The Flying Tigers

The Flying Tigers. 14th Air Force. , The Flying Tigers blazed their way to glory over the skies of Burma and China in World War II. Retired Army Air Corps Captain and Air Advisor to China, Claire Lee Chennault, organized the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in early 1941 to defend the Burma Road, the lifeline to China. Flying P-40 Warhawks, the AVG compiled a record unequalled in air combat, destroying 299 enemy planes in the air with loss of 12 of their own. In tribute to their daring and skill, the Chinese named the Americans the Flying Tigers., When the AVG was disbanded on July 4th, 1942, it became the nucleus for the Army Air Corps’ Air Task Force using AVG planes and equipment and some of its personnel. On March 10, 1943, the China Air Task Force became the 14th Air Force. Chennault, promoted to Major General, commanded the Flying Tigers from their inception until July 1945. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant General., As the war progressed, more modern fighter planes replaced the P-40 and medium and heavy bombers were added to the Allied Air Fleets in China., In over three years of operation the United States 14th Air Force lost 500 planes from all combat causes while destroying 2600 enemy planes and probably destroying 1500 more; sank and damaged 2,230,000 tons of enemy merchant shipping, 44 naval vessels, 13,000 river boats, knocked out 573 bridges, destroyed thousands of tons of supplies and many thousands of enemy troops., This monument is dedicated to the memory of those American airmen, support and service personnel, and our gallant Chinese allies of the Republic of China, who served so valiantly and sacrificed so much in the cause of freedom., The China Air Raid Warning System , The three balls shown at the top of the monument beneath the P-40 depict the air raid (Ching Pao) warning system used in China in world war two. Warnings of possible air raids were received from a network of telephones operated by volunteer spotters. When enemy planes were spotted 150 miles away the first Red Ball was hoisted on a tall pole, a gong sounded, and our fighters alerted for take-off. At 100 miles 2 balls went up and a third ball meant urgent… take shelter. At night candles were put inside the balls., Conceived, funded and erected by the , Flying Tigers of the , 14th Air Force Association , Dedicated July 10th 1992