Learning keeps us energized forever

In 1941, members of the American Flying Tigers traveled thousands of miles to China to jointly resist the Japanese invaders with the Chinese military and civilians. During the operation to aid China, the Flying Tigers destroyed more than 2900 enemy planes, sank and destroyed 44 Japanese merchant ships and naval vessels with a total weight of 2.23 million tons, killed 66700 Japanese soldiers, and 2193 American Flying Tigers sacrificed their precious lives in the battle. In addition, the members of the Flying Tigers team were not afraid of bad weather and steep mountains, and participated in the opening of the "Hump Route" known as the road to hell, making important contributions to the transportation of military and civilian supplies and troops for the Chinese military and civilians in the fight against Japan.

The rescue "blood talisman" carried by members of the Flying Tigers team.

At that time, every member of the Flying Tigers team walked towards the fighter jet knowing that they might never be able to return. They all carry a "blood symbol" with the words "come to China to assist foreigners, provide military and civilian rescue", which is also a life and death contract between the members of the Flying Tigers team and the Chinese military and civilians. Once a distressed American pilot is found, everyone will spare no effort to rescue him.

In 1942, under the protection of the Chinese military and civilians, 64 members of the Flying Tigers team who participated in the Doolittle air raid were successfully rescued. The Japanese army launched a frenzy of retaliation, resulting in the deaths of 250000 Chinese soldiers and civilians. But even in the face of such a death threat, the Chinese military and civilians have never retreated.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chinese migrant workers carried stones by hand and carried stones on their shoulders to build airports.

During the operation of the Flying Tigers in aiding China, the Chinese military and civilians cooperated closely. General Chennault once wrote in his memoirs, "Although the facilities of Chinese airports are very rudimentary, their ability to withstand attacks is top-notch. No matter how many large craters the Japanese blow up on the runway, those hardworking Chinese laborers can always repair and level these craters within a few hours without affecting operations... The Chinese sentinels responsible for defending the aircraft refused to leave their posts even in the event of Japanese airstrikes, and were ultimately killed there..."

In addition to building the airport, in order to enable the Flying Tigers to accurately bomb Japanese facilities in Hong Kong, soldiers such as Huang Guanfang from the Hong Kong Ninth Brigade of the Dongjiang Column always climbed Guanyin Mountain with camera equipment before dawn, taking clear photos of military locations such as the Causeway Bay arsenal from an excellent angle, providing important reference for the US military's precise strikes.

During the Anti Japanese War, there were countless scenes that reflected the close military civilian cooperation between China and the United States. As the veteran of the Flying Tigers said, in the world anti fascist war, China and the United States formed a bond of blood and honor.

The smoke of World War II has long dissipated, but China and the United States have been closely cooperating to search for the remains of the US military aid to China during World War II. In 1993, villagers in Bomi County, Xizang found the C-87 transport plane and the remains of five American pilots when they were hunting. After the on-site investigation and confirmation by the Sino US joint expert group, the two countries held a grand handover ceremony for the remains of American pilots, and then US President Clinton personally welcomed the coffin.

Later on, many American Flying Tigers veterans who had previously carried out the "Hump Route" mission came to China to search for the bodies of their comrades and relatives, as well as the wreckage of plane crashes. The Chinese government and local residents fully cooperated and provided them with assistance.

Many folk forces, inspired by the spirit of the Flying Tigers, actively participate in it. In 2015, Chinese volunteers raised funds by themselves and walked for 10 days and 9 nights to reach the glacier no man's land in Xizang at an altitude of 4100 meters. They found 28 skeletons of three American pilots who died 72 years ago. The volunteers said that no matter how difficult it is, we must send the hero home.

Photo by Sheng Jiapeng, China News Agency

Among them, Chen Xiangmei, the wife of General Chennault, the founder of the Flying Tigers, and Jay Wenyade, the former pilot of the Hump Route, as international friends and representatives of their families who helped and supported China's resistance against Japan, were awarded commemorative medals.

To this day, the friendship between the Chinese and American people connected by the "Hump Route" has been continuing. Many places in China have built museums and heritage parks for the Flying Tigers, and the descendants of many veteran Flying Tigers have become strong supporters and promoters of the continuous development of Sino US relations.

On September 1, 2023, the themed reception of "Remembering the History of the Flying Tigers and Inheriting the Friendship between China and the United States" was held in Los Angeles. More than 60 people participated, including the US China Aviation Heritage Foundation, Flying Tigers veterans and their families, and local high school teachers and students. Veterans Moye and McMullen of the Flying Tigers deeply recall the history of fighting alongside the Chinese people, expressing that the spirit of the Flying Tigers is immortal and hoping that the younger generation will continue to inherit the friendship and cooperation between the United States and China.

History and reality have proven that cooperation between China and the United States benefits both sides, while conflict harms both. The story of the Flying Tigers is a glorious history of mutual respect and joint defense of justice and peace between the Chinese and American people. It carries the profound friendship forged by the Chinese and American people with their lives and blood, and still has enlightening significance for the present and future.