Proficient Pilot: Flying tigers

World War II is commonly regarded to have begun on September 1, 1939, with Germany’s invasion of Poland. Many historians argue, however, that the war really began two years earlier when imperialist Japan invaded nationalist China in its quest to dominate Asia and the Pacific (and to secure the natural resources needed to satiate its voracious war machine).

China’s leader, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, was unprepared to defend his nation, particularly against the onslaught of Japanese bombers. In desperate need of an effective air force, Chiang enlisted Claire Lee Chennault as his air advisor. Chennault had retired from the U.S. Army Air Corps and was highly regarded for his expertise as an aerial tactician. A rugged, no-nonsense individualist who often questioned Air Corps orthodoxy, he believed that American pilots based in China could eventually launch surprise attacks against Japan. China provided Chennault with the funds needed to recruit personnel and to purchase 100 Curtiss P–40B Tomahawks that had previously been earmarked for England.

Believing that America would inevitably be drawn into the conflict, President Franklin Roosevelt enabled Chennault to covertly gather 100 volunteer pilots plus ground personnel who would be discreetly discharged from the U.S. military with the understanding that they could return to active duty when their contracts with China had expired. These volunteers were attracted by the prospect of adventure as well as generous salaries—three times what they had been paid in the military—plus $500 for each enemy aircraft destroyed. Thus was formed the AVG—the American Volunteer Group—which became part of the Chinese air force and would soon make history.

Two squadrons were initially based at Kunming, China, and a third near Rangoon, Burma. Their mission was to defend both ends of the Burma Road, a major supply route into China and its only connection with the outside world. (When the Burma Road was eventually severed by the Japanese, the task of providing a lifeline to Western China fell to the United States, which provided supplies using cargo aircraft that overflew the eastern Himalayas, colloquially known as “the hump.”)

Those in Chennault’s “private air force” lived in primitive conditions, did not wear uniforms, were not assigned ranks, and were under incessant aerial attack by mosquitos. They first saw action on December 20, 1941, only 13 days after Pearl Harbor. They became the first Americans to engage the Japanese when they attacked a formation of bombers headed for Kunming. The stunned bomber pilots found themselves staring into the gaping maws of angry sharks and never knew what hit them. Only one of the 10 Kawasaki bombers returned to base.

Chennault taught his pilots the tactics needed to defeat Japanese fighters. He cautioned them not to engage in dogfighting with the nimble Japanese Zeros. The P–40 could not outmaneuver the lighter Mitsubishi. He trained them to exploit the Zero’s weakness by using a diving, slashing attack and then diving away to set up for another attack.

The American pilots quickly endeared themselves to the Chinese people. They fought with such determination and courage that a Chinese newspaper described them as “flying tigers”—a nickname that stuck and became known worldwide.

With the United States now in the war, the Tigers’ contract was allowed to expire on July 4, 1942. The legendary AVG was disbanded and replaced by the 23rd Fighter Group, which continued using the AVG’s nose art. Although their combat career spanned only eight months, the Flying Tigers produced 39 aces and wound up with the highest kill ratio of any fighter group in World War II—particularly remarkable because the Tigers were almost always outnumbered. They destroyed 294 enemy aircraft while losing only a handful of pilots and aircraft in combat against the Japanese. In the hands of the AVG, the P–40 proved to be a remarkably efficient killing machine.

Stories about the successful exploits of the Flying Tigers came early in the war, a time when there was little else for America to celebrate. Among the Tigers were some who became legendary. They included triple-ace David “Tex” Hill; Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, who rejoined the Marine Corps and commanded the famed “Black Sheep” fighter squadron; and, of course, the “old man,” Brig. Gen. Claire Chennault.

barryschiff.com