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Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II / the Violent Century: Weapons Book #29
Flying Tigers
an epic story of the Flying Tigers in China during WWII
100 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 13, 2020
The Flying Tigers! Few mercenary groups have fired the imagination of post war young boys as the American pilots who stood up to and knocked down the Japanese aerial bullies of WWII. At a time when little stood between the murderous Japanese planes and defenseless Chinese civilians, the American Volunteer Group (AVG) took to the skies to fight back. Using guerrilla tactics against superior forces, they achieved much all out of proportion to their numbers. Unfortunately, with the passing of time, as well as the veterans, America, as well as China, slowly forgot their contribution.
Because of the limited space in a small book where photos, illustrations, and maps take up half the pages, the exploits of these men are only briefly covered here. Besides that, much printed word is used to describe the political fighting pitting General Stillwell against Chennault and Chiang Kai-shek. Those battles waged behind the scenes had a direct effect on the Tigers and the battles they fought.
Among the interesting facts mentioned was the Chinese supply route that kept the AVG flying. Once the Japanese cut the Burma Road, the only way to get supplies to the AVG was to fly it from India over The Hump, meaning the Himalayans, to China. But once in China, a barrel of gas had to be transported hundreds of miles to the forward airfields. More often than not, this was done by coolies rolling the drums by hand for 75 days!
Another interesting fact was that when Chennault was replaced, it was recommended that he retire to take advantage of retirement privileges for physically disabled officers that makes their pay not subject to Income Tax. Now I don't know if they still do that, but that is something they should do for all disabled vets!
Because of the limited space in a small book where photos, illustrations, and maps take up half the pages, the exploits of these men are only briefly covered here. Besides that, much printed word is used to describe the political fighting pitting General Stillwell against Chennault and Chiang Kai-shek. Those battles waged behind the scenes had a direct effect on the Tigers and the battles they fought.
Among the interesting facts mentioned was the Chinese supply route that kept the AVG flying. Once the Japanese cut the Burma Road, the only way to get supplies to the AVG was to fly it from India over The Hump, meaning the Himalayans, to China. But once in China, a barrel of gas had to be transported hundreds of miles to the forward airfields. More often than not, this was done by coolies rolling the drums by hand for 75 days!
Another interesting fact was that when Chennault was replaced, it was recommended that he retire to take advantage of retirement privileges for physically disabled officers that makes their pay not subject to Income Tax. Now I don't know if they still do that, but that is something they should do for all disabled vets!
May 22, 2013
"On 25th October (1942), the men of the China Air Task Force executed a daring attack on Japanese shipping in Hong Kong harbor. Flying from Kweilin and undetected by the Japanese until reaching Hong Kong, twelve B-26s accompanied by seven P-40s dropped 30,000 pounds of demolition and 1,700 pounds of fragmentation bombs." (page 79)
"This attack was followed by a night raid that evening ... Six unescorted B-255s successfully completed their mission to knock out power plants in Hong Kong with no losses." (page 79)
"Once again Chennault proved what could be done with proper use of air powed." (page 81)
"This attack was followed by a night raid that evening ... Six unescorted B-255s successfully completed their mission to knock out power plants in Hong Kong with no losses." (page 79)
"Once again Chennault proved what could be done with proper use of air powed." (page 81)
May 17, 2021
As I read this book, I found author Ron Heiferman's cagey handling of Chinese Leader Chiang Kai Shek cloying- until I checked- and realized that Chiang died in 1975- four years after this book's arrival in 1971. So Chiang was still sole leader of the KMT - the Kuomintang party that held power in Taiwan for another 25 years- and an important Cold War Ally for the US. This is the story of how Chiang won over a US Aviator/Soldier, Claire Chennault, who would put together a force of American Mercenary Pilots to try and protect Mainland China in its war against Japan in 1940/1941. Chennault got the American Volounteer Group going- and then the Japanese widened the war with their Pearl Harbor attack. Chennault was an early proponent of Aerial warfare- and a brilliant tactical Air war commander- but a shaky Strategic thinker and overly fond of inter command and political infighting. He managed to accomplish some amazing things with his Various Chinese Air Force and US Army Air Corps commands- but also goaded the Japanese into attacks that would extend their reach over millions more Chinese- including some horrific atrocities. Chennault never really understood logistics or the full extent of Chiang's taking of Military stores for later fighting against the Communists.
Now we can freely discuss the basic challenges inherent to a 1940s supply line limited to an Air Bridge over the Himalayas. The only reason the US was really interested in the CBI (China/Burma/India) theater part of the Pacific war was so supply the Chinese - they were not so interested in assisting the British to reconquer their imperial Possessions . The British did not complain about the Massive Airlift they hosted in India- they got to use it's lift power for their own ends for grand tactical mean -if only in short bursts. But the American airlift "over the Hump" the Himalayan route to supply Chungking was never going to be fully adequate to supply a B-29 Campaign, Chenault's constant cry for more fuel and spare parts for his various China Air Force Commands- and Chiang and assorted other grasping hands enriching themselves or amassing secret hoards of wealth and weapons to be used in the coming battle after WWII with the Chinese Communist party of Mao- their temporary ally against the Japanese. Heiferman dances around- when I'd have preferred a little more clarity and blame. But perhaps i am expecting too much of the classic Ballantine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century format- a Cold War era short history series - filled with B/W pictures and Line Drawings of action and gear- but with only 160 pages to tell a complex tale
As I have said, this book is a cleaned up version with the adult themes and graphic injury descriptions alluded to or glossed over, a good but dated resource for a 11 year old Junior reader with an interest in Aviation History. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast, this is a fine resource- although the adult reader may want to consult some more recent sources. There are enough descriptions of raids and pictures to help with Scenario and Diorama Development -say for Blood Red Sky-but I think there are probably better sources. The Military Enthusiast will see this more as an amuse bouche - a short book that gets you interested in a period or theatre of war - but leave you wanting more. I certainly want to read more about the Japanese predation on China in the '30s/'40s- to understand it's many facets more than this book can cover. But as a introductory book on the period- and a Cold war historiography lesson- this book still hold a lot of interest...
Now we can freely discuss the basic challenges inherent to a 1940s supply line limited to an Air Bridge over the Himalayas. The only reason the US was really interested in the CBI (China/Burma/India) theater part of the Pacific war was so supply the Chinese - they were not so interested in assisting the British to reconquer their imperial Possessions . The British did not complain about the Massive Airlift they hosted in India- they got to use it's lift power for their own ends for grand tactical mean -if only in short bursts. But the American airlift "over the Hump" the Himalayan route to supply Chungking was never going to be fully adequate to supply a B-29 Campaign, Chenault's constant cry for more fuel and spare parts for his various China Air Force Commands- and Chiang and assorted other grasping hands enriching themselves or amassing secret hoards of wealth and weapons to be used in the coming battle after WWII with the Chinese Communist party of Mao- their temporary ally against the Japanese. Heiferman dances around- when I'd have preferred a little more clarity and blame. But perhaps i am expecting too much of the classic Ballantine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century format- a Cold War era short history series - filled with B/W pictures and Line Drawings of action and gear- but with only 160 pages to tell a complex tale
As I have said, this book is a cleaned up version with the adult themes and graphic injury descriptions alluded to or glossed over, a good but dated resource for a 11 year old Junior reader with an interest in Aviation History. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast, this is a fine resource- although the adult reader may want to consult some more recent sources. There are enough descriptions of raids and pictures to help with Scenario and Diorama Development -say for Blood Red Sky-but I think there are probably better sources. The Military Enthusiast will see this more as an amuse bouche - a short book that gets you interested in a period or theatre of war - but leave you wanting more. I certainly want to read more about the Japanese predation on China in the '30s/'40s- to understand it's many facets more than this book can cover. But as a introductory book on the period- and a Cold war historiography lesson- this book still hold a lot of interest...
February 24, 2016
The book has very general military historical information. The collection of photographs in this book is quite unique and is the major strength of the book. There's quite a bit of sloppy editting; misspellings and the like. There's also a tendency to repeat the same phrases and terms over and over again.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews