~*~ Flying Tigers ~*~ "Flying Tigers" was the name of the first American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force from 1941-2. The members of AVG had contracts with the Chinese govt. with salaries from $600 a pilot, to $750 for a squadron commander. These salaries were three times more than what they had been making in the U.S. forces. The group first saw combat on December 1941, twelve days after Pearl Harbor. It had success during the lowest period of the war for the U.S. This gave hope to the Americans, that maybe they would finally defeat the Japanese. While cross-referencing records after the war showed that their actual kill numbers were less, the Tigers were payed combat bonuses for annihilating 300 enemy aircraft. In July 1942, the AVG was replaced by the U.S., which was later taken into the U.S. 14th Air Force. The 23rd FG later achieved similar combat success, while continuing to have the "nose art" and nickname of the volunteer unit. http://air-combat.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_flying_tigers |
||
 |
||
