The Chinese are recovering a Flying Tiger's airplane today..

[Warbirdnerd]

Have they recovered any other Tiger wrecks? I think I've heard of one coming out of a lake before...

KUNMING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A salvage team on Thursday started to retrieve an airplane sunk under a lake in southwest China's Yunnan Province that was flown by the Flying Tigers during World War II.

The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force, was a group composed of ex-pilots from the U.S. military.

Commanded by Claire Chennault, the Flying Tigers flew over China to battle Japanese invaders during World War II, as China's air force was destroyed not long after the war began.

"I hope the salvage can revive the glorious memory of China and the U.S. working hand in hand," said Wang Leilei, CEO of Kongzhong Web and funder of the salvage efforts.

The wrecked plane crashed into Dianchi Lake in April 1942 during a training session. Only the pilot's body was retrieved from the water at the time.

To narrow down the location of the plane, the salvage team spent several months talking to local residents and examining documents.

"The wreck has been underwater for a long time. It might have disintegrated," said Zhang Liang, who heads a measurement team at the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration.

Zhang, who is also in charge of the salvage efforts, said the team will use advanced equipment to locate the plane, although their efforts will take several weeks.

The Flying Tigers are highly recognized in China and the U.S. AVG members were invited to the Chinese mainland in 2005, when they met with former President Hu Jintao.

The Flying Tigers were also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a prestigious U.S. military honor.

Found it here:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china ... 634170.htm

[Russ Matthews]

Have they recovered any other Tiger wrecks?

There have been plenty of rumors, but I'm not aware that any genuine AVG aircraft survive .. though I seem to remember something about a few artifacts recovered in Thailand(??)

I think I've heard of one coming out of a lake before...

Probably the same one. Plans have been announced to recover it several times before that ultimately went nowhere.

2007
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15070

2004
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=227

Last edited by Russ Matthews on Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnTerrell]

I've been looking forward to seeing this happen, as there have been other attempts to recover the aircraft over the past decade or so. I'm really looking forward to seeing the state for which the aircraft/wreck is in if they are successful in recovering it. I recall there was an attempt to raise it many years ago (2003?), and there were even A.V.G. vets on-hand at that time, such as Dick Rossi. The original crash/incident I believe is quite well documented, and is the one that took the life of John Blackburn, who was conducting gunnery practice at the time. Although some have expressed some hope that the aircraft would be a Tomahawk, the evidence points to it very likely being a P-40E.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Russ Matthews]

.. I seem to remember something about a few artifacts recovered in Thailand(??)

Answered my own question ...

http://thaiaviation.com/gallery2/v/Tango+Squadron+Chiang+Mai/

[Django]

That would be pretty amazing if it happens.

[Russ Matthews]

That would be pretty amazing if it happens.

Agreed

[Digger]

G'day

I've worked with a few Chinese Nationals on AVG aircraft crash sites. We know there are several wreck sites in the mountain border regions with Thailand.

Letters to both Thai and Chinese Governments indicate the wreck locations as being within each countries borders, making it very difficult to put a recovery

team into the area. Having said that the wrecks we've located are more than like P-40E's and so technically are the later AVG but of course this can only be

confirmed via a site visit.

Any dipolmats out there who can work with both Governments?


Peter

[SaxMan]

I'm surprised no one picked up on this:


The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force, was a group composed of ex-pilots from the U.S. military.

I guess being "ex-pilots", they never actually flew?

I would assume the proper syntax is "ex-U.S. Military pilots".

[Django]

Has anyone heard any news on this recovery?

Is #69 in Thailand still just a pile of parts on display?

[JohnB]

I would assume the proper syntax is "ex-U.S. Military pilots".

I would go with "former American military pilots".

[quemerford]

I would assume the proper syntax is "ex-U.S. Military pilots".

I would go with "former American military pilots".

...former North American?