Between June and July in the 30th year of the Republic (1941), ninety nine P-40 Tomahawks and their volunteer aviators of the newly formed American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air Force (A. V. G.), also known as the Flying Tigers, successively arrived in Rangoon of Burma to join the war against Japan. It was exactly the 110th year of the Republic (2021) last year, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Flying Tigers. To commemorate the latter event, in mid-November, 伍仟年 Chinese-Heritage Virtual Museum exhibited A Door Sign from the Flying Tigers K’un-ming Headquarters.
The American lawyer, Mr. Roy Delbyck saw this exhibit, and in a few days, emailed to offer five groups of photographs of selected Flying Tigers artefacts in his own collection, hoping to enrich the contents of the Virtual Museum, and to publicize the American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air Force (A. V. G.). Mr. Roy Delbyck is an important collector of historical documents on China, he is also a renowned scholar and connoisseur. This set of photographs is hereby presented under the title: A Selection of Flying Tigers Artefacts from the Roy Delbyck Collection. As for this generous act undertaken by Mr. Delbyck, is it not another story of Chinese American friendship and working together for the same purpose?
Lately, there is a story about the Chinese communist “ambassador” to the United States, Mr. Qin Gang (秦剛), who on 10th April this year, wore a bomber jacket of the American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air Force (A. V. G.) in Washington and emulated the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Flying Tigers. Not only was the American Volunteer Group a unit of the Republic of China Air Force, the Honorary Commander of the A.V.G. was Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Observing Mr. Qin’s deep admiration for the Republic of China, we may postulate that many senior members in the Chinese communist party still privately regard the Republic of China in Taiwan as the rightful government of the whole of China.
Curatorial and Editorial Department
P-40 Tomahawk fighter aircraft operated by the American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air Force. Photograph courtesy San Diego Air & Space Museum
The renowned American lawyer and collector Mr. Roy Delbyck e mailed Mr. Soong Shu Kong on 19th November 2021. He wrote:
“Shu Kong,
To supplement your recent video piece on the A.V.G. (American Volunteer Group), I am forwarding pictures of some A.V.G. items from my collection. Pictures attached in order of mention.
1. May 14, 1941 Agreement between Arvid Olson and Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company, Federal Inc., USA (CAMCO)
Olson was an A.V.G. squadron leader. This is his employment contract with CAMCO, which, as one would expect from an off-the-books operation, is vague as to what he will be doing in China. He is directed to show up at a designated point in the US by June 13, 1941 for journey to China where he will ‘render such services and perform such duties as the Employer may direct’. The contract runs for a year from arrival in China, the salary is US$500/month and all to-and-from transportation costs are paid. In the event of Olson’s total disability or death (Olson survived, and in one piece as far as I know) CAMCO was to pay an additional 6 months’ salary.
2. A. V. G. I.D. Card For Carl Quick signed by Quick and Claire Chennault
Quick was an A.V.G. crew chief.
3. December 8, 1941 Edition of A.V.G. News
This was an Extra! Extra! Extra! announcing that war with Japan had started.
4. Photos of A.V.G. Group
These were taken by George Rodger for an article on the A.V.G. in Burma which appeared in the March 30, 1942 issue of Life magazine. Rodger was one of the founding members of Magnum Photos (with Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David ‘Chim’ Seymour and William Vandivert).
The first photo pictures A.V.G. pilot Matthew Warren Kuykendall after returning from an air fight in which he was wounded.
The second photo pictures four A.V.G. members after a raid. Tom Cole, who is in the foreground, was killed the next day in action.
5. Invitation from Madame Chiang Kai-shek and Claire Chennault to July 4th Celebration
This was issued to John Overley, an A.V.G. crew chief. The celebration was held at President Lin Sen’s villa in Chungking. The celebration may have been somewhat muted, however, because July 4, 1942 was the day on which the A.V.G. was officially disbanded and absorbed into the United States Army Air Forces.
Regards,
Roy Delbyck”
