Death of last remaining Flying Tiger pilot stirs fond memories

American Volunteer Group helped China fight invading Japanese troops

Dec 13 would have been the 100th birthday of Carl Kice Brown, a Flying Tiger pilot, who passed away peacefully at his home in Corcoran, California, three months ago.

"He had been doing well and then suddenly took a turn for the worse at the end of August and passed Sept 8," one of the late pilot's daughters, Julia, said in an email.

Born in 1917, Brown attended Michigan State University until 1939, when he suspended his studies to join the US Navy.

In 1941, close to 300 young United States citizens registered to join the American Volunteer Group and were deployed to Asia.

Organized and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault, the AVG, which came to be known as the Flying Tigers, was a volunteer band of about 300 pilots and ground staff whose sole purpose was to help China fight invading Japanese troops before the US officially entered World War II.

Through the introduction of his friend Tex Hill, who would go on to become an AVG squadron leader, Brown received an honorable discharge from the navy and signed up for the AVG.

"Most of the pilots were just two to three years out of high school," Brown recalled earlier this year.

Brown participated in the Flying Tigers' first battle on Dec 20, 1941. The fighting took place over Kunming, Yunnan province, and brought down nine Japanese planes.

According to a tribute provided by his family, Brown also took part in a mission over the Nujiang River, during which double ace pilot Bob Little was killed while flying on his wing.

After the Flying Tigers were disbanded in July 1942, Brown flew as a pilot transporting supplies between India and China on a dangerous but crucial airlift route over the Himalayas.

"My father indicated that he was honored to do his duty and help the Chinese people during the war. My father spoke fondly of the Chinese people," his daughter Julia said.

Brown is survived by six children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 1945, Brown returned to the US, resumed his undergraduate medical studies, and graduated in 1946. He went on to receive a master's degree in the 1950s and a doctorate in the '80s.

"Carl Brown was a great friend of my late husband," said Lydia Rossi, wife of late ace pilot Dick Rossi.

"Whenever Dick had a medical question he would call Carl and get an educated and helpful answer. They would talk on the phone to each other every month and keep abreast of what was going on in each other's lives," she said.

"Carl was a man who took his own path in life and did not concern himself with doing the latest popular thing. He was his own man, but he respected others."

From December 1941 to July 1942, the Flying Tigers shot down 299 planes in more than 50 battles against the Japanese, forcefully defending critical air space on China's rear front. Their bravery underpins a celebrated chapter in China-US friendship.

Brown's daughter Julia said she is proud that the US stood up to help and sent the Flying Tigers to work with the Chinese people.

Most of the Flying Tigers have now passed away - not in battle, but from old age. Squadron crew chief Frank Losonsky, 97, is now the last surviving Flying Tiger.