[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE FLYING TIGERS

                                  _____
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 18, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on March 28, China will open the doors 
to a new museum in Chongqing. The museum will be dedicated to a group 
of American fighter pilots and heroes. The group was originally called 
the American Volunteer Group, though they are now famously referred to 
as the Flying Tigers.
  Known for the shark face art on the nose of their planes, the Flying 
Tigers were a group of volunteers that fought alongside the Chinese in 
their defense against the Japanese at the beginning of World War II. 
The group was formed by Claire Chennault, a retired U.S. Army Air Corps 
Lieutenant General from Commerce, Texas, with permission from President 
Roosevelt himself. The Flying Tigers were comprised of over 100 pilots 
who hailed from the United States Army Air Corps, the Navy, and the 
Marine Corps.
  Before the creation of the Flying Tigers, Chennault was in China 
working as an aviation advisor to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and as 
the director of a Chinese Air Force flight school in Kunming. In 1941, 
Chiang Kai-Shek sent Chennault to Washington to obtain a war-time loan 
and some fighter planes, but Chennault came back with much more than 
that.
  With directions from the President and in accordance with the 
Generalissimo, Chennault headed out to recruit pilots to volunteer with 
him in China. Since the United States was not yet at war, this all had 
to be done discreetly.
  These brave men were secretly discharged from their respective units 
and sent to Burma for training. Within four months, the Flying Tigers 
were dropped into the battlefield and instantly made a name for 
themselves.
  One of the most famous Tigers was David Lee Hill, known by his 
comrades as ``Tex,'' due to his South Texas heritage. He's remembered 
as a hero, both in China and back home. He joined the Flying Tigers in 
1941, and was credited with destroying over ten Japanese fighter planes 
in just his first battle in January of 1942. A couple of months after, 
Tex was officially named squadron leader, where he began planning for 
his new position and upcoming missions.
  On May 7th, 1942, the Japanese began building a bridge across the 
Salween River that would allow them to easily move troops and supplies 
into China. However, much to the chagrin of the Japanese, Chennault and 
Tex learned of their plan. Tex led a flight to the river with the 
intention of blocking Japanese advancement, and the plan proved 
successful. According to Chennault, this was one of the most critical 
missions the Flying Tigers would go on to accomplish.
  In July of 1942, after many successful combat missions, the Flying 
Tigers were disbanded. Though they're remembered for their successes 
and heroic air battles, their success came with a price. Lacking 
resources that typical U.S. air corps had, such as doctors, nurses, 
fresh food, and maintenance personnel, the Flying Tigers were 
constantly facing setbacks. Wounds were rarely properly treated and the 
threat of disease was constant. Sixteen Flying Tigers gave their lives 
in 1941 and 1942, though not before taking out nearly 300 Japanese 
aircrafts.
  After the deactivation, Tex, and five other former Flying Tigers, 
officially rejoined the United States Army Air Force. On Thanksgiving 
of 1943, Tex led troops into Formosa where they were heavily 
outnumbered by the Japanese. Against all odds, his squadron returned 
home unscathed, despite having downed over 40 Japanese planes.
  Tex left active duty in 1946, but joined the Air Force Reserves 
shortly after, where he would serve until his retirement in 1968 as a 
brigadier general. His career will go down as one of the most 
impressive in United States military history. He's been inducted into 
both the National and Texas Aviation Hall of Fames, and has received 
numerous awards from both the United States and China.
  Tex and his fellow Flying Tigers, such as Claire Chennault, will go 
down in history as one of the most selfless and heroic service groups 
in United States military history. They went to war when they didn't 
have to, to defend a country to which they held no allegiance. The 
selfless acts of the Flying Tigers will forever be remembered, and 
their duty, honor, and character should help guide Americans for years 
to come.
  It's no surprise that many of those feisty, tenacious volunteers were 
from Texas. They would have made the defenders of the Alamo proud.
  And that's just the way it is.

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