Flying Tigers reunion program

American Volunteer Group •

Flying

Cleveland, Ohio

Chinese Air Force 1941-1942

Tigers

September 1-5, 2011 1

Itinerary Thursday, September 1st Welcome to Cleveland Registration Hospitality Room is open all day

Friday, September 2nd Breakfast in hotel restaurant on your own included with hotel.

Wings of a Hero Gen. Claire Lee Chennault grew up on a farm in Northeast Louisiana. He loved Louisiana, and he also loved history, particularly military history. His background, independent spirit and determination led him to a career that has been unparalleled in our military history.

Chennault’s ideas were not widely appreciated during his early military career in the U.S. He fought hard to be heard, but his ideas fell on deaf ears because there were many officers - with more education and more formal training - who differed with him. After being rejected by the U.S. military, he answered a call to come to China and survey the Chinese air corp. He told his family that he would be gone for three months, but this was a trip from which he would never entirely return.

Claire Chennault was always an American first, but he also had a great bond with the Chinese people. He is remembered there with great regard because the Chinese continue to commemorate his accomplishments for their country.

– Nell Calloway Granddaughter of Claire Chennault.

9:30 a.m. Bus leaves for Cleveland tour includes lunch at Sterle’s (featured on Food Network) Afternoon - free time. Hospitality Room open 6:30 p.m. Bus leaves for Bo Loong Chinese Restaurant (voted one of America’s Top 100 Chinese Restaurants) Hospitality Room opens upon return

Saturday, September 3rd Breakfast in hotel restaurant on your own included with hotel.

10:30 a.m. Bus leaves for Cleveland National Air Show Lunch - on your own (vouchers provided) 4:00 p.m. Buffet meal at hangar Evening free time to enjoy town Hospitality Room open all evening

Sunday, September 4th Breakfast in hotel restaurant on your own (included) 10:00 a.m. Service at Old Stone Church (optional - call Mike and Nancy to arrange for transportation)

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The Real Flying Tigers Flying Tigers Association Scholarship Essay winner Group Headquarters Section Adam & Even Squadron Panda Bears Squadron Hell’s Angels Squadron Flying Tigers Roster Photo collage memorabilia Acknowledgements

Hospitality Room open all morning and afternoon Lunch on your own Board Meetings TBA 5:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception 6:30 p.m. Banquet Hospitality Room re-opens after Banquet

Monday, September 5th Breakfast in hotel restaurant on your own included with hotel.

Stop in Hospitality Room for farewells

The American Volunteer Group The Real Flying Tigers

In all the history of aerial combat, there had never been such a total air victory as this. For Chennault, it was longsought vindication of the tactics for aerial combat which he had sought to pioneer in America’s aerial forces before the war.

They were to be universally-accepted only after Chennault’s Tigers had made living proof of his concepts.

In 1937, the Chinese asked Chennault to help them develop an airforce. Claire Lee Chennault went to China to do what he could to help a nation in distress.

In 1941, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek authorized Chennault to bring together a group of American airmen to help train the Chinese. With the consent of President Roosevelt, members of the American Armed Forces were permitted to volunteer for duty with the new service in China. The tour of duty was to be one year’s service.

The group, drawn from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, straggled into China, 97 pilots and 185 ground personnel.

In Burma some 100 P-40 fighter planes, sidetracked from other military assignments, awaited them. Some of those aircraft had seen better days.

The new group of Americans joining the Chinese formed into three squadrons: Adam and Eve, the Panda Bears and Hell’s Angels. With Chennault urging them on with the sense of haste born of desperation and necessity, they went into intensive training.

War is not an orderly program, however. While some pilots had been training in Burma for about four months, before the action started, the last contingent of pilots did not arrive in Rangoon until the second week of November, less than a month before the Pearl Harbor attack. These late arrivals were integrated into the three existing squadrons, and some went into combat with less than a month of training in the P-40’s.

Chennault, recapping later the story of his group said that while the AVG was blooded over China, it was their aerial exploits above Rangoon that put the stamp of history, as The Flying Tigers, upon them.

In those ten weeks in the skies over Burma that took on the elastic dimensions of centuries compressed, the untried catch-as-catch-can American force not only survived the Japanese assault but repulsed the enemy, causing heavy losses.

The cold statistics for the ten weeks the AVG served at Rangoon, show its strength varied between twenty and five serviceable P-40’s. This tiny force met a total of a thousandodd Japanese aircraft over southern Burma and Thailand. In 31 encounters they destroyed 217 enemy planes and probably destroyed 43. Our losses in combat were four pilots killed in the air, one killed while strafing and one taken prisoner.

News of the Americans’ achievement electrified the world and gave courage to the faltering Allied forces, thus far repeatedly defeated by the Axis powers.

In the initial days in Rangoon, between Christmas and New Year’s Eve of 1941, the Americans shot down officially 75 planes with a loss of two Tiger pilots and six planes of their own.

Never before had there been such a total air victory in the history of aerial combat. The name ‘’Flying Tigers” burned itself in the pages of world history for all time.

In the seven months of combat that followed, the 85 surviving pilots and their tiger-toothed P-40s shot down, by official count, 299 enemy planes. They destroyed another known 240 Japanese aircraft. In addition, Tigers estimated a kill upwards of a thousand aircraft which could not be confirmed officially, but which pilots recounted having watched disappear into the mountains or sea.

Outnumbered as much as eight to one, living under primitive conditions with shortages of food and military supplies, their planes held together by the determination and resourcefulness of their devoted ground crews, that handful of pilots checked the Japanese invasion of China.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2011 WINNER Nikolas Bray 31 March 2011

Flying Tigers Association Scholarship Essay My name is Nikolas Bray. I am a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma majoring in Aviation-Professional Pilot as well as Engineering-Environmental Science. I am a full-time American student and maintain a 3.94 cumulative GPA. Aviation is my passion and a major part of my life.

When I was about five years old I remember seeing a picture of a P-40 with the shark’s teeth painted on the nose at a flying museum. I asked my mother what the nose meant and she replied that the airplane was one of the Flying Tigers from World War II. That was the majority of the exposure I had to the legacy of the Flying Tigers until I was eighteen. The summer before I came to the University of Oklahoma to begin my flight training, I was absolutely set on learning everything I could about aviation, so I read books like Stick and Rudder and The Airplane Flying Handbook. It was not until I read Robert L. Scott’s book God is My Co-Pilot that I became fully aware of the accomplishments of the Flying Tigers in central Asia.

The First American Volunteer Group got its start in central Asia in November 1941 under the command of Claire Chennault. Colonel Chennault was already active in China as an aid to Madame Chiang who was in control of the Chinese Air Force. By 1940, the Chinese Air Force had all but been destroyed. He was given the task of assembling an American group of volunteers to help rebuild and support the Chinese. After recruiting one hundred pilots and twice that many ground personnel, all of whom had to resign any American military commitments, Chennault established his group in Burma.

These men were no longer associated with the United States military and were instead employed by the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Using older B models of the P-40, many brought in from British orders, the group began training Chinese pilots and had its first combat experience in December 1941 in the defense of Kunming where it destroyed four of ten attacking Japanese bombers. Later engagements included the defense of Rangoon and countless other encounters with the Japanese where the Tigers performed tremendously in the face of surmounting odds. Chennault stressed an unconventional fighting style for his squadrons that helped lead to its success against the Japanese. Such tactics included “dive and zoom” which allowed the P-40 to surprise Japanese fighters and bombers and then escape to make another pass.

This exploited the P-40s dive advantage over most Japanese aircraft and made it a deadly attack fighter.

Of course the pilots would have not success in the skies if it were not for the efforts of many more people on the ground.

This included the ground crews of mechanics and machinists who worked tirelessly to repair and rebuild damaged aircraft as well as keep up with regular maintenance. In addition, thousands of Chinese civilians played a role in spotting and relaying information on attacking Japanese aircraft. By 1942, the AVG has fully assimilated into the United States military as an official force and many of the men went on to finish the war in other areas of the world. The legacy of these men and women who defended the Chinese homeland should never be forgotten. Their efforts helped save a nation and set the tone for future American combat tactics in the Pacific.

Dear AVG members, I have read your stories in books and magazines. I have seen your pictures and watched movies about your lives. However, none of these things can properly convey the heroic and selfless nature of your actions abroad. I am proud to be a small part of the legacy that is the Flying Tigers. Thank you for enabling me with the opportunity to succeed. I will certainly make the most of this scholarship as I continue my flight training.

Best, Niki Bray

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Group Headquarters Section Group Commander Chennault

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GROUP HEADQUARTERS SECTION Page 2

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GROUP HEADQUARTERS SECTION Page 3

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1st Pursuit Squadron Adam & Eve Squadron Commanders Sandell & Neale

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1st Pursuit Squadron Page 2

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2nd Pursuit Squadron Panda Bears Squadron Commanders Newkirk & Hill

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2nd Pursuit Squadron Page 2

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3rd Pursuit Squadron HELL’S ANGELS Squadron Commander A. OLSON

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3RD Pursuit Squadron Page 2

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ROSTER of the HONORABLY DISCHARGED MEMBERS of the AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP, CHINESE AIR FORCE v Adair, C.B. “Skip” v Adkins, Frank W. v Allard, James L. v Alsop, Joseph W., Jr. v Andersen, Frank A. i Armstrong, John i Atkinson, Peter W. v Bailey, George Baisden, Charles N. v Bartling, William E. i Baugh, Marion v Baughman, Edmund C. v Beaupre, Leo A. v Bell, Donald v Bent, Morton W. v Bishop, Lewis S., P.O.W. i Blackburn, John Edward III v Blackburn, William J. • Blackwell, Harold : Bolster, Harry R. v Bond, Charles R., Jr. v Bonham, Ernest O. • Brady, James E .

• Breeden, Kenneth V. v Brice, George v Bright, John G. : Brouk, Robert R. Brown, Carl K. v Bruce, Everett W., D.D.S. v Bugler, Carl F. v Burgard, George T. Callan, Michael R. v Carney, Boatner R. v Carter, John B. v Cavanah, Herbert R. • Ceder, Melvin E. v Chaney, Charles v Chennault, Claire L. v Christensen, Keith i Christman, Allen Bert v Clouthier, Leo Paul i Cole, Thomas J., Jr. v Colquette, Leon P. v Conant, Edwin S. (Perry) v Cornelius, Jack v Cribbs, Charles D. v Croft, John S. v Crookshanks, Jesse R. v Cross, Harvey G. v Cross, James D. v Curran, George F. v Cuhing, Albert D. v Daube, Otto W. v Davis, Doreen v Davis, William H.S. : Dean, John J. v Dolan, Walter J. i Donovan, John Tyler v Doran, Francis R. v Dorris, Carl E . v DuPouy, Parker S. : Durall, Eugene C., Jr. 14

Staff, Operation and Supply Flight Leader Auto Mechanic Staff Historian Crew Chief Dean Wingman Wingman Crew Chief Armorer Flight Leader Wingman Communications Clerk, Transportation Clerk, Transportation Clerk, Operations Vice Squadron Leader Wingman Crew Chief Crew Chief Wingman Vice Squadron Leader Communications Clerk, Transportation Clerk, Administration Crew Chief Flight Leader Flight Leader Flight Leader Dental Surgeon Chief, Administration Flight Leader Crew Chief Staff Line Chief Flight Leader Staff, Police Crew Chief Group Commander Armorer Staff, Intelligence; Flight Leader Clerk, Operations Wingman Crew Chief Staff, Transportation; Flight Leader Crew Chief Clerk, Medical Orderly Flight Leader Crew Chief Communications Flight Leader Crew Chief Clerk, Operations Crew Chief Steno, Typist Staff, Asst. Operations Flight Leader Crew Chief Wingman Clerk, Administration Chief, Administration Vice Squadron Leader Clerk, Intelligence

v Engle, Charles R. Crew Chief • Engler, John R. Communications v Ernst, Richard J. Communications v Farrell, John W. Staff, Transportation Flight Leader i Fauth, John Edward Crew Chief v Fish, William H., Jr. Wingman v Fobes, Edwin L. Clerk, Administration i Foshee, Ben Crum Wingman v Foster, Emma Jane Nurse (married John E. Petach, Jr.) v Fox, Harry E. Line Chief v Francisco, Charles H. Communications v Frillmann, Paul W. Chaplain v Fritzke, Allen W. Armorer v Gallagher, Edward F. Crew Chief v Gallagher, Robert Nurse v Gasdick, Joseph Crew Chief; Sheet Metal Man • Gee, Chun Yuen Engineering Helper v Gentry, Thomas, C., M.D. Chief Surgeon v Geselbracht, Henry M., Jr. Flight Leader i Gilbert, Henry G. Wingman v Gorham, Lloyd L. Crew Chief v Gove, Irving P. Crew Chief v Goyette, Edgar T. Flight Leader v Greene, Paul J. Flight Leader v Greenlaw, Harvey K. Staff, Operations v Greenlaw, Olga S. Clerk, Administration v Groh, Clifford G. Flight Leader v Hall, Lester J. Wingman i Hammer, Maax C. Wingman v Harrington, Jasper J. Line Chief Harris, David H. Staff v Harris, Edward J. Chief, Administration v Haywood, Thomas C., Jr. Flight Leader v Hedman, Robert P. Flight Leader v Hennessy, John J. Flight Leader v Henson, Thomas M. Clerk, Medical Orderly v Hill, David Lee Squadron Two Leader v Hodges, Fred S. Flight Leader i Hoffman, Louis Flight Leader i Hoffman, Roy G. Staff, Armorer : Hooker, Burton L. Parachute Rigger v Howard, James H. Squadron Leader • Hoyle, Daniel J. Chief, Administration v Hubler, Marlin R. Clerk, Operations v Hurst, Lynn A. Wingman v Janski, Edwin A. Propeller Specialist Jernstedt, Kenneth O. Flight Leader i Jones, Thomas A. Staff, Transp.; Vice Squadron Leader v Jordan, Joe T. Clerk, Finance v Jourdan, Walter C., Jr. Clerk, Meteorology v Kaelin, Albert V. Clerk, Administration v Keeton, Robert B. Flight Leader • Keller, Daniel W. Crew Chief v Kelly, Thomas D. Telephone Lineman v Kemph, Merlin D. Crew Chief v Kenner, Charles D. Crew Chief v Kepka, George B. Crew Chief v Kiner, Melvin W. Telephone Lineman v King, Robert J. Communications v Kustay, Stephen Armorer v Kuykendall, Matthew W. Flight Leader v Kwong, Lawrence C. Staff v Laughlin, C.H., Jr. Flight Leader

v Lawlor, Frank L. Flight Leader v Layher, Robert F. Flight Leader • Leaghty, Charles C. Parachute Rigger • Lee, Joseph S., M.D. Flight Surgeon v Lee, Pak On Engineering Helper i Leibolt, Edward J. Flight Leader v Lindstedt, Robert K. Communications v Linton, Jack R. Armorer i Little, Robert L. Staff, Engineering; Flight Leader v Loane, Ernest W. Wingman v Locke, Robert P. Propeller Specialist v Loomis, Elton V. Communications Losonsky, Frank S. Crew Chief v Lum, George L. Engineering Helper v Lussier, Joseph E. Communications v McAllister, Gale E. Crew Chief v McClure, Edgar B. Crew Chief v McGarry, William D.-P.O.W. Wingman v McHenry, Sharon L. Clerk, Engineering v McKinney, Eugene R. Armorer : McMillan, George B. Vice Squadron Leader i Mangleburg, Lacy F. Wingman i Martin, Neil G. Flight Leader i Merritt, Kenneth T. Wingman : Mickelson, Einar I. Wingman v Milhalko, Alex Communications v Miller, Arvold A. Communications v Misenheimer, Charles V. Crew Chief v Moss, Kenneth R. Clerk, Meteorology v Moss, Robert C. Flight Leader v Mott, Charles D.-P.O.W. Flight Leader v Musgrove, Willard L. Crew Chief : Musick, James H. Armorer v Neal, Robert J. Armorer v Neale, Robert H. Squadron One Leader v Neumann, Gerhard Propeller Specialist i Newkirk, John Van Kuren Squadron Two Leader v Older, Charles H. Flight Leader v Olson, Arvid E., Jr. Squadron Three Leader v Olson, Henry L. Crew Chief v Osborne, Harold L. Crew Chief v Overend, Edmund F. Flight Leader v Overley, John L. Crew Chief v Paull, Preston B. Crew Chief v Paxton, George L. Staff, Finance; Flight Leader v Peeden, Joseph N. Crew Chief v Peret, Richard C. Staff, Engineering; Line Chief v Perry, Paul J. Armorer i Petach, John E., Jr. Flight Leader v Pietsker, Joseph H. Photographer v Pistole, Herbert Armorer v Pon, Kee Jeung Engineering Helper Poshefko, Joseph A. Armorer v Prescott, Robert W. Flight Leader v Prevo, Samuel B., M.D. Flight Surgeon v Probst, Albert E. Flight Leader v Quick, Carl Crew Chief v Raine, Robert J. Flight Leader : Rasmussen, Robert P. Crew Chief v Rector, Edward F. Vice Squadron Leader : Reed, William N. Flight Leader v Regis, James E. Photographer • Regis, Stanley J. Crew Chief v Richards, Lewis J., M.D. Flight Surgeon v Richardson, Roland L. Communications v Ricketts, Freeman I. Flight Leader v Ricks, Wayne W. Propeller Specialist

v Riffer, Clarence W. : Roberts, Carson M. v Rodewald, Donald L. v Roger, Robert W. v Rosbert, Camille J. v Rossi, John R. v Rumen, John N. i Sandell, Robert J. v Sasser, Ralph W. v Sawyer, Charles W. v Schaper, Wilfred E. : Schiel, Frank, Jr. • Schiller, Ralph F. v Schramm, Leo J. v Seamster, Loy F. • Seavey, Edward H. v Seiple, Wilfred R. i Shamblin, Arnold W. v Shapard, Van, Jr. • Shaw, John E. v Shields, Milan R. v Shilling, Ericksen E. v Shreffler, Roger v Smith, Curtis E. v Smith, Robert A. v Smith, Robert H. v Smith, Robert M. v Smith, Robert T. v Stewart, Jo B. Stiles, Edward L. v Stolet, Irving J. v Sutherland, William L. v Swartz, Frank W. v Sweeney, Joseph H. + Sykes, William A. v Terry, Julian E. v Towery, William H. v Trumble, Thomas C. • Tuley, Chester A. v Tyrell, George v Uebele, John J. v Van Timmeren, Frank E. v Vaux, Morgan H. v Viverette, Hugh J. v Wagner, Earl F. • Wakefield, Manning, Jr. v Walters, George F. v Whelpley, Donald A. v Whitwer, Eloise v Williams, John M. v Wilson, Clifford H. v Wingshee, George Lee v Wirta, Harvey C. v Wolf, Fritz E. v Woodward, Melvin : Wright, Allen M. v Wright, Peter v Wu, Lem Fong v Wyatt, Louis G. v Wylie, Harold G. v Yee, Francis T.F. v Young, John P.

Armorer Communication Armorer Crew Chief Flight Leader Flight Leader Armorer Squadron One Leader Communications Flight Leader Crew Chief Staff, Intelligence; Vice Squadron Leader Armorer Crew Chief Communication Clerk, Operations Crew Chief Wingman Wingman Clerk, Medical Orderly Propeller Specialist Flight Leader Communications Staff, Group Adjutant; Flight Leader Crew Chief Flight Leader Communications Flight Leader Nurse Crew Chief Crew Chief Auto Mechanic Wingman Communications Communications Clerk, Administration Mess Supervisor Staff, Secretary to Group Commander Crew Chief Crew Chief Crew Chief Line Chief Communications Clerk, Medical Orderly Armor Crew Chief Clerk, Administration Clerk, Meteorology Steno-Typist Staff, Communications Auto Mechanic Wing Engineering Helper Armorer Flight Leader Crew Chief Wingman Flight Leader Engineering Helper Communications Clerk, Finance Engineering Helper Clerk, Engineering

i Lost their lives while in AVG : Lost their lives after AVG, before V-J Day, in war effort activities v Deceased (as of July 2011) • Unknown 15

Bob Layher, 2nd Squadron Flight Leader, stands alongside Johnny Petach’s P-40 with a hand painted “Panda Bear” riding a bicycle. Courtesy Bob Layher.

2nd Squadron Leader Jack Newkirk, left front, and Vice Squadron Leader Jim Howard behind the wheel, drive Tom Cole, Bill Bartling, and Bob Layher out to the flight line. Courtesy George Rodgers, Life Magazine Time, Inc. ©

Above: 1st Squadron Pilot’s “de-brief” after returning from a mission, left to right, Matt Kuykendall, John Dean, Carl Brown, Jack Croft, Jo Rosbert, Charley Bond, Ed Liebolt, and Cokey Hoffmann. Courtesy E.J. Harris.

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Well armed members of the A.V.G. pause for a photograph while traveling the Burma Road. From left to right: Harry Fox, Julian Terry, Jim Allard and Bob Neal. Courtesy B. Neal.

A Chinese soldier guards a line of American P-40 fighter planes, painted with the shark-face emblem of the “Flying Tigers,� at a flying field somewhere in China, cira 1942. Courtesy of the National Archives.

1st Pursuit Line Chief J.J. Harrington holds a Tiger decal by its tail. Courtesy J.J. Harrington.

3rd Pursuit Squadron ground personnel enjoying target practice.

Crew Chiefs Irving Stolet firing rifle, Ed Stiles in front seat and Harold Osborne in foreground.

Standing in front of the A.V.G. hospital in China are (left to right) Johnny Petach, Emma Jane Foster Petach, Jo B. Stewart and C.D. Cribbs. John Williams is kneeling with Julian Terry laying on the stretcher.

Terry is recovering from an airplane crash which killed pilot Marion F. Baugh. Courtesy F. Doran.

Above: recruits of the first contingent of A.V.G. personnel on board the President Pierce. Kneeling from left to right are Metasavage, Ubelee, Blaylock, Osborne and Wylie. Standing left to right are Misenheimer, Sweeney, Hubler, Olson, Schramm, Young, Stiles, Dolan and Baisden.

Photo courtesy of. C. Baisden.

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2nd Squadron Crew Chief John L. Overley sits in the cockpit as pilot Peter Wright climbs onto the wing. Courtesy Peter Wright.

1st Squadron Flight Leader Bob Prescott poses with a 3rd Pursuit P-40 after downing another Japanese plane, Courtesy the American Fighter Aces Alblum.

Crew Chief Frank Losonsky (3rd Sq.) climbs out of the cockpit of a Tomahawk after taxiing it to the line. Courtesy J. Crookshanks.

Johnny Petach, above, stands on the wing of his P-40.

Courtesy Emma Jane Hanks.

1st Squadron pilons (left to right): Red Probst, John Blackburn, “Cokey� Hoffman and Ed Liebolt. Courtesy C.E. Dorris.

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Pilots of the First Squadron in front of their billets. Standing from left to right are: Jack Croft, George Burgard, Greg Boyington (revolver in hand), Dick Rossi, Red Probst and Jo Rosbert. Courtesy C. Bugler.

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Standing on the porch of the 3rd Squadron’s ready shack, Right, are representatives of all three squadrons. From left to right: H.R. Cavanah (3rd), Tex Hill (2nd), Johnny Petach (2nd-background), Bill Reed (3rd), A.E. Olson (3rd), Moose Moss (2nd), Parker Dupouy (3rd), Bob Prescott (1st), and Cliff Groh (3rd), Courtesy C. Baisden.

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Congratulations to the AVG Flying Tigers on their 70th Anniversary

The first contingent of AV.G. to depart the U.S .A for Burma consisted of forty ground personnel and Chaplain Paul Frillman. Beginning with the front row (left to right) are Hubler, McHenry, Metasavage, Jordan and McKinney. Second row: Pawley, Schurr, Fauth, Baisden, H.G. Cross, Wiley, Blaycock, Wyke, Perry, Stiles and Rogers. Third row: Engle, Kenner, Gasdick, Misenheimer and Riffer. Forth row: R.G Hoffman, Dolan, Kennedy.

Fifth row: Bugler, Keller and Frillmann. Sixth row: R.A Smith, Sweeney. Courtesy C. Baisden.

In memory of our dear friend and neighbor

Chuck Engle

(crew chief - 3rd squadron - Hell's Angels)

The Bihn and Raleigh Families

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AKNOWLEDGEMENTS Air Force Jazz Band/Nighthawk Bihn - Raleigh Families Cleveland Firefighters Pipe Band Designs by Toma Discount Drug Mart The Family of Chuck Engle E-Ventus Barb Fisher Chris Gove Job Corps Carol Klima Jim Lammers National Concessions - Chris Axelrod Dr. R. Mark Giuliano and the Old Stone Church

Jo Neal - Bill Baisden - Willa Baisden - Lydia Rossi Painters District Council #6 Cleveland, Ohio Painting Industry Insurance Fund Staff Larry M. Pistole - The Pictorial History of the Flying Tigers Anne Pu - Erie Chinese Journal Shaker’s Market Place John Shaw/Liberty Studio - cover picture “Shark Sighting” Ed Stiles and Family Paulette Suchan Vitamix Corporation Whitey Army - Navy Store A big THANK YOU to our AVG members for the many photographs used in this book but most of all for your years of service.

Thank You!

www.e-ventus.com Two types of U.S. military flight helmets and goggles more commonly worn by A.V.G. pilots.

“We have been issued flight clothing which is the same as that furnished to us in the U.S. Navy.”

John T. Donovan

Wingman, 3rd Sq.

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