Flying Tigers Memorial Museum: A living tribute to China-US friendship

Nestled in the west of China's Hunan Province, the small town of Zhijiang in Dong Autonomous County witnessed a remarkable chapter in history – one in which the bonds of friendship between China and the United States blossomed amid the global fight against fascism during World War II.

At the onset of the China's total resistance against the Japanese aggression following the Lugou Bridge Incident, US General Claire Lee Chennault vowed, "I'll help China as much as I can if you need." He would soon go on to lead a group of American volunteer pilots to support China's resistance against Japanese aggression. This group became famously known as the Flying Tigers, namely the American Volunteer Group (AVG).

At the height of the campaign, Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County hosted 6,062 American pilots. Over the course of their mission, more than 2,000 American members of the Flying Tigers gave their lives in combat. Meanwhile, over 200 downed airmen were rescued by local Chinese citizens – many of whom paid the ultimate price during these daring rescues.

In his memoir "Way of a Fighter," General Chennault wrote: "At least 95 percent of all American airmen that landed alive behind the Japanese lines were rescued and guided back to their bases by Chinese. The Japanese made it quite plain during their punitive expedition in the wake of the Doolittle Raiders in early 1942 that the penalty for aiding American airmen was, not only death for individuals involved, but annihilation for their families and communities. Yet there is no authentic case of the Chinese refusing to aid American airmen behind the Jap lines during the rest of the war... These rescues were by far the most convincing demonstration of Chinese goodwill toward Americans... "

Today, the Flying Tigers Memorial Museum, located in Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, continues to tell this extraordinary story of wartime solidarity and friendship between the two nations.

The museum complex consists of three main buildings: the main memorial hall, and two wartime structures – the original control tower of the Sino-American Air Force and the Chinese American Composite Wing clubhouse – both preserved to reflect their historical roles.

Inside the main hall, visitors can find a rich collection of historical artifacts, including personal items belonging to the American and Chinese pilots, and rare color photographs capturing moments of everyday life and military cooperation during the war.

Wu Jianhong, the museum's director, revealed that many of these items were generously donated by descendants of Flying Tigers veterans, Chinese Americans, and American supporters. "You could say the Flying Tigers Memorial Museum is a joint creation of the Chinese and American people," Wu noted.

Although color photography existed during World War II, it was still in its infancy, with only the United States and Germany capable of producing large numbers of color images. A remarkable number of vivid, high-quality color photographs on display at the Flying Tigers Memorial Museum were taken by an American signalman Joe Day. In 2014, Joe Day donated these invaluable images to the museum, offering an authentic glimpse into the conditions and camaraderie of the era.

During my visit, I observed a wide cross-section of visitors at the museum, from elderly patrons accompanied by their families, to youth tour groups exploring the exhibits, to a steady stream of international guests.

"The Flying Tigers Memorial Museum serves as an important window and platform for cultural exchange between China and the United States," said Wu. "We've had so, so many foreign visitors – especially Americans – who come specifically to see where the Flying Tigers once fought and to learn how they lived and worked alongside the Chinese people."

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, a delegation of descendants of Flying Tigers veterans and long-time American friends of China will visit Zhijiang in September, according to Wu. A series of commemorative events will be held to honor this legacy.

While the flames of war have long subsided, the story of the Flying Tigers and the spirit of China-US cooperation in the face of global conflict continues to echo through time. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when two peoples come together in the name of peace.