christ@sci.ccny.cuny.edu (Chris Thompson) (01/08/90)
From: christ@sci.ccny.cuny.edu (Chris Thompson) We rented a video this weekend on fighters in World War II (pretty fair- it was called _Warbirds_). Anyhow, they spoke a bit about the Curtis P-40 Warhawk, and the role it played in China. My question is, what was the status of the American pilots in the Flying Tiger outfit? Volunteers? Mercenaries? Was Gen. Chennault on active duty at the time? Thanks. Chris Thompson --
msmiller@gonzoville.East.Sun.COM (Mark S. Miller) (01/09/90)
From: msmiller@gonzoville.East.Sun.COM (Mark S. Miller) >From: christ@sci.ccny.cuny.edu (Chris Thompson) >We rented a video this weekend on fighters in World War II (pretty fair- it was >called _Warbirds_). Anyhow, they spoke a bit about the Curtis P-40 Warhawk, >and the role it played in China. My question is, what was the status of >the American pilots in the Flying Tiger outfit? Volunteers? Mercenaries? >Was Gen. Chennault on active duty at the time? Thanks. > >Chris Thompson My general recollection is as follows: - Chennault was employed directly by the government of China. - His pilots were sort of both mercenaries and volunteers. A special provision was made so that Chennault could recruit from the US armed forces. Pilots volunteering for this duty would be paid by China and were guaranteed of their original rank on return to the US. - I think it was around mid-43 (fuzzy on the date) when the AVG (American Volunteer Group) was integrated into the USAAF. Chennault returned to active status with the US at this time but most of the original AVG pilots punted on joining up for the whole thing was handled really badly. There are a number of books written by AVG veterans - all are informative and generally quite entertaining. -MSM -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark S. Miller UUCP: msmiller@Sun.COM "In a nation ruled by swine, ################## GEnie: MSMILLER all pigs are upward mobile." ###################################################### - Hunter S. Thompson