AVG | American Volunteer Group | "Flying Tigers" | Disney designed patches

[walika]

AVG | American Volunteer Group | "Flying Tigers"

 

In April 1941, American President Franklin Roosevelt issued a secret executive order authorizing reserve officers and enlisted men to resign from the Army Air Corps, Naval and Marine air services for the purpose of serving in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) under the command of Claire Lee Chennault. Chennault divided his unit of 100 P-40 fighters into three squadrons, stationing two in Kunming and the third in Burma to protect China’s passage to the sea.

The AVG first saw combat on December 20, 1941 when ten enemy heavy bombers raided Kunming. AVG fighters intercepted the bombers, shooting down six and damaging three while sustaining no casualties of their own. With the support of Chinese code breakers and signal intelligence, the AVG continued to provide cover for Chinese ground forces and to defend Chinese cities against attacks by enemy bombers. Their exploits garnered them the legendary nickname the Flying Tigers.

 

The original "Flying Tigers" insignia of the AVG was designed in early 1942 by Walt Disney Studios. A Bengal tiger with wings is shown soaring out of a V for victory.

 

 

Theater made. Pilot's scarf. Chinese embroidery. | Walt Disney Studios. Hank Porter from a sketch by Roy Williams.

 

 

 

Theater made. Chinese embroidery in silk, on silk cloth with tinsel bullion details. Early, 1942.

Theater made. Chinese bullion on silk, with metal elements and hand-painted detail. Early, 1942.

 

 

 

The name "Flying Tigers", which is probably the best remembered American air group nickname of World War II -- and indeed of all time -- did not originate within the unit to which it applied, though the origin is uncertain. Daniel Ford, who many consider the world's preeminent AVG historian, believed that it originated in Washington with Chinese Defense Supplies, having been coined by David Corcoran or T. V. Soong.

 

China Defense Supplies, Inc. was the main agency for coordinating Lend-Lease aid to China from the United States. Incorporated in the United States in 1941, China Defense Supplies was an organization of the Chinese government chaired by T. V. Soong, but staffed by Americans and based in Washington, D.C.

In 1941, China Defense Supplies worked to improve transportation over the Burma Road, the main Lend-Lease supply route to China. When the Japanese invasion of Burma in 1942 impeded access to the Burma Road, China Defense Supplies initiated the Emergency Air Transport Program to fly goods from India to China and helped to develop an air transport route over a stretch of the Himalayas nicknamed "The Hump." China Defense Supplies also worked to secure supplies for the American Volunteer Group, also known as the Flying Tigers.

 

In later years, Corcoran used his role in helping to organize the Flying Tigers as an item in his resume -- it was also in the first line of his New York Times and Associated Press obituary in 1990 -- so this is clearly a possibility. One thing is certain: Claire Chennault himself did not coin the phrase, and at first, he was quite mystified by it.

"My men were astonished to find themselves world-famous as the Flying Tigers," Chennault wrote in his memoir. "How the term Flying Tigers was derived from the shark-nosed P-40's I will never know. At any rate we were somewhat surprised to find ourselves billed under that name."

However, an Associated Press item datelined from from Chongqing on January 26, 1942, announced that "the Chinese press bestowed the name of 'Flying Tigers' today on pilots of the American Volunteer Group in recognition of their recent exploits against the Japanese." Indeed, the term was widely used in Chinese newspapers early in 1942. The following day, United press wires carried an item datelined Rangoon that used the term to describe the AVG having escorted RAF bombers against the Japanese. Wherever and with whomever it originated, the name was suddenly everywhere.

 

"Even where the American flyers do not have the latest craft, as along the Burma Road, their superior fighting technique and superior morale still hold. The Burma patrol has been so effective that the Chinese now call its members "Flying Tigers" the name is particularly fitting for the leader of that group. Col. C. L. Chennault has been something of a flying tiger for a long time. Six years ago he headed the Army's team of precision acrobats dizzy throngs with their daring flying at the Army air races at Miami. Retiring from the Army, became air advisor to the Chinese in 1937 and has rallied around him American volunteers of unusual skill and courage. Newspaper account. 30 Jan 1942.

 

While the Flying Tigers name may or may not have originated with David Corcoran or T. V. Soong at China Defense Supplies in Washington, Chennault himself confirmed that the Flying Tigers insignia did -- or at least the order did. The actual artwork, a cartoon tiger jumping out of a V for victory, was one of more than 1200 unit emblems created during World War II by the artists at Walt Disney Productions.

According to Wanda Cornelius and Thane Short, Chinese Defense Supplies approached the Disney organization, where illustrator Roy Williams was assigned the task. Disney caricature specialist Roy Williams drew a winged tiger flying through a large "V" for victory for the AVG. "General Chennault gave me credit for the Flying Tiger insignia in his book 'The Way of a Fighter', Williams said. "But I must give credit where it is due. I did the original idea and rough design but artist Hank Porter drew it up." Each man was personally responsible for dozens of other insignias during the war years.

According to Chennault, the cartoon tiger did not reach the Flying Tigers until early summer, 1942, but AVG pilot Charles Rankin Bond, Jr. (April 22, 1915 – August 18, 2009) mentioned the emblem in his diary on March 12. The bulk shipment of airplane decals and uniform patches, supplied courtesy of China Defense Supplies, probably took a bit longer.

 

Perhaps the genesis of the iconic snarling tiger shark artwork on its aircraft is explained as follows. On 15th November 1941, Charles Bond wrote into his diary of the selection of the most famous aircraft marking in history: "While discussing the world situation over coffee after dinner, I noticed a magazine section of a British newspaper on the table. I was attracted by the picture of an Australian P-40 on the front page that was exactly like ours, but with one exception - the lower nose section around the oil scoop inlets was brightly painted red, white, and green in the shape of a snarling tiger shark, mouth wide open with teeth exposed. Gee!, I'm going to paint my P-40 that way. I discussed it with the others and they thought it was a good idea. Fortunately, Chennault likes the idea as well."

 

Hollywood

"For the second time Republic nabs a hot title "Flying Tigers" no less, which goes before the cameras in a hurry. This is the studio that registered "Remember Pearl Harbor" with the Hays office before any other company could get, and "Flying Tigers" is equally newsworthy. This is the name given to the Yank volunteers who have been giving the jabs plenty of you know what in Burma. Ed Granger, who will produce the picture is trying to borrow John Carroll from MGM for one of the top roles the other going to Republic's own John Wayne." Parsons, Louella O. 2 Apr 1942.

"Agoura, California. May 6. Parked up here in the wilds of Burma (about 40 miles north of Hollywood) today are half a dozen P 40 fighting ships, with a blue Star of China on their wings, ready to give the Japs you-know-what. The jabs are bombing the field, and heroic aviators like John Wayne and Paul Kelly are warming up there motors to take after 'em, and so much excitement never did see. . . . And how, you may ask, do the movies get that way, using airplanes for the films when the law forbids? . . .The studio mill went into airplane production. Made 'em out of old lumber, plywood, cardboard Stickam, and paint. Bought secondhand automobile tires and scraped off the tread so they would look like lightning. Installed obsolete motors under the cowlings, and attached genuine propellers. . . . Thus it is that Republic's bogus airplanes do everything that real planes do, except fly. They roar and trembling kicked up dust and taxi down the field under their own power. They even scared the Army, or so it seemed. The first day they were in use and succession of Army planes load to investigate this mysterious squadron Oriental airplanes. . . . For technical advisors, the studio retained a couple of genuine flying Tigers,: sickly. One was 22-year-old Larry Moore, of Los Angeles; the other, 24-year-old Ken Sanger, of Rochester New York. They looked like college boys. Only trouble with the actors, they agreed, was that they did not look like the genuine article. Too old. All the Tigers in Burma, they said, are in their 20s. Some.do not even need to shave every day." [Othman, 7 May 1942.] The film was released 23 Sep 1942.

 

During this time, David Miller was directing a film for Republic Pictures about a group of American volunteer airmen in the Far East that was loosely based on the AVG. At the beginning of 1942 it was slated to be title yanks over the Burma Road but when MGM announced another film by a similar name already scheduled for release a working title "Yanks over Singapore" was tentatively chosen. In mid-February, 1942 Republic Pictures included in its list of upcoming releases 'Flying Tigers". The film was released 8 Oct 1942.

 

 

http://youtu.be/d3YIQ5C-XZE

 

American Volunteer Group - Flying Tigers Documentary - History Channel HD (2015)

http://youtu.be/QqcJSr9iZEk

 

General Chennault's Flying Tigers (1942)

http://youtu.be/4bsUQ_U3bjo

 

 

 

Sources:

Chennault, Claire Lee. Way of a Fighter. G. P. Putnam & Son. 1949.

Cornelius, Wanda and Short, Thayne R. "Wings Over China The Story of the Flying Tigers in China - China's Forgotten War". American History Illustrated. April, 1979. pp 40-42.

Donald, David., ed. Wings Of Fame (Vol 9). 1997. p 8.

Lesjak, David. Tunes at War. 2003. p 134.

Othman, Frederick C. Column, Behind the Scenes Hollywood. 7 May 1942.

Yenne, Bill. When Tigers Ruled the Sky The Flying Tigers: American Outlaw Pilots Over China in World War II. 2016. pp 152-156.
Newspaper accounts. January-September, 1942.

[tredhed2]

Those are some outstanding, authentic, period originals of what AVG cloth insignia should look like. Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

For those of you old enough, Roy Williams was "Roy", one of the adult leaders on the Mickey Mouse Club TV show.

[The Iron Brigade]

[josesharontraders]

Dear Walika,

 

 

Thank you for showing us your wonderful authentic and well-preserved AVG set. Fantastic, better than some scarce pieces I've seen at the San Diego War & Seattle Air & Space museums. I shall trace my lineage to see if you are my distant uncle, in order to inherit this. Hahahahahah.

 

Happy Holidays.

 

 

josesharontraders

[walika]

Another issue supplementing my post.

 

4-inch round gold bullion shoulder patch compared with 2-1/2 inch shown in Post #1.

 

 

Theater made. Chinese hand embroidery on heavy light-blue (aged and faded) tricot cloth with gold bullion, on dark blue wool base. Early, 1942.

 

[flytiger]

Very nice. Thanks again!

[josesharontraders]

Another issue supplementing my post.

 

4-inch round gold bullion shoulder patch compared with 2-1/2 inch shown in Post #1.

 

 

Theater made. Chinese hand embroidery on heavy light-blue (aged and faded) tricot cloth with gold bullion, on dark blue wool base. Early, 1942.

 

 

Thanks for the update, RICK! Yes, your latest AVG Flying Tigers Patch is theatre made & AVG period made. It is an uncanny equivalent patch rendition of AVG Supplies & Finance man Pappy Paxton, who had Indian tailors copy those made by the Jingxing Street tailors of Kunming, at the end of May to very early June 1942. The Indian tailors drew on the more slender appearance of the Bengal tiger, which at the time, was perceived by most Indians as the sneakiest & most powerful monsters that plucked people from their unsecure villages at night. Hence, the difference from the Amur-Siberian ¨fatty & happy¨ leaping tiger drawn by Kunming, China tailors for the AVG silk patches given out 22 May 1942, before the AVG started departing mid June to early July 1942.

 

AVG Pappy Paxton spent half his time in Calcutta in behalf of AVG GHQ, sourcing & ferrying planes, parts, ferrying of material & essential supplies through CNAC (China National Airways Corp. majority-owned by PAN AM). This AVG patch version of advanced master collector Walika was made for the AVG HQ staff, 1st Squadron Adam & Eves, the mechs, armourers & other ground crew, medical staff etc., who missed out on the China-made originals, because they were travelling to Chungking early in the morning of May 23, and were in another place, Hostel 2, near the AVG airport vs. downtown Kunming Hostel 1, where the 2 squadrons, Pandas & Hell's Angels received their farewell souvenir patches on the night of May 22. (As an aside, when Hostel 2 was vacated all the remaining AVG in Hostel 1 moved in. Meanwhile, Hostel 1 in downtown Kunming was taken over by the Chinese Nationalist Army and their incoming CATF-USAAF American advisers officially, but a secret no-go section in that compound was renovated for the expanding OSS intelligence composite group of the Nationalists and their US allies.)

 

Would appreciate any further backgrounder how you sourced this patch, and from whom, if any provenance there be? Thanks, again, Walika, really, for sharing, fleshing out, & confirming the authenticity and AVG period dating of the above patch series. What a wonderful, ultra rare patch even more than the ones from Kunming, China; and exactly like the Calcutta-made AVG Patch of Pappy Paxton still on his tunic, which see:

[chief4af]

Here are a few AVG insignia in my collection.