On July 17, Guangzhou hosted a welcome reception for the Flying Tigers Legacy Delegation from the United States, as this year marks the 85th anniversary of the Flying Tigers' formation. The event was organized by the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
The 69-member delegation, made up of American students, educators, and young professionals, represents the latest chapter in an exchange program launched in September 2022 by the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation.
The Flying Tigers—the American Volunteer Group—was formed in 1941 under General Claire Lee Chennault to help defend China against Japanese invasion. The name carries deep meaning: on December 20, 1941, when pilots shot down Japanese bombers over Kunming, locals began calling them "Feihudui"—Flying Tigers—drawing on Chinese mythology where the flying tiger symbolizes invincibility.
During the war, countless American airmen lost their lives flying the "Hump"—the perilous air route over the eastern Himalayas—where the U.S. lost 468 aircraft and 1,579 airmen while delivering vital supplies to Chinese forces. To date, the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools initiative has expanded to 25 provinces across China.
In his opening remarks, Li Hongzhi, vice president of the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, highlighted the province's unique historical ties to the Flying Tigers. "General Chennault's wife, Anna Chan Chennault, traced her roots to Foshan in Guangdong, so General Chennault was truly a son-in-law of Guangzhou," Li said.
He also noted that nearly 90 percent of the more than 1,600 Chinese American Flying Tiger volunteers were of Guangdong origin, most of them from Taishan. The people of Guangdong risked their lives to rescue American pilots, a legacy carried forward by the East River Column, a guerrilla force led by the Communist Party of China that rescued numerous downed American airmen. "The Japanese found a Chinese person who was helping an American and killed him immediately—generally, they would kill his family as well," Jeffrey Greene later noted.
The delegation includes brothers Micah Kane Vinyard and Josh Anselm Vinyard, grandsons of the late Jay Vinyard, a legendary Hump pilot with the Air Transport Command, former president of the Hump Pilots Association, and recipient of the Medal of Commemoration for the 70th Anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Jay Vinyard flew 87 round-trip missions over the Hump. Their participation reflects the enduring family ties connecting the two nations.
Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, told the delegation: "You are not just students: you are ambassadors."
Greene, who has accompanied around 500 Flying Tiger pilots back to China over the past 30 years, recalled last year's "Remembering Heroes: The Flying Tigers in Guangdong" exhibition in Guangzhou. During the exhibition, four Guangdong schools were designated as Flying Tigers Friendship Schools, including Taishan No.1 High School, a particularly meaningful choice because many foundation members trace their family roots to Taishan.
"Through the window, you can already see what an incredible experience awaits you," Greene told the students. "We will come back year after year."
Michael Wang, a student representative, described how his understanding of the Flying Tigers legacy had deepened. "Last year was my first time, and I didn't fully understand them," he admitted. After visiting Nanjing and meeting veterans' descendants, however, he realized the program's profound significance. "This opportunity is precious for young people to experience how beautiful China is," he said, thanking Greene for making the program possible.
"As we mark the 85th anniversary, the international situation remains complex," Li observed. "It is precisely at times like these that dialogue and cooperation between our peoples, especially our young people, matter most."
Greene echoed the message, noting that the spirit of Flying Tigers remains as relevant today as it was eight decades ago.
The delegation will spend the next two weeks traveling across China before returning home with memories and insights to share with their parents, friends, and schoolmates.
"Both the Chinese and American people cherish peace and justice," Li concluded. "We firmly believe that with Chairman Greene's leadership and the active participation of the younger generations, we can carry forward the spirit of the Flying Tigers and help strengthen the friendship between our two nations and promote peace in the entire world."
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Photo: Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation
Chen Yunhan (intern) also contributed to this report.
