Photo exhibit pays homage to Flying Tigers

Descendants of the Flying Tigers, along with US and Chinese officials and World War II history activists, gathered last week in San Francisco, the United States, to open a new photo exhibition that honors the historic bond between the US and Chinese peoples during their joint fight against fascism in World War II.

The exhibition, titled Sino-American Friendship — Flying Tigers in Guangxi, was organized by the Guangxi Department of Culture and Tourism. The event runs to Sunday at the WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall in San Francisco Chinatown.

Featuring 29 panels of historical photographs, the exhibition highlights the heroic contributions of the Flying Tigers, a US volunteer group that aided China during its War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

The images also reflect the deep friendship forged between the two nations as they stood shoulder to shoulder during one of the most turbulent periods in modern history.

The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was a strategic location for the Flying Tigers, who operated from bases in cities including Guilin and Liuzhou. From there, they launched daring bombing raids on Japanese targets in Guangzhou, Wuhan, Hainan and beyond — crippling supply lines and bolstering China's resistance while contributing to the global fight against fascism.

Charlene Fontaine, a descendant of a Flying Tigers veteran, shared personal stories passed down from her father.

She emphasized the often-overlooked bravery of the Chinese people. "When we said how much our dads did to help save China, my father always said it was the courage and resilience of the Chinese people that saved them," she recalled.

Wei Jiang, deputy director of the Guangxi Department of Culture and Tourism, highlighted stories of American pilots rescued by Chinese villagers who risked their lives to shelter them from enemy forces.

Wei announced that a larger and more comprehensive exhibition on the Flying Tigers will open in September in Liuzhou. He invited descendants of the Flying Tigers in the US to contribute historical materials and visit.

Local elected officials also attended the April 21 opening ceremony. "We're here to honor the men, the women, and the history of an incredible event," said Danville Vice-Mayor Newell Arnerich. "History is something that we need to learn from and it guides us to our future."

San Francisco Supervisor Chyanne Chen praised the exhibit as "a valuable live classroom".

"The US-China relationship is important, and remembering the sacrifices of those who fought for peace is something we must continue to honor," she said.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of World War II.In conjunction with the USS Hornet Museum; the Carter Center; the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies; the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation; and others, the WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall has witnessed a series of events kick off. Including exhibitions, forums and a short video competition, the events will run to August.

Commemorative reception

At a reception commemorating the 80th anniversary, held at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC in late March, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng delivered a keynote speech.

Eighty years ago, General Claire Lee Chennault led a group of brave Flying Tigers who risked their lives and flew to China, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Chinese people, for the common goal of defending peace and upholding justice. Their feats made significant contributions to the victory in World War II, Xie said.

He emphasized that the commemorative event was held to remember history, inherit the precious wealth of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples, draw wisdom and strength for the advancement of Sino-US relations, and pave the way for a brighter future for both countries and the world.

As Sino-US relations reach a crucial juncture, it is essential to remember the past and move forward on the right path, Xie noted.

He expressed hope that the US would learn from historical wisdom, listen to the voices of the people, engage with China in mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and jointly navigate the correct path for Sino-US relations in the new era.

He called for the emergence of more "Flying Tigers" in the new era, who would enhance the relationship between the two countries.

Close bond

During 1941-45, the Flying Tigers killed more than 66,700 Japanese soldiers, shot down more than 3,000 enemy planes, transported 800,000 metric tons of supplies, and sent more than 30,000 soldiers to the battlefield, according to Zhu Xinchun, author of The Flying Tigers, a book inspired by the US pilots' stories.

Another fact that shouldn't be overlooked is that Chinese civilians offered almost everything they had to make those pilots' living and working conditions the best among all US pilots deployed overseas. The intelligence support system and ground ambulance services also led globally, Zhu said.

Data from the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries show that more than 200 members of the Flying Tigers were saved by Chinese troops and civilians during wartime and thousands of Chinese people sacrificed their lives in such rescues.

Nell Calloway, Chennault's granddaughter, said she always remembers the closing sentence in her grandfather's book Way of a Fighter in 1949. It says: "It is my fondest hope that the sign of the Flying Tigers will remain aloft just as long as it is needed on both shores of the Pacific as the symbol of two great peoples working toward a common goal in war and peace."

Xinhua contributed to this story.