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[Hadamar Decker]

BIRTH OF A MYTH

It's the end of 1941 in Toungoo, Burma. Listen; you can hear the tinkling of temple bells. The melody carries through rustling bamboo bushes and heavy, flamboyant flowers, out to the fiery flight line where a young pilot was busy daubing the nose of his machine. The job finished, Eric Shilling steps back a little to admire his work. The idea crossed his mind during an exotic meal with his missionary neighbor. There, Shilling uncovered a journal with a photograph of a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt 110 stationed far away in the Mediterranean, named "Haifischgruppe" or Shark group. He rushed to adorn his Curtiss P-40 with the same gaping jaws. Above the double teeth rows he painted a menacing eye at both sides. Satisfied with the result, he left the field determinedly and returned with a svelte tanned man, sporty and with a piercing glance. The newcomer stepped back, observed the work from various angles and grinned approvingly.
Shilling said he wanted it as a symbol for his flight. But his companion, Claire Lee Chennault, thought it better to equip all the squadron P-40’s with the same sign.

CLAIRE LEE CHENNAULT

It is impossible to relate the story of Claire Lee Chennault and the Flying Tigers without backtracking to the beginning of the adventure of this man who shaped the destiny of all he encountered. Chennault was a Captain in the U.S.A.A.F. and he didn't enjoy a very good reputation.

"The Flying Trapeze team"
Why? First, he tended to speak up when others kept silent. Secondly, he was prominent in developing particularly dangerous acrobatic maneuvers dubbed "Three men on a flying trapeze". It was not a circus act but a military exercise. Indeed, Claire Lee Chennault and his two partners Haywood S. Hansell and Luke Williamson, in the mid-thirties, were convinced that the future of fighter combat was not in the solo duels of by-gone knights, but in the joint action of a cohesive closely knit team. They had established a series of back-to-back maneuvers in which the three fighters executed the high ‘G’ turns while staying packed together, so they could combine their fire power and provide defensive cover for each other. In those days, magnificent aerial shows were allowed to be organized, but fighting was considered an individual pursuit, every man for himself. So our three musketeers were distained by their peers. While Hansell and Williamson left for China as expert instructors in 1936, Capt. Chennault was bored stiff, without hope of promotion.

CHENNAULT IN CHINA

March 1937, Captain Chennault received another letter from his friends serving in China, inviting him to join them. Chennault was tempted but he hated to leave his country, wife and eight children. Several weeks later he received an official letter signed by Mrs. Chiang Kai-Shek offering him the job of instructor of the Chinese air force with a salary of $1000/month (three times more than his wage were then) and all the facilities for establishing a report on the Chinese air force. This time, Chennault accepts, and at age 46, he signed a request for early retirement.
He embarks on the SS "President Garfield" bound for the Far East.
The old team of the flying trapeze worked like mad many months to establish the kernel of a Chinese Air Force, but the task was arduous and extremely unsatisfying, the more so because they were forced to retreat by the Japanese advances. Sometimes the Chinese pilots scored a local victory, but the fight was unequal.

HIRING PILOTS

Months go by, and in early August, 1938, Claire Lee Chennault starts establishing an international squadron composed of jobless civil pilots, flying adventurers in search of exploits, idealistic dreamers, and joy stick cowboys from various social backgrounds. However, this group has no true warplanes and that bothered Claire Lee Chennault a lot. The route to a solution, although full of pitfalls, was solved through diplomatic horse trading between the English, Sweden who agreed to abandon 100 machines, and William Pawley, representing Curtiss-Wright in Asia. The latter was commissioned to be responsible for receiving the Curtiss fighters in Rangoon, their assembly, their equipment and supply. The total cost for China was $ 8,900,000.00. The basis for the hiring of pilots remained undefined because the smallest slip-up might lead to major diplomatic problems. An airtight legal framework was needed to obtain the aspiring mercenaries. Again, William Pawley intervened. He proposed that C.A.M.C.O. serve as a cover for recruiting the volunteers. For the outside world, the squadrons would be "special training units". The volunteers were "instructors" and Claire Lee Chennault supervisor.

Using those conditions, recruitment visits start in April 1941, to most bases of the US Navy, U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps to entice potential candidates. Contracts would be for one year, and possibly renewable. Candidates are explained that in reality they will fight the Japanese in China, but to compensate for the risk, they'll be paid the high monthly salary of $600 for an ordinary pilot, $675 for a patrol leader, and $750 for a squadron chief. In addition they'll receive $ 500 for each enemy plane downed.

DEPARTURE OF THE VOLUNTEERS

The first batch of the volunteers left July 7, 1941 embarking on the Dutch passenger boat "Jaegerfontaine". The volunteer pilots present a mixed bag of motivations. There are those who don't want any more “red tape” of the military service, some were dreaming of epic fights, excited about fighting in the mysterious Far-East, and others hoping to actually help the hapless Chinese; some flee personal problems and others would do anything for the money. However, most hail from well-known families. David Lee Hill son of a missionary, James H. Howard was son of a doctor, both with experience in the Middle East. Just a few agitators manifested themselves as mischief-mongers. Among them was a man, aged 28, who made a bad name for himself: Gregory Boyington, who came with the second batch August 26. He was much amused by the missionary passport he was issued.
The group reached Rangoon in September 1941. Along the way, in Batavia and Singapore, Boyington and some of his buddies wrecked havoc in bars and nightclubs. Having celebrated their arrival in the Silver Grill, the only watering hole in this taut British colony, they continued their journey by train 265 km northward, to the air base of Toungoo, training site of the RAF pilots.

[Hadamar Decker]

A TROUBLESOME SITUATION

China's position against Japan had deteriorated since 1938. One after the other, all ports became occupied by the Japanese, and after the fall of Hainan Island, their lock on this huge territory was almost complete. Feeling the heat, in October 1938, the Chinese government started building a long road through the southern foothills of the Himalayas connecting Kunming with Lashio in Burma, and China with the outside world through the port of Rangoon. More than 200 000 coolies work on this humongous project, soon known as the "Burma road". July 1941, the first pilots of the American Volunteer Group (A.V.G.) arrive in Rangoon, and continue by train to Toungoo. There, the conditions were so precarious that a number of them talked about abandoning the project. But Chennault, back from Chungking, managed to convince everybody to stay. Finally, the training could begin!

PREPARING FOR COMBAT

At a maddening pace, Chennault conveys his experience, knowledge, and fighting insight to these men who discover a surprisingly young boss, awfully dynamic and demanding as well as appealing. But the all-out intensive training wears men and material, leading to some major events. Three deadly accidents occur during the training. The mechanical wear and lack of spare parts are such that it's decided to cannibalize irreparable planes.
The most experienced pilots aren't free of accidents. One funny pilot jokingly painted five American flags on the body of his plane; one for each machine lost, he was flying his sixth almost with the spirit of a Japanese ace.

Claire Lee Chennault spread his men over three groups named "Adam and Eve" (No 1 to 33), "Panda Bear" (No 34-66) and "Hell's Angels" (No 67-99). The famous Curtiss P-40 of Chennault squadron was considered out-dated by the pundits even before it entered mass-production in 1939. The A.V.G. was equipped with a later version, the P40 C, also used by the American Army. Its drop tanks, heavy armor and guns left the plane without maneuverability or climbing speed, but conversely provided a prodigious diving speed."Use your diving potential" Claire Lee Chennault advised his men. In the beginning this procedure had very good results.

FIRST FIGHT FOR THE A.V.G.

After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese assailed the Philippines and Singapore. Then they unleashed their offensive in Burmese territory from the Thai frontier, particularly menacing the city of Rangoon. December 20th, 1941, Chennault's warning system reported enemy planes approaching from Hanoi, 500 km southeast of Kunming. Immediately, Chennault ordered the majority of the "Panda Bears" Squadron machines to take off, while the others remained in reserve, with the "Adam & Eve" Squadron. For a year the Japanese had bombed Kunming unopposed, so they didn't expect any resistance this time. They were quite surprised when they found themselves at 50 km from the town, against planes with menacing shark jaws. Profiting from their impressive diving speed, the American P-40 attacked the ten twin-engined Mitsubishi ki-21, spitting fire from all their machine-guns. Supported by the reserve forces they downed nine Japanese bombers; the last one staggering, shifted course back to Hanoi, closely followed by Edward F. Rector. In the heat of the action he pursued the bomber till his tanks ran dry causing him to crash. He survived, this being the only los of the squadron's first battle. The grateful Chinese named the valorous American mercenaries "Fei Hou" or "Flying Tigers".

December 23rd, three days after the victory of the Tigers over Kunming, the battle of Rangoon started with a heavy attack of the Japanese air force. Led by Arvid Olson, the "Hell's Angels" group hurriedly took off from Mingaladon Airfield to face the Japanese machines. In the first wave there were 18 Nakajima bombers, followed by 30 other bombers escorted by 20 Nakajima ki-27 fighters. Facing them, the A.V.G. dispatched 16 P-40 and the R.A.F. 20 Brewster Buffalos. In the tropical sky and over the majestic spire of the Shwe dagon pagoda a full-scale battle erupted.
Hidden by bananas, under the verandas of bungalows, in the rose-bushes or on the promenade along the Strand Hotel, thousands of bystanders, a drink in their hands, watched the tiny machines - power diving planes made a deafening noise. No one could tell the score.

As ordered by Claire Chennault, the Flying Tigers made their first passes two at a time. Kenneth Jernstedt downed a bomber with the first shots of his machine-guns. A Japanese shot Henri Guilbert down, thereby initiating the list of victims among the A.V.G. Charles Older rapidly finished two bombers, but one of them exploded, throwing the P-40 of Neil Martin out of control. It plunged straight to the muddy river. Edward Overend and Robert Smith added two victories to the A.V.G. score. Paul Greene, chased by two ki-27, had to jump his burning plane under enemy fire. He managed to land unharmed but his chute was riddled with bullets. With their fuel running out, the Japanese ended the battle and returned to Bangkok, but their bombers had set afire the docks of Rangoon. They lost six bombers and ten fighters. At their side, the British and the A.V.G. suffered the destruction of only five Brewster Buffalos and four P-40’s.

Four days later, on Christmas Day, the Japanese returned. Sixty bombers escorted by twenty fighters showed up in successive waves. But an A.V.G. patrol had alerted the squadron leader Olson about their approach. This time, a formation of twelve P-40’s waited around Kunming for the arrival of the assailants. Sixteen RAF Brewster Buffalos would join them imminently. It was going to be a great day for Robert "Duke" Hedman.

This quiet and self-effacing pilot teamed up with Charles Older and Thomas Haywood charged with intercepting the first bomber wave; the three men downed one machine each. Joining the fight, the "Flying Tigers" reduced five more opponents to nothing. Then Hedman assaulted the second wave and downed a Ki-27 fighter, two bombers and another fighter, earning himself five victories in a single sortie. A mercenary had become the first American ace of the war in Asia.

From twenty Nakajima fighters and sixty bombers employed that day, the Japanese lost nine and fifteen machines respectively. On the other side, nine Brewster Buffalos and only 2 P-40 were destroyed. Bill Pawley, the C.A.M.C.O. president, among thousands of onlookers, had been present at the battle. He put on a feast for the Flying Tigers with ham, chicken, cool beer and Scotch whisky. The pilots roared with laughter when two of their comrades after being shot down that day reappeared safely. Ed Overend had been recovered by peasants after crashing in a pond, and Georges McMillan had returned with an ox-cart after an unfortunate chute landing wounded his ankle.

FALL OF RANGOON

After their December defeats, the Japanese abstained from bombing Kunming, China. But Rangoon was another story. The Japanese infantry wiped out the British forces on the banks of the Sittang and then prepared for invading the Burmese capital. Daily aerial attacks on the town followed one upon the other. Valorously, the A.V.G. intervened during two months helped by the R.A.F. or rather its remnants. But the Japanese had developed tactics for countering the Flying Tigers. Henceforth, victories of the mercenaries required very tough fighting, and they were insufficient to win the battle of Burma. Rangoon finally ceded under the strokes of the Japanese forces. The end of February, 1942, hordes of soldiers camped at the city gates ready for the final assault.

THE END OF THE FLYING TIGERS

Spring 1942, the Flying Tigers felt tired and frustrated. They were still waiting for new material and equipment promised on arrival of the American army in China and Burma. Worse, the A.V.G. was to be absorbed by the U.S.A.A.C. under General W. Stillwell and later General Clayton Bissell. When he tried to order escort missions of British Blenheim bombers, the Flying Tigers revolted. David "Tex" Lee Hill pointed out to his comrade that the US were at war with Japan and implored them to not turn their backs on their homeland. When he learned that the Flying Tigers refused to sign up with the Air Force, Bissell ordered Chennault to assemble the A.V.G. pilots. After his speech, the Flying Tigers answered with a unanimous "no!" Chennault realized the game was over. War-weary, waiting for an elusive leave, refusing orders from Bissell, most Tigers preferred to quit. Only five of them stayed. On July 4th, 1942, the A.V.G. ceased to exist.

In seven months fighting, the Flying Tigers had destroyed 296 planes at a loss of 24 of theirs (14 in action and 10 by accident or bombing).