'Flying Tigers' transport plane arrives in Kunming

A C-47 aircraft made in 1944 is seen at Kunming Changshui International Airport, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct 15, 2016. The C-47 departing from Australia in August successfully flied across "the Hump" to arrive at Kunming on Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua]

KUNMING - A transportation plane once used by the "Flying Tigers" arrived in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province on Sunday.

The plane, a C-47 airTrain, which was manufactured in 1944, traversed the hazardous "hump route" over the Himalayas to raise money to repair the blindage once used by Clair Lee Chennault, the leader of the "Flying Tigers," a U.S. air squadron that helped the Chinese fight the Japanese during World War II.

The plane departed from Australia in August and has made stops in several countries.

It currently has five crew members, including two from the United States and three from Australia. Their average age is above 70 years old, each boasting vast experience of flying the plane.

The plane will eventually fly to Guilin, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where a heritage park for the "Flying Tigers" has been established.

The American Volunteer Group, which was given the moniker the "Flying Tigers" afterwards, was formed in 1941.