Flying Tigers Legacy Soars Across Generations

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- “Only by understanding what happened 80 years ago and what we did can we distinguish between gains and losses and better cope with current challenges,” said a centenarian Flying Tigers veteran, Melvin McMullen in a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency in Los Angeles, the United States (US).

According to Xinhua in a statement, his words echo a legacy of sacrifice and cooperation that still shapes United States (US)-China relations today.

The story of the Flying Tigers has been repeatedly highlighted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In speeches and personal correspondence, Xi has honoured the bravery and brotherhood that defined the alliance, calling it a model for present-day relations.

At a 2023 banquet in San Francisco, President Xi recounted how General Claire Chennault’s Flying Tigers helped establish the Hump Route, a vital airlift corridor, adding: “More than 1,000 Chinese and American aircrew members sacrificed their lives on this route.”

Veterans Harry Moyer, 105, and McMullen were recently welcomed in China as honoured guests. Moyer, reflecting on his decision to join the China campaign in 1944, said simply, “I chose to go to China and fight for China.”

During their visit to China two years ago, they, along with the descendants of Flying Tigers veterans, travelled from Beijing to Chongqing, Kunming, and Liuzhou, Guangxi, following in the footsteps of the Flying Tigers, reliving history.

“The core of the Flying Tigers spirit is ‘cooperation’. Working together towards a common goal is the key. We did it in the past, and we can surely do it now and in the future,” said McMullen.

This enduring spirit of cooperation now lives on in classrooms. Schools across China and the US have joined the "Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program", launched in 2022, with almost 100 Chinese schools, and over 40 US schools have participated.

One such school, Huxi Experimental Middle School in Liuzhou, Guangxi, is one of the first Chinese schools to join the programme and displays photos of Moyer and McMullen visiting students, encouraging them to carry the torch forward.

-- BERNAMA