Pianma Relics of Hump Airline and the legend of Flying Tigers

About the Flying Tigers
The Flying Tigers were one of the most colorful group in World War II. The volunteer group was formed to protect China from Japan, without entering the war. The Tigers were definitely an essential part in China's struggle against Japanese invaders. The Flying Tigers were led by an American professional aviator, Claire Lee Chennault. The AVG had little supplies. They had a shortage of pilots, fuel, spare parts, and equipment. Though they were at a disadvantage, they still beat all odds. The Flying Tigers were only 28 weeks in combat but they still left their mark.

The Flying Tigers also known as Fei Hu (www.qsl.net/n1jat/fly.html) for sharks teeth, were an American Volunteer Group led by Claire Chennault. On the September of 1941, 300 men and women boarded ships on the west coast and went to Rangoon to begin their training for combat. These people were mostly personnel released from the US Army, Navy, and Marines to volunteer for the AVG(www.wpafb). They consisted of pilots, aircraft mechanics, propeller specialists, doctors, nurses, clerks, and even a chaplain. The reasons why these people wanted to volunteer were to get money to marry on, buy cars, or just to laugh and play on (Boothe, p.4). The volunteers traveled incognito, they disguised themselves as missionaries, planters, circus performers, and the list goes on (npla.org/glory/pbs.html). 100 were to be pilots and 200 were to be ground crew.