Remembering the Flying Tigers

Defense News ^ | Dec 20, 2005

[SandRat]

The Flying Tigers of World War II
Americans have not always waited for their country to enter a war formally to fight for causes they supported. The tradition continued during the early days of World War II before the United States officially became a combatant. Some Americans joined the Royal Air Force, forming the Eagle Squadrons and fighting alongside English pilots in the Battle of Britain and other early conflicts. But it was another group of Americans, the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in China, that gained the most fame and notoriety in the early months of the war. On Dec. 20, 1941, the AVG 'Flying Tigers'entered combat for the first time.

From Volunteers to Regulars
The great value of the Flying Tigers was psychological and diplomatic. Amerians and Chinese hailed them as heroes during the early period of World War II when Japan had the upper hand. The Flying Tigers raised public hopes for eventual victory.

Additional Information

* The Flying Tigers

* Prelude to War

[SandRat]

WWII Heros remembered on today their Anniversary

[GregoTX]

Earlier this year I had the priveledge to meet Tex Hill; Flying Tiger ace. It was an honor to speak to him for awhile and buy his book from him.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Into the tigers teeth!

[Marine_Uncle]

Give me some men who are stout hearted men and I'll soon give you ten thousand more, shoulder to shoulder......

[StarCMC]

Photo personally signed by Tex Hill.FLYING TIGERS ACE "TEX HILL"

David Lee Hill was born on 13 July 1915 in Kwangju, Korea, the son of a missionary who moved to Texas when he was six. After finishing Austin College in 1938, "Tex" completed naval flight school and served in a torpedo squadron on the USS Saratoga and in a dive-bomber squadron on the USS Ranger. Hill was among the first Americans to see combat in World War II. He volunteered to join the American Volunteer Group in China in 1941. The AVG would soon be known as the Flying Tigers.

Hill became a triple "Ace" during his time with the AVG and its Army Air Corps successor, the 23rd Fighter Group. He destroyed more than 18 enemy aircraft, including what is believed to be the first Japanese Zero shot down by a P-51 Mustang. His heroics were so legendary that he was portrayed by John Wayne in the movie "Flying Tigers".

But it was for his actions at the stick of a P-40 Tomahawk on October 25, 1942, that he was recently honored. The citation accompanying the DSC reads, in part"….while performing bomber escort duty in a P-40 aircraft over enemy held territory in the China Theatre….Major Hill attacked superior numbers of enemy aircraft rising to intercept the U.S. B-24 bombers.

P-40 Tomahawk

 

Without hesitation, he turned his aircraft on its back for a high speed dive and placed his aircraft between the enemy fighters and the B-24 bombers". It goes on to read, "With exceptional flying ability, Major Hill forced the enemy to turn from the attack and dive away. With skillful marksmanship, he destroyed one aircraft and severely damaged three others resulting in their probable destruction".

On Thanksgiving Day 1943, he led a force of 12 B-25s, 10 P-38s, and 8 new P-51 Mustangs from Saichwan, China, on the first strike against Formosa. The Japanese had 100 bombers and 100 fighters located at Shimchiku Airfield, and the bombers were landing as "Tex" Hill's force arrived. The enemy managed to get seven fighters airborne, but they were promptly shot down. Forty-two Japanese airplanes were destroyed and 12 more were probably destroyed in the attack. The Americans returned home with no casualties.

President George W. Bush praised Hill's patriotism, writing: "During these extraordinary times we have been reminded that our achievements in peace and war have been built on the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. Your devotion to duty and your legendary battles in World War II have earned you the respect and admiration of all Americans…. Your bravery in battle continues to be an inspiration as we face the challenges of a new era".

During the closing months of World War II "Tex" Hill commanded the 412th Fighter Group, the first jet unit in the Army Air Forces. The group flew the Bell XP-59 and later the Lockheed P-80.

In July 1946 Hill resigned his commission and left active duty. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Air National Guard and became the youngest Brigadier General in the history of that service. He Retired from the military in 1968.

Colonel Hills honors include: The DSC, Nationalist Chinese Order of the Cloud Banner, Chinese Victory Medal, British Distinguished Flying Cross, U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, Silver Star, and Legion of Merit.

Source U.S. Air Force Archives
 

 

Found on the internet here!  More photos at source!

[mac_truck]

WWII Heros remembered on today their Anniversary

I wonder if the Chicoms remember...

[Junior]

These in the day when heaven was falling,
The hour when Earth's foundations fled,
Followed their mercenary calling,
Took their wages and are dead.

Their shoulders held the sky suspended.
They stood, and Earth's foundations stay.
What God abandoned, these defended,
And saved the sum of things for pay.

[RTINSC]

Thanks Sand Rat. When I was a kid, our atate fair (Michigan) had a Warhawk on display and I had the opportunity to sit with the pilot as he cranked up that awesome engine. It was scary:)

[JohnBovenmyer]

Don't forget that Chennault's chief of staff was Merian C. Cooper, the directer of the original King Kong! IIRC he ended the war a General. Too old for regular service, he volunteered and did a great job. Back then Hollywood was on OUR side.

[labette]

I got in trouble in grade school and had to do the usual "book report". Fortunately, my teacher didn't specify which book,...so I did God is My Copilot by a fellow named Scott {last name}.
I was the envy of the class, at least the boys anyway.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They sure do. And so do the Japanese. My dad flew C-46s in the China-Burma-India Campaign as a civilian pilot. His first airplane was painted green with nationalist Chinese Stars on the wings. Later, this plane was replaced with a slightly updated AAF C-46 with American stars. He knew many of these old timers, including several who went on to CAT (Civil Air Transport), Air America and Flying Tigers Airlines.
The airline's planes sported the tiger teeth motif and brought disbelief to the Japanese. The Chinese loved em.

[Baby Driver]

And if you didn't know, one of the 'Flying Tigers',
was Gregg Boynton, weho after being conscripted
back into the Marine Corps, bacame the leader of
the VMF 214 known as the 'Black Sheep' Squadron.

[yarddog]

Interesting that Tex Hill was the Son of a Missionary.

I read a good book years ago about Erich Hartmann, the German all time ace of aces with 352 kills. He was also the son of a Missionary Doctor, born in China.

[yarddog]

I got to meet Robert L. Scot the author of "God is My Co-Pilot" several years ago. He was nearly 90 but in good health.

Really courteous and friendly. He also had that charisma which many old Southerners seem to have. After the event I noticed he got into his Cadillac with his daughter and drove himself back to Macon, Georgia.

Scot was technically not in the AVG although he did fly with them unofficially before joining the successor organization.

[Strategerist]

My dad flew C-46s in the China-Burma-India Campaign as a civilian pilot.

My dad was the flight engineer on General Tunner's personal plane in the CBI; Military Channel just showed a short documentary on Tunner, which was sort of boring, just interviewed Tunner's son; wish they'd talked to my Dad, he'd have had some actual interesting stories about the guy that broke his neck because he didn't wear his seatbelt in a storm, the plane they had that actually had the wings bent by extreme updrafts and downdrafts, etc.