24-year-old captain Jimmy Fox was unknown.According to Emma's recollection: Fox's mother did not want to believe that her only son would never come home again, and asked his teammates to help find his whereabouts.Hanks, who later joined AVIC, volunteered to sign up to find Fox. In 1944, Hanks and the other three embarked on the road to find Fox.In the virgin forest where there was no way to find, Hanks' two teammates were exhausted and had to give up their first search.
On March 10, 1943, the U.S. Army Air Corps organized the contingent in China as the U.S. Army Fourteenth Air Force, and Chennault was promoted to major general commander.The Fourteenth Air Force provided strong support for the war against Japan in the Chinese battlefield.
In July 1945, on the eve of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chennault was dismissed.Chiang Kai-shek and Song Meiling hosted a banquet to see him off, and awarded him a blue ribbon with a blue sky and a white sun.On August 1 of that year, Chennault returned to China.Taiwanese scholar Qi Bangyuan wrote about the scene she witnessed in her memoir: "Chennault's farewell ceremony in Chongqing was almost unprecedented and unprecedented. Two million people crowded the streets and the doors and windows facing the street, and his car could not pass through the crowd. People pushed his car to the farewell square, and the scarred houses all over the city were covered with various flags, and many team emblems embroidered with flying tigers."
In 1947, Chennault married Chen Xiangmei, an alumnus of Emma's Lingnan University.Chennault said: "Although I am an American, I have such a close relationship with China. We all share weal and woe, live and die together, so I am also half Chinese."
On July 27, 1958, Chennault died of illness at the age of 65 and was buried in the Arlington Military Cemetery in Washington.On the front of the tombstone is an English epitaph, and on the back is "General Chennault's Tomb" written in Chinese, which is the only Chinese in Arlington Cemetery.
The unruly cowboys under Chennault have also been loved by Americans, and their deeds have been put on the screen and become heroes that people admire.
Jin Yiqun said: "I think the Americans are very enthusiastic. They are very serious and down-to-earth in their work, and the aircraft they maintain are really good."
At the end of the war, the opponents of the American cowboys could only drive modified Zero fighters and carry out suicide attacks on American warships in the spirit of bushido.
Emma later tied the knot with Hanks.Hanks moved Emma not only by his humor, but more importantly by his experience in China. "China has influenced our whole life." Emma said.
Hanks has persisted for more than 50 years in daily 10-kilometer hiking and muscle training.For him, maintaining a healthy body is a preparation for one day returning to the hump.
Hanks finally waited until the news that Fox's "Unit 53" was discovered. 1997年6月25日，在中国人的帮助下，经过7天的跋涉，重返驼峰的老人完成了等待50多年的寻找。
“他非常努力地工作，帮助中国，而且找到了飞机。”白发苍苍的爱玛感叹道。
1984年，爱玛和佩塔奇的女儿得到了美国政府颁发给佩塔奇的优异飞行十字勋章。
1996年，所有飞虎队队员都获得了这枚他们等了50多年的勋章。
抗战期间的美国对华援助，前期以借款为主，后期以租借物资为主。1938年12月到1940年，美国共向中国提供各类贷款1.7亿美元，太平洋战争爆发后，中美又签订了高达5亿美元的贷款协定。1941年，美国开始向中国提供租借物资，整个抗战期间，中国共获得美国各类租借物资价值8.4亿美元。此外，至战争结束，协助中国作战的美国陆军第14航空队以损失468架飞机的代价共击落、摧毁敌机2500多架，击沉或重创223万吨敌商船、40多艘军舰，击毙日军官兵6.6万多人。驼峰航线上，美国空军参与空运90万架次，共运进各种物资65万余吨、人员3.3万人，完成了世界航空史上迄今规模最大、持续时间最长的战略空运，1000余名飞行员牺牲，飞机损失400余架。整个抗战期间，美国援华作战人员共牺牲2264名。
租借法案（Lend-LeaseProgram）是美国国会在第二次世界大战期间通过的一项法案，目的是在美国不卷入战争的同时，为盟国提供战争物资。法案在1941年3月11日生效，授权美国总统“售卖、转移、交换、租赁、借出或交付任何防卫物资，予美国总统认为与美国国防有至关重要之国家政府”。租借法案改变了原来军事物资需要现金交易的惯例，也改变了原来中立国的意义。美国于1941年12月参战后，继续为盟国提供物资，接受援助的国家包括英国、苏联、中国等38个国家，总值达500亿美元。租借法案对盟军取得胜利有直接影响。
《飞虎将军陈纳德回忆录》中记载：“其实直到美国志愿队解散的前夕，我们才有了一个可以称得上队徽的东西。应华盛顿的中国军需处的请求，好莱坞的沃尔特·迪斯尼协会的罗伊·威廉斯为我们设计了一个队徽：一只插翅的猛虎，正飞越一个象征胜利的字母'V'。”
为了铭记飞虎队与陈纳德的功劳，1945年，云南省政府宣布：把昆明市区到巫家坝机场的路命名为“陈纳德路”。在云南历史上，以外国人名字命名的公路有两条：一条为“史迪威公路”，另外一条就是“陈纳德路”。此路现名“民航路”。
Notes: ，三联书店2010年版，第133页。
Notes: ，三联书店2010年版，第133页。