Flying Tiger Heritage Park Museum On March 28, 2015 members of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization’s board participated in the dedication and opening of the Flying Tiger Heritage Park museum. The event was honored to have many Chinese dignitaries in attendance. Representing the Chinese and their government Liu Yandong Peng Qinghua -
Vice Premier of the State Council Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Committee, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Guangxi People’s Congress Jiang Xiaojuan - Deputy Secretary General of the State Council Li Xin Vice Minister of Education Chen Gaihu Vice Minister of State Ethic Affairs Commission Tan Tianxing Vice Minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council Zheng Zeguang - Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Xie Yuan Vice President of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Fan Xiaoli Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangxi Committee Secretary General of the CPC Guangxi Committee Li Kang Vice Governor of Guangxi Zhao Leqin Secretary of the CPC Guilin Committee Zhou Jiabin Mayor of Guilin Li Wenjie Director General of Guangxi Foreign Affairs Office He Xinming Head of Lingui County Representing the Americans and the Flying Tiger Historical Organization J Vinyard WW II Veteran and CBI pilot Dr. Cynthia Chennault General Claire Chennault’s daughter Nell Calloway General Chennault’s granddaughter Maxine Chennault Wells Gen. Chennault’s granddaughter and Nell’s cousin Jennifer Galt U.S. Consul General in Guangzhou Col. Mark Swentkofske Military Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Beijing General James T. Whitehead - Chairman of the FTHO board Larry Jobe President of FTHO board KC Ma Vice President of FTHO board Florence Fang Honorary FTHO board Chairman The day held the promise of rain but thankfully it held off until all the dedication ceremonies were completed. Many of the invited dignitaries made short remarks to the assembled crowd of Americans and Chinese, then the dignitaries stepped forward to push a simulated control stick mounted on a box with a prop attached to the front. At that moment - the prop began to turn, cannon fired confetti over the crowd and many doves were released. The museum was officially open and available for all to tour. Interior work is yet to be completed but what was there indicates that this will be a first class museum when finished sometime later this year.
The museum was built by the Chinese at a cost of 3.5 million US dollars, as part of their commitment to the Flying Tiger Heritage Park, the cave restoration is the American commitment ($400,000) being spearheaded by the FTHO. We anticipate that we will have as grand a dedication when that commitment is met. Guest were able to access the cave via stairs or two gentle paths leading to the entrance. The interior of the cave had temporary planking, forming a deck, for guest to view the interior of the cave. Please view the pictures. The grounds are newly landscaped and replica buildings plus memorial walls are yet to be done. All American and Chinese dignitaries are identified in the photo captions without their titles. Refer to the above names and titles for that information.