|
Post by quincannon on Jun 11, 2019 14:13:32 GMT
Recently acquired a book, part of the Smithsonian History of Aviation Series " Flying Tigers" with the sub-title " Clair Chennault And The American Volunteer Group" The book was published in 1991 and is without doubt the best overall history of the Flying Tigers I have ever read. The author is Daniel Ford.
It goes way deep into the area of how the Tigers came about, every sordid and lawless moment of it orchestrated by FDR, and a cast of characters you might only find in "Terry and the Pirates" or "Steve Canyon" comic strips, that is if you go back that far. There is even a Dragon Lady by the name of Olga Greenlaw.
The Tigers were also the genesis of such organizations as Flying Tiger Air Lines, Civil Air Transport (the mercenary air force that supported the French in Indo China), and Air America (the CIA air force).
Excellent book. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
Post by deadwoodgultch on Jun 11, 2019 16:29:38 GMT
|
|
|
Post by quincannon on Jun 11, 2019 18:10:01 GMT
You bet. "God Is My Co Pilot" is a wartime classic. I have not only read it but I have a first edition.
Another really good Tiger Tale is "Flying Tiger's Diary" by R T Smith. Then there is a very rare find "Lady And The Tigers" by Olga Greenlaw. I have a first edition of that in my collection was well.
It must be remembered that the Tiger's were only operational from December 1941 to July 4, 1942, and they were the only "good news" coming out of Asia and the Pacific at the time. They were a damned good fighter group that operated on a shoestring, but their fame which exceeds any American like type organization is far out of proportion because they were that only bit of good news.
I think that the Eagle Squadrons in the RAF were most certainly better pilots, but you did not hear so much about them.
The AVG or more popularly the Flying Tigers were disbanded on 4 July 1942, and some of their personnel and all of their equipment became part of the 23rd Fighter Group. Today that is the 23rd Wing based in Georgia. The Eagle Squadrons were discharged from the RAF in September 1942, and on the same day the 4th Fighter Group was activated in England. They continued flying Spitfires for a couple of months and later transitioned to American aircraft. Today they are the 4th Fighter Wing based in North Carolina.
The 23rd Wing is a composite organization that includes two fighter squadrons and some other (not sure what type) squadrons. They still maintain the Flying Tiger tradition of the sharks teeth on the nose of their aircraft, and if memory serves are the only Air Force unit that has permission to use nose art.
Forgot to mention "Sharks Over China" a first rate history of the 23rd Fighter Group from mid 1942 until the end of the war.
|
|
|
Post by deadwoodgultch on Jun 11, 2019 21:45:40 GMT
|
|