In 1941, a large number of young American pilots, under the leadership of General Chennault, formed the American Volunteer Air Force to come to China, and they were affectionately called the "Flying Tigers" by the Chinese people.

Recently, Jeffrey Green, Chairman of the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, and Flying Tigers veterans Harry Moyer and Melvin McMullen visited China with more than 30 descendants of Flying Tigers. On November 11, they came to the Liuzhou Military Museum to reminisce about the past of the war against China at the site of the former Flying Tigers.

In front of a replica of the fighter plane, Clifford Long Jr., a descendant of the American Flying Tigers, stopped for a long time and took out a stack of old photos to look at them repeatedly. Around 1944, his father, Clifford Long, was flying the same fighter in China, and he was familiar to Chinese soldiers because of his "chubby" moon-like face.

Descendants of the Flying Tigers Clifford Long Jr

My father came to China around 1944, when he was 19 years old. When he flew very close to the Chinese soldiers for ground support, they (the Chinese soldiers) recognized him at a glance from the cockpit, and they (the Chinese soldiers) named him Lieutenant "Moon Face". This is a picture of him making a forced landing after being hit, and he luckily survived, so I was able to stand in front of you.

Clifford Long loved his wife so much that he printed her name on the front of the Flying Tigers. Perhaps as a blessing from the darkness, Clifford Long survived a Japanese plane hit.

Today, the former site of the Liuzhou Flying Tigers has been built into the Liuzhou Military Museum, a key cultural relics protection unit in China, and 18 barracks built and used by the Flying Tigers and the Chinese Air Force are preserved in the park. Old photos and objects seem to travel through time and space, silently telling the years of the two countries' joint war of resistance.

During this visit to China, the old photos of "General Flying Tiger" Chennault will always attract the attention of his granddaughter Jia Lanhui. Jia Lanhui said that when Chennault left the United States to aid China, her mother was only 9 years old.

【Period】General Chennault's granddaughter Jia Lanhui

I think there are still many stories about my grandfather's achievements in China. Because he came to China in 1937, the Flying Tigers did not come to China until 1941. He and the Chinese people worked together to build the infrastructure for the coming war. He volunteered to serve China and was appointed commander of the U.S. Volunteer Air Force for China. (How do you feel when you see a picture of your grandfather in the museum?) I'm touched, and it means a lot. This means that many Chinese are grateful for his sacrifice.

Commentary: During China's war against Japan, the Chinese and American peoples withstood the test of blood and fire and forged a profound friendship. More than 200 pilots in distress were rescued, and thousands of Chinese people sacrificed their lives in the rescue operation.

Over the years, Jia Lanhui has been committed to telling the story of the Flying Tigers, and she hopes that in the present, the United States and China can strengthen exchanges and cooperation, just like the life-and-death friendship forged between the two countries on the battlefield.

【Period】General Chennault's granddaughter Jia Lanhui

I think we need to tell the younger generation that we have to remember the history, we have to remember the common bond between the two countries at that time. In times of war, we (the United States and China) think like brothers; And in peacetime, it is our responsibility to build friendship and create a better future for our future generations.

During this visit to China, the veterans and descendants of the Flying Tigers visited Beijing, Chongqing, Kunming, Liuzhou and other places where the Flying Tigers once fought. They hope to encourage more young people from both countries to understand the story of the Flying Tigers and continue their friendship.

Liu Juncong and Lin Xin report from Liuzhou, Guangxi

Editor in charge: [Luo Pan]