Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

The relationship between Yunnan and the Flying Tigers

Yunnan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On September 12, 2023, President Xi Jinping responded to a letter to Green, Chairman of the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, and Flying Tigers veterans Moyer and McMullen, stating, “Looking back on the past, the people of China and the United States shared the same hatred and suffered in the fight against Japanese fascism. We survived the test of blood and fire and forged a profound friendship." This reply letter brings people back to the turbulent war-torn years more than 80 years ago and witnesses the "Flying Tiger Friendship" jointly written by the people of China and the United States.

The full name of the "Flying Tigers" is the Chinese Air Force's American Volunteer Air Force to China (referred to as the American Volunteer Air Force). It is famous for its winged flying tiger emblem and shark head-shaped fighter planes. Its nickname "Flying Tigers" is also a household name.

On August 1, 1941, the American Volunteer Air Force was formally established, headquartered in Kunming, with Chennault as commander. On December 20, the American Volunteer Air Force conducted its first air battle against Japan in Kunming. Three of the 10 Japanese bombers were shot down and burned on the spot, while another six made an emergency landing and crashed on their way out of the Sino-Vietnamese border. The American Volunteer Air Corps made a splash with a record of 9:0. At that time, almost everyone in Kunming witnessed this air battle. People cheered and ran around telling each other to celebrate the victory.

The American Volunteer Air Force was later renamed the 14th Air Force. In addition to assisting in the formation of the Chinese Air Force to fight against Japan, it also assisted in flying over the Himalayas and transporting strategic supplies from India to China to break through the Japanese blockade. This air channel is the famous "Hump Route".

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In the summer of 1942, the Japanese army cut off the China-Burma Highway, the last link between the Allied forces and China, and all material transportation was interrupted. Since there are no sea and land passages, air routes can only be opened. The "Hump Route" starts from Assam in India in the west to Yunnan and Sichuan in China in the east, passing through the Himalayas, Gaoligong Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, Salween River, Nujiang River, Lancang River and Jinsha River. The total length of the route is 800 kilometers. Most of the terrain is between 4,500 and 5,500 meters above sea level, with the highest altitude reaching 7,000 meters. The mountains are undulating like the back of a hump, hence the name "Hump Route". This route has dangerous terrain and harsh weather, making flying difficult and accidents often occur.

The opening of the "Hump Route" not only shattered the Japanese army's large-scale aggression and blockade, but also set a precedent for large-scale airlift to support huge battlefields, playing an important role in stabilizing the Asian battlefield and mankind's anti-fascist rule and aggression. According to official U.S. data after the war, the U.S. Air Force airlifted 800,000 tons of various strategic materials to China during the airlift to China that lasted for three years and one month. The U.S. Air Force lost a total of 468 aircraft on the "Hump Route", and a total of 1,579 pilots and crew members were killed or missing.

During World War II, five American "Flying Tigers" pilots rescued by the New Fourth Army took a group photo at the New Fourth Army station (file photo, taken in August 1944).

The U.S. Air Force aiding China made great contributions and sacrifices to China's anti-fascist war. For the selfless dedication of the US military pilots, the Chinese people, especially the people of Yunnan, are grateful and sincerely repay them with simple friendship. At that time, the people of Yunnan, who had no clothes to wear and no food to eat, devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the construction, expansion and reconstruction of airports. In a short period of time, Chenggong, Zhanyi, Xiangyun, Baoshan, Xundian, There are more than 30 airports including Mengzi. The US military pilot who crashed in Yunnan received selfless help from the local people. The surviving team members were successfully transported to Kunming by governments at all levels with the protection of the people; the remains of the victims were also transported back to the United States against all odds with the care and support of all sectors of society. In the test of blood and fire, the Flying Tigers and the people of Yunnan shared the same hatred and depended on each other for life and death, and forged a deep friendship.

Flying Tigers is a memory that travels through history and a hope that spans the Pacific. The story of the Flying Tigers is widely spread in Yunnan, and the spirit of the Flying Tigers has been passed down from generation to generation and has become a valuable spiritual wealth for Sino-US cooperation.

From November 2 to 3, 2023, Green, Chairman of the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, and Flying Tigers veterans and descendants visited Kunming, Yunnan. Source: Xinhua News Agency

In November 2023, a delegation from the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, Flying Tigers veterans and their families took a group photo with the cast and crew after watching the musical "The Rainbow" about the history of the Flying Tigers in Kunming. Photo courtesy of Yunnan People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On November 3, 2023, General Chennault's granddaughter Jia Lanhui (left) and Flying Tigers veteran Moyer (right) took the stage to sing the song "Auld Lang Syne" with teachers and students during a visit to Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School. Source: Xinhua News Agency

In November 2023, Green, Moyer, McMullen and General Chennault's granddaughter Jia Lanhui and others visited Kunming and visited the Kunming Municipal Museum Flying Tigers Memorial Hall, the former site of the US Air Force Hostel that aided China, the former site of Chenggong Airport, and the Flying Tigers Chenggong Memorial Hall. Relive the "Hump Spirit" with the teachers and students of Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School at the old residence and Flying Tigers-themed restaurant, plant a Sino-US friendship tree together, enjoy the Flying Tigers-themed opera, and sing Auld Lang Syne.

In April 2024, at the invitation of the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, the Yunnan Provincial Friendship Delegation went to the United States to attend the "Remembering the Heroes-Flying Tigers and Doolittle Squadron Photo Exhibition, the Fifth China-U.S. World War II Friendship Forum, and Yunnan Province Donations "Shi Nianzi Exhibits 20th Anniversary Ceremony" series of activities in the United States, using Shi Nianzi's "little story", the "small photo album" of Flying Tigers veterans' visit to Yunnan and the "small cards" handmade by students to string together the strong "Flying Tigers" Affection".

At the former site of Chenggong Airport in Kunming, Yunnan, the delegation listened to the commentator tell the story behind the stone mill. Chenggong Airport was once one of the main bases of the Flying Tigers in Kunming. During the construction of the airport, local people worked hard to smooth the runway with huge stone mills. Lingling Liu/photo

"The hope of Sino-US relations lies in the people, the foundation lies in the people, and the future lies in the youth." Today, the "Flying Tigers Friendship School and Youth Leaders Program" is playing an increasingly important role in Sino-US people-to-people friendship. Kunming Foreign Language School, Dali Prefecture Xiangyun No. 2 Middle School, International Leadership School in Dallas, Texas, and the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding on the "Flying Tigers Friendship School". Each school will exchange visits, knowledge competitions, pen pal exchanges, and summer camps. , sports events and other forms to inherit and carry forward the spirit of the Flying Tigers. American teenagers have come to Yunnan to participate in activities such as the Chinese Bridge-"Flying Tigers" theme American teenagers coming to China summer camp, Yunnan International Sister Cities Youth Exchange Week, etc., to appreciate and inherit the Flying Tigers spirit that symbolizes cooperation and friendship, and to experience "there is something called "Life in Yunnan", experience the comprehensive and real China and Yunnan in person.

A new generation of Flying Tigers storytellers and inheritors continue to join in, vividly practicing "let the spirit of the Flying Tigers be passed down from generation to generation between the people of the two countries."