80 years on, Flying Tigers spirit still soars

It was a rare and heartwarming sight when a 103-year-old Flying Tigers veteran, Harry Moyer, and a 13-year-old boy, Zane Richie, sat face-to-face and delved into the heroics of US pilots who fought alongside China more than 80 years ago.

"What do you think about the Flying Tigers?" Moyer, who fought throughout World War II, asked gently.

"They're pretty cool," the seventh grader replied, brimming with enthusiasm. "I tell my mom and dad, and most of my friends about them."

"Atta boy!" Moyer shot back. "That's what we have to do. You have to tell everybody. It's up to you guys now."

Moyer, impressed by the "energy and output" of young people like Zane, was visiting Schofield Middle School in Las Vegas, named after a late Flying Tigers pilot, Jack Lund Schofield.

The legendary pilot Moyer, who took to the skies until he was 100, received a warm welcome at Schofield. When the principal announced their guest — an original Flying Tiger pilot — the hall erupted in applause.

Months before, Moyer visited two middle schools in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Yunnan province, both boasting rich Flying Tigers traditions, leaving him deeply touched.

"Flying Tiger means so much more than just a name," Moyer said. "A great friendship was forged then, a bond created between our two peoples at a terrible time in China's history. It's just wonderful this continues all this time."

In 1941 a group of US volunteer pilots fought courageously alongside the Chinese people during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). After the group was dissolved in 1942 members who wished to be were absorbed into the US 10th Air Force and became the nucleus of the China Air Task Force, which was reorganized in 1943 as the 14th Air Force.

Moyer, himself a fighter pilot in the 14th Air Force, had fought in the Mediterranean before arriving on the airfields in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

At Schofield every student knows their school's namesake, Jack Lund Schofield, a bomber pilot of the 14th Air Force based in Yangkai airfield near Kunming in Yunnan province, who became an educator after the war.

"I knew about (the Flying Tigers) the first day I entered the school," said Amia Aromin, a student council member. She understood the significance — the Flying Tigers connects their school to a middle school in China.

"I think it's really interesting to keep the schools in contact through the Flying Tigers and keep the symbol alive and give it to future generations," she said, while helping to show the guests around.

For Samantha Lopez, another student council member, skipping a few classes to help with the tour was worth it.

She also helped prepare a gift for the Chinese school — an artwork crafted with bottles and paper. In return, they received a painting from China — a tiger with wings, bearing the inscription "Long live Chinese-US friendship". It is now on display in the school's cafeteria.

Samantha thought the gesture was "very sweet". "I don't know how often we'll see each other, but that connection is very nice."

And this connection may soon become closer. The Chinese government is inviting more US students to visit China, and 20 students from Schofield may soon embark on a journey to meet their Chinese pals and immerse themselves in their culture.

"I haven't heard much about China, but I'm sure it's amazing," Samantha said. "I'd love to try the food and learn more about their culture."

Principal Terri Knepp confirmed current communication with the Chinese school, with agreements having been made for student exchanges. After permissions from the school districts are granted, she said, Schofield students will be on their way to China.

"We want that young generation's energy to spread out throughout the world," Moyer said, encouraged by the momentum.

With their ranks dwindling, he said, "We need a new generation now to carry that story forward. And it looks like it's in good hands."