China Honors 2 'Flying Tigers' Veterans

During World War II, the all-volunteer group of American mercenary pilots took on Japanese bombers in its first air combat mission to protect China.

Kimberly Johnson

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 02:57 PM ET

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‘Flying Tigers’ veteran Mel McMullen was honored in Beijing Monday. [Courtesy: China Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Key Takeaways:

Two surviving members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), known as the "Flying Tigers," were honored in Beijing by China Vice President Han Zheng for their vital role in defending China against Japanese expansion in the 1940s.
The Flying Tigers, U.S. mercenary fighter pilots, launched a seven-month campaign in 1941-1942 that reportedly destroyed 297 enemy aircraft, significantly aiding China's war efforts.
The event highlights a historical chapter of U.S.-China collaboration and is seen as an attempt to restore contact and emphasize people-to-people ties amidst current strained diplomatic relations.

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Two surviving members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG)—better known as the “Flying Tigers”—were honored in Beijing at an event attended by China Vice President Han Zheng.

In December 1941, the group of all-volunteer U.S. mercenary fighter pilots launched a seven-month campaign that blocked Japanese expansion into China. By July 1942, the Flying Tigers reportedly had shot down or destroyed 297 enemy aircraft.