The Flying Tigers "come home," they say——

Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries 2023-11-04 17:15 Published onYunnan

From November 2 to 4, a special group of American friends came to Yunnan. They were Jeffrey Green, Chairman of the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, Flying Tigers veterans Harry Moyer and Melvin McMullen, Flying Tigers A delegation from the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation composed of veterans and relatives of the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation.

The U.S. delegation visited Yunnan Province from November 2 to 4.The friendly delegation was led by Flying Tigers veterans Harry Moyer and Melvin McMullen, as well as Jeffrey Greene, Chairman of the SAAHF and the descendants of the Flying Tigers.

On November 3, the delegation took a group photo at Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School.

On November 3, the delegation took a group photo at Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School.

On September 12, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to Green, Moyer and McMullen.The letter mentioned that it is hoped that the spirit of the Flying Tigers can be passed down from generation to generation between the people of the two countries.Encouraged by the reply, the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation organized a delegation to visit China.

The visit to Yunnan was part of a 10-day tour of China by the SAAHF delegation and was inspired by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who responded to a letter from Green, Moyer and McMullen.In his reply letter on September 12, Xi Jinping stated that he hoped that the people of China and the United States could pass on the spirit of the Flying Tigers from generation to generation.

Members of the Flying Tigers pose for a photo in Yunnan during World War II.

American Flying Tigers in Yunnan during World War IImember

The Flying Tigers have deep historical ties with Yunnan.The Flying Tigers were born here. The members of the Flying Tigers used their blood and lives to write an important chapter in the world anti-fascist war together with the Chinese people.

The Flying Tigers, the 14th U.S. Air Force in China, has a special historical connection with Yunnan.The Flying Tigers were born in this province and participated in the worldwide anti-fascist war with the Chinese people about 80 years ago, bleeding and sacrificing their lives.

Among the members of this delegation, Harry Moyer has just celebrated his 103rd birthday, and Melvin McMullen is also 98 years old. The Flying Tigers veterans and their families returned to Yunnan with the purpose of passing on the Flying Tigers. spirit and promote Sino-US people-to-people friendship.

Among the delegation members, Harry Moyer just celebrated his 103rd birthday in China, and Melvin McMullen is 98 years old.The Flying Tigers veterans and their families returned to Yunnan to inherit the Flying Tigers spirit and promote Sino-US people-to-people friendship.

Flying Tigers veteran Harry Moyer, then 103, and 98-year-oldMelvin·McMullen

The two veterans of the Flying Tigers, Harry Moyer and Melvin McMullen, are 103 and 98 years old respectively.

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A photo, a piece of history
Photos that tell history

The Flying Tigers Memorial Hall, the Flying Tigers-themed restaurant, and the former site of the US Air Force Hostel that aided China... During the visit, historical photos brought everyone back to that glorious time.

The Flying Tigers Museum, the Flying Tigers-themed restaurant, the former site of the 14th U.S. Air Force Lodge... During the visit, a series of old photos brought Americans back to the troubled times.

The Flying Tigers photo wall located in the Flying Tigers Memorial Hall of Kunming Municipal Museum

Kunming Museum Kunming Flying Tigers Museum Flying Tigers Photo Wall

Green said that one of the important tasks of the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation is to introduce the story of the Flying Tigers to more people.Over the years, the foundation has been committed to spreading the story of the Flying Tigers, attracting American teenagers to participate in the "Flying Tigers Friendship School and Youth Leadership Program", and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the young people of the two countries.

Green said it is important for SAAHF to tell the story of the Flying Tigers to more people.Over the years, the foundation has been committed to spreading the story of the Flying Tigers, attracting American teenagers to participate in the "Flying Tigers Friendship School and Youth Leadership Program", and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the young people of the two countries.

On November 3, Chennault’s granddaughter Jia Lanhui visitedKunming Municipal Museum Flying Tigers Memorial Hall.

On November 3, Nell Chennault Calloway, the granddaughter of U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault, visited the Kunming Flying Tigers Museum.

"My father came from a small town in Pennsylvania. He was 19 years old that year. He had never flown on a plane or even left his hometown. He participated in the recruitment and flew halfway around the world to China." Relatives of Flying Tigers veterans, Clifford Long Jr., vice chairman of the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, choked up and said that his father often told the story of the Flying Tigers to his family."This experience made him develop a deep relationship with the local people, which he was proud of for the rest of his life!"

"My father was born in a small town in Pennsylvania. When he was 19 years old, he joined the American Volunteer Air Corps and flew halfway around the world to China. Before that, he had never flown on an airplane or left his hometown." said Clifford R. Long Jr., son of a Flying Tigers pilot and vice chairman of the China Aviation Heritage Foundation.

Emotionally, Clifford added that his father would speak with his family aboutThe story of the Flying Tigers."My father's experience in China gave him a deep affection for the Chinese people, and he has been proud of it his whole life!"

RespondentsClifford Long Jr.

Interviewee: Clifford R. Long

Clifford Long Jr. believes that for many Chinese people, the Flying Tigers are already a familiar story.In the future, he hopes that more American teenagers can participate in exchange activities."We live in the same world. When the younger generation understands and cherishes each other, it will create a better world."

Clifford believes that in China, the Flying Tigers are already well known.He hopes that more American teenagers can participate in people-to-people and cultural exchanges in the future."We live in the same world. When the younger generations understand each other and cherish each other, they will work together to create a better world.

The message wall of the Flying Tigers Memorial Hall of Kunming Municipal Museum

Kunming Flying Tigers Museummessage board.

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A book, a wish

A book full of blessings

"This is my first time in Yunnan. I'm very excited to come to the place where my father fought." said Margaret Mills Kincannon, a relative of a Flying Tigers veteran.Not long ago, she just finished a book about the Flying Tigers.It took her about 10 years to write this book, and she consulted a large amount of information. The book records the stories told by her father.She hopes that through this book, more people will understand the story of the Flying Tigers and promote friendship between the people of the United States and China.

"This is my first time in Yunnan. I'm happy to be here where my father fought," said Margaret Mills Kincannon, the daughter of a Flying Tigers veteran.Not long ago, she just finished a book about the Flying Tigers.

It took her about 10 years to write the book, as she consulted a large number of literary sources during the writing process, and the book also recorded stories told by her father.She hopes that this book will allow more people to understand the story of the Flying Tigers and contribute to the friendship between the people of the United States and China.

Interviewee Margaret Mills Kincannon

Interviewee Margaret Mills Kincannon

MagRitter Mills KingCannonWrittenbook recordThe story of the Flying Tigers.

Margaret Mills Kincanno's book tells the story of the Flying Tigers.

"A peaceful and happy life is the common aspiration of the people of China and the United States." said Pete Moyer, Harry Moyer's son.He said the story of the Flying Tigers needs to be known to more people.For the Flying Tigers spirit to be passed down from generation to generation, more dialogue and exchanges between the United States and China are needed.

"A peaceful and happy life is the common aspiration of China and the United States," said Peter Moyer, Harry Moyer's son.Peter added that the story of the Flying Tigers needs to be better understood.For the Flying Tigers spirit to be passed down from generation to generation, more dialogue and exchanges between China and the United States are needed.

Exhibits at the Flying Tigers Memorial Hall

KunMing Flying Tigers Museumexhibits

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a song, a dream

A song that carries dreams

On November 3, the delegation came to Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School, where they visited the Hump Spirit Monument with teachers and students, planted a friendship tree, and watched a performance by the teachers and students of the school and the Yunnan Flying Tigers Research Association Opera Troupe.

On November 3, the delegation visited Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School, where they watched the Hump Route Monument with the teachers and students there and planted trees together to show friendship.The delegation also watched performances by teachers and students of the school and the Opera Troupe of the Flying Tigers Research Association.

The Hump Spirit Monument at Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School

This monument was named "The Eternal Spirit of 'Hump'" by Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School.

On November 3, Chennault's granddaughter Jia Lanhui and 103-year-old Flying Tigers veteran Harry Moyer planted a friendship tree with the school's teachers and students.

Nell Chennault Calloway, granddaughter of Claire Lee Chennault, and

On November 3, 103-year-old Flying Tigers veteran Harry Moyer planted a friendship tree with teachers and students of the school.

On November 3, Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School presented calligraphy works to the delegation.

In November, teachers and studentsSouth Koreaforeign language SchoolSend calligraphy works to the delegation.3.

"Auld Lang Syne..." At the end of the performance, when the song "Auld Lang Syne" sounded, the audience spontaneously sang in Chinese and English with the actors on stage, and many people shed tears of excitement.

The performance ended with the classic Auld Lang Syne, with the audience spontaneously singing along with the actors in Chinese or English.Some even burst into tears from emotion.Southern Province Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

"Today the Flying Tigers veterans are standing in front of us, which means that living history is standing in front of us." Tan Yushan, a student at Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School, said: "The Flying Tigers spirit is a spirit that transcends national boundaries and jointly safeguards a beautiful and peaceful life. This kind of The spirit is worth inheriting and carrying forward no matter what era."

"Today, the Flying Tigers veterans in front of us are a piece of living history for us," said Tan Yushan, a student at Kunming Foreign Languages ​​School."The spirit of the Flying Tigers transcends national boundaries and means working together to protect a beautiful and peaceful life. This spirit needs to be cherished forever.