Current data for Contributor

Boring, Frank (interviewer)

Current data for Creator

Smith, Robert T.

Current data for Date

1991-04-23

Current data for Description

Interview of Robert T. Smith by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. R. T. Smith joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in 1941, after resiging his commission as a U.S. Army Air Corps basic flight instructor. He served in the AVG as Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron, "Hell's Angels." In the AVG he was credited with shooting down 8 Japanese planes and was awarded the Nine Star Medal and Order of Cloud Banner by the Chinese government. He returned to the US in 1942 and was drafted into the US Army, but was quickly re-commissioned as a US Air Corps Second Lieutenant. Over the course of the war, Smith returned to the Pacific Theater and flew 55 combat missions over Burma. He was awarded the Air Medal, Distinguisghed Flying Cross, and Silver Star. In this tape, Smith discusses his first impressions of his fellow Flying Tigers and how they embarked on this journey together, in addition to their arrival in Toungoo and their reaction to the news of Pearl Harbor.

Current data for Source

Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)