The shark-faced nose art of the Flying Tigers remains among the most recognizable image of any individual combat aircraft or combat unit of World War II. (Picture was from wiki of the 3rd Squadron Hell’s Angels, Flying Tigers over China. photographed in 1942 by AVG pilot Robert T. Smith.)

Following are correspondences between me and Frances (my dear teacher and friend) which contained my personal knowledge and experiences during that period in World War II of battling, fighting for national and personal survival!

*********************** from Frances
I’m hoping you will feel like writing something of your knowledge about the Flying Tigers before the Americans took over in 1942. There seems to be nothing available and that’s a travesty IMHO!! Do you realize you are probably the only one left of that original group, to leave a message? No regrets allowed. A pencil and paper while in bed can sometimes do the trick. Poetry etc…..

*********************** from Bernie
Your sweet Understanding (forbearing, tolerating and forgiving me) did move me and brought my mind back to an unforgettable period of my life !

It was a time of the Pacific War at its hottest and a most critical moment of the National Life of China ! The Japanese were throwing out their last straw in their Invasion in China ! They were concentrating all their armed forces, surrounding the Chinese last defense line at the wartime Capital at Chung-King ! I was among one of those 100,000 Students Volunteers Army who threw down their books and took up their guns at the front lines of defense ! That was what put me in direct contact with the Flying Tigers, which were then reorganized and integrated into the Chinese National 14th Air Force with its Headquarters in Kunming! It was in Kunming where we had our defense training that I was picked to join the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant in the Reconnaissance Section ! Our combat missions were to closely observe and report the Japanese army movements behind the fire lines. Our reconnaissance planes had to fly low down to escape their radar screen! The risks we took were evidenced by the many bullet holes on the plane from the mad ground firing!

I was fortunate to have survived when the War ended with the total surrender of the Japanese in 1945 !

Here I must give credit and applause to Wikipedia for their very factual, and lively article on the Flying Tigers, with detailed records from its Origin to their combats and final victory in the Pacific War ! I’ve read it over and over again to reminisce over whatever it links up with my memories !

You asked me whether I recognize any familiar faces !? Of course there were ! And the most impressive and unforgettable ones were surely the Tiger face of General Claire Chennault and his very pretty Chinese war journalist wife ! I met them and saw them often at the Kunming Air Farce Headquarters ! And I did dance with his pretty wife at one of those Air Force Dance Parties !

That much is about all that I can recall in my personal knowledge with the Flying Tigers ! Together with the awe inspired unique Shark-faced teeth and nose of the Combat Plane as exhibited at the US Air Force Museum !

*********************** from Bernie

Your pleasant message gave me the same dear old feelings of being patted on the shoulders by our wartime boss General Chennault on his visits to our camp ! And tasted like those rare Caviar (one teaspoonful in a small wine glass) flown to us over the Hump (Mt Everest) from India, and served on our meal-tables on our return from a combat flight ! It was such a wonderful feeling and such a wonderful taste ! which were carved onto our hearts and retained for ever on the taste buds of our tongues !! And so are the consoling and flattering words in your message to me now !!

*********************** from Frances

But I AM SO CURIOUS…. what did it feel like to go zipping around those dastardly attackers* and return safely ?

I have read that because the Japanese were so isolated, insular…. they were conditioned to believe the “OUT THERE” world was filled with horrendous monsters who looked like people but in fact even ate children!! Maybe that helps explain the cruelty.

*********************** from Bernie

So, you are Curious to know the feeling I felt (including the feelings of all other fliers out there in that madness of a Sky – filled with death up and down and all around) when we returned safe to our Air Base ???!!!
The feelings, put in a nutshell, were like creeping out of the Mouth of a Killer Whale ! … … returning through the Fire of Hell !!

But, the most unforgettable feeling was not the joy of returning safe, returning with our aircraft not on fire in the tail or wings, or with the fuselage about to break up with severe damages … … This joy of touching down safely on the runway again was minimal when compared with the joy of seeing our Base Service Support Teams (technicians, fire wagons, ambulances, doctors and nursses ..) rushing up to us when our plane finally stopped and cabin doors swung open ! Their jumping joy, their big warm hugs, the tears running down their faces … … Those were the unforgettable Sights and Feelings which gave us New Courage to charge forward body and soul in all future battles to end this War and to bring peace back to our world !!!

After reading my story, dear frances, you may also wish to give me a big warm hug and congratulate me that I didn’t cracked up like Firecrackers in those horrible air battles !

*********************** from Bernie

Thank you dear frances for your tons of Caviar for me and my fellow fliers ! We appreciate and we love your sharing our bitter and sweet memories of the last WAR, in which we had made our
tiny contributions to end the gun smokes and to bring back peace to the world. Even now, as I gazed and gazed at the big blue Sky, I could still see with teary eyes those horrible sights of our planes exploding in mid-air amid those clouds of merciless thundering blinding gun fire. Peace truly had not come easy !