China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group
World War, 1939-1945
Air pilots
P-40 (Fighter plane)
Kunming Shi (China). Liang shi ju
Color film taken by American Volunteer Group (AVG) Crew Chief Joe Gasdick (no sound). The footage, dated circa 1941, documents the training and flight activities of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers," servicemen organized by the U.S. Government to aid in the defense of China during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Time-stamped scene list: 00:00 Chinese agricultural fields. 00:30 AVG army trucks parked along road. Chinese people passing in carts. 01:00 Chines garden or field. 01:40 Chinese plane under a net on Kunming airfield. 01:48 Chinese army fortresses. 02:24 Two Chinese guards sleeping on the ground. 02:30 Chinese soldiers training and smiling at camera. Army pillbox. 03:19 Landing bomber planes on Kunming airfield. 03:55 P-40 #97 taxiing on airfield. 04:09 AVG pilot and ground crew talking on P-40 #97. 04:44 P-40s lined up on Kunming airfield. A ground crew working on P-40. P-40, hanger and bomber planes on Kunming airfield. Three men in front of bomber plane. Chinese soldiers at pillbox. US bomber airplane. 05:58 Bomber airplane landing on Kunming. 07:20 Bomb holes in a road. Street in a Chinese town.
Gasdick, Joseph
Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)
Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
Film taken by American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron Crew Chief Chuck Misenheimer, wtih color and black and white sections (no sound). The footage, dated circa 1941, documents the training and flight activities of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers," servicemen organized by the U.S. Government to aid in the defense of China during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Time-stamped scene list: 00:00 Rural area in China. Small village and Chinese people. 01:00 Chinese children gathering around AVG car. Water mill. AVG shooting guns. 1:32 Chinese workers rolling runway in Kunming. A two-pilots fighter airplane on ground. Dolan and other (McClure?)on air field. Landing airplanes. P-40 #13, #12, #33 and others on ground. 02:48 Snuffy Smith and Chinese crew with P-40 #93 of Hell's Angel on ground. Close-up of Hell's Angel insignia. 03:15 Adam and Eve insignia on P-40 #13. Chinese worker and pilots at airport eating lunch. Landing bomber planes. Train coming in. Chinese worker at airport. View of Kunming Lake. Misenheimer on mountain top. 05:07 P-40 #6 and #24 taxiing. Cross in cockpit of P-40. P-40 #13, #33 and others taking off from Kunming airfield. 06:12 Crashed Wright's P-40 on fire. AVG's Carney, Dean, Neale, Burguard talking in front of P-40 in Kweilin. Close-up of Bob Neale. A dog in water. Airplane parts. View of desert field. Bomb holes on the ground. 08:07 An AVG at repairing area in Kunming. J.J. Harrington standing by truck. Rodewald and others on truck. Hoffman walks to camera. Landing P-40. 09:36 An AVG sitting by remaining shot guns and engines of shot down plane in Kweilin. AVG's on Chow line (Schiel, Bright and others) in Kweilin. 11:03 Japanese hostage Honda with Harrington, Bond, Snuffy Smith, Bartling, Burguard, Bob Neale, Olson, Rossi, Rosbert and Chinese soldier in Kweilin. 11:20 Close-up of Honda. Close-up of bullet holes on a plane. Bomber airplane #74 and AVG. 12:50 Crashed airplane. Cars destroyed by air raid. Bombing in Yunnanyi. 14:00 P-40 and Jim Cross on Kunming airfield. A building on fire. Crew working on three bombs on the wing of P-40E. P-40E takes off. 15:05 Training airplanes. Chinese pilots. 16:03 Doc Rich on truck on Kunming airfield. Musgrove and other AVG's standing around truck. Name plate of Uebele and Misenheimer's room. 16:30 Misenheimer with a kitten and dogs at Kunming hostel #2. 17:24 Kitten. AVG with Kitten and dog. Kitten killing a dog. 19:00 Flying and landing training planes in Kunming. 20:00 Flying P-40. Landing US P-40E. 20:40 Cargo airplane 'Available Jones'. Chinese soldiers. Two-pilots fighters and biplanes take off and fly in the sky. 22:10 Destroyed British plane. Airplanes and a crowd of people around it. Fox and Overley by a passenger plane. American soldiers standing by plane. People wait to get into plane. 22:30 Crashed CNAC airplane. 25:00 Misenheimer on a truck. Kenner and other by AVG red cross car. 25:30 Chinese people running away from a town (Kunming air raid). People in shelters.
Misenheimer, Charles V.
Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958
Film in black and white and color taken by Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu (no sound). The footage was recorded by Shu as he traveled with Col. Claire Chennault to aid the Chinese Air Force in training and establishing the American Volunteer Group (AVG). The footage documents Shu's travel and family as well as Chennault's and the AVG's activities during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Time-stamped scene list: 00:00 (black and white film) Views of houses and villages from a moving boat. Chennault and wife on boat with other passengers. River traffic. 01:15 Temples and city from boat. Passengers disembark. City views in Burma from moving car. Temples and sightseeing. 03:50 Snake handlers with cobras. 04:18 Chennault with his wife, Anna, and baby in a park. Chennault's children(?) playing on spinning toy. 04:54 Chennault, P.Y. Shu and the others sightseeing in a city. Aerial shot of a city. More sight-seeing scenery. 05:18 Aerial view of a city. Chennault and other Westerners with a cargo plane, then boarding a bus. Sightseeing tour of ancient temples. 07:30 (black and white film) Ancient temple. 08:08 Baby jaguar on leash. 08:17 Swimming in a pool, playing tennis. Baby elephant. 09:27 Temple sightseeing. 11:22 (color film) Temple sightseeing, monks, giant statue of Buddha. City sights, monument. 12:20 Man with monkeys. Building with large tower. Dog. 13:20 P.Y. Shu's wife with dog and in a park. 14:20 Cabins, a model cabin and truck. Shu family.
P.Y. Shu
Bill Schaper interview (video and transcript, 1 of 4), 1991
Oral history
United States--History, Military
China--History, Military
Veterans
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Interview of Bill Schaper by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Bill Schaper was Crew Chief for the American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after serving in the US Army as a Staff Sergeant in the 77th Pursuit Squadron. It was his responsibility to maintain the aircrafts. In this tape, Schaper discusses his life as a staff sergeant in the United States Air Corps prior to joining the American Volunteer Group, in addition to their journey overseas from San Francisco to Rangoon aboard the Jaegersfontein.
Schaper, Wilfred E.
Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives.
In Copyright
Bill Schaper interview (video and transcript, 2 of 4), 1991
Interview of Bill Schaper by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Bill Schaper was Crew Chief for the American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after serving in the US Army as a Staff Sergeant in the 77th Pursuit Squadron. It was his responsibility to maintain the aircrafts. In this tape, Schaper discusses describes his first impressions of Rangoon and Toungoo, in addition to the effect the news of Pearl Harbor had on the AVG.
Bill Schaper interview (video and transcript, 3 of 4), 1991
Interview of Bill Schaper by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Bill Schaper was Crew Chief for the American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after serving in the US Army as a Staff Sergeant in the 77th Pursuit Squadron. It was his responsibility to maintain the aircrafts. In this tape, Schaper discusses describes the conditions of the Burma Road and his experience witnessing the bombing of Kunming, in addition to the differences between life in the military and the AVG.
Bill Schaper interview (video and transcript, 4 of 4), 1991
Interview of Bill Schaper by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Bill Schaper was Crew Chief for the American Volunteer Group (AVG) 1st Squadron "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after serving in the US Army as a Staff Sergeant in the 77th Pursuit Squadron. It was his responsibility to maintain the aircrafts. In this tape, Schaper discusses discusses the last days of the AVG and his experience returning to the United States along with the hero's welcome they received.
C. Y. "Henry" Lee interview (video and transcript, 1 of 6), 1991
Interview of C.Y. "Henry" Lee by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Lee was a Chinese Air Force Communications Officer who worked for Col. Chennault as his personal radioman before the AVG officially formed. Lee eventually joined a group of Chinese flight cadets being instructed by Captain Adair in Kunming, and then traveled to the United States for additional flight training. In this tape, Lee discusses his background before joining the AVG and his work as a Communications Officer for the Chinese Air Force.
Lee, Cheng Yuan "Henry Lee"
C. Y. "Henry" Lee interview (video and transcript, 2 of 6), 1991
Interview of C.Y. "Henry" Lee by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Lee was a Chinese Air Force Communications Officer who worked for Col. Chennault as his personal radioman before the AVG officially formed. Lee eventually joined a group of Chinese flight cadets being instructed by Captain Adair in Kunming, and then traveled to the United States for additional flight training. In this tape, Lee discusses how he learned to speak English while in communications school and his experiences working with General Chennault in Nanking after the bombings.
C. Y. "Henry" Lee interview (video and transcript, 3 of 6), 1991
Interview of C.Y. "Henry" Lee by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Lee was a Chinese Air Force Communications Officer who worked for Col. Chennault as his personal radioman before the AVG officially formed. Lee eventually joined a group of Chinese flight cadets being instructed by Captain Adair in Kunming, and then traveled to the United States for additional flight training. In this tape, Lee describes his personal reaction to the tragedy in Nanking and his experience working with General Chennault at the training school in Kunming.
C. Y. "Henry" Lee interview (video and transcript, 4 of 6), 1991
Interview of C.Y. "Henry" Lee by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Lee was a Chinese Air Force Communications Officer who worked for Col. Chennault as his personal radioman before the AVG officially formed. Lee eventually joined a group of Chinese flight cadets being instructed by Captain Adair in Kunming, and then traveled to the United States for additional flight training. In this tape, Lee explains the reasons for the formation of the American Volunteer Group and his perspective while serving in the Chinese Air Force. He also describes his relationship with General Chennault in the early days of the AVG.
C. Y. "Henry" Lee interview (video and transcript, 5 of 6), 1991
Interview of C.Y. "Henry" Lee by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Lee was a Chinese Air Force Communications Officer who worked for Col. Chennault as his personal radioman before the AVG officially formed. Lee eventually joined a group of Chinese flight cadets being instructed by Captain Adair in Kunming, and then traveled to the United States for additional flight training. In this tape, Lee discusses the events and conditions in China that lead to World War II, his personal recollections of General Chennault, and the significance of the AVG in Chinese history.
C. Y. "Henry" Lee interview (video and transcript, 6 of 6), 1991
Interview of C.Y. "Henry" Lee by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Lee was a Chinese Air Force Communications Officer who worked for Col. Chennault as his personal radioman before the AVG officially formed. Lee eventually joined a group of Chinese flight cadets being instructed by Captain Adair in Kunming, and then traveled to the United States for additional flight training. In this tape, Lee discusses his time working with General Chennault and the AVG as a young man and why Chennault was so effective working with the Chinese people.
Film in black and white and color taken by Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu (no sound). The footage was recorded by Shu as he traveled with Col. Claire Chennault to aid the Chinese Air Force in training and establishing the American Volunteer Group (AVG). The footage documents Shu's travel and family as well as Chennault's and the AVG's activities during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Time-stamped scene list: 00:07 (black and white film) Travel by train, passing river boats. 01:00 Canton street scenes and architecture. 01:20 Shu family affairs. 01:34 Street scenes and double decker trolleys. 01:47 Aerial views of Hong Kong. 02:29 Railroad tracks and trains. 02:52 Hong Kong views from the water. 03:48 Arriving in port with views of steamers. 04:03 Hong Kong street scene. 04:16 Passenger ferry on the water. 04:27 Hong kong views from the water. 04:49 China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) Headquarters exterior. Street scene with double decker trolleys. 6:30 Scenes along the coast and at the water. 08:14 (color film) Texaco emblem and neon signs at night. 09:00 (black and white film) Landscape views along coast. 09:42 Family at the beach. 11:22 (color film) Family at the beach. 11:37 (black and white film) Street scenes. The Kowloon Hotel marquee.
Charles Older interview (video and transcript, 1 of 7), 1991
Interview of Charles Older by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles Older trained as a pilot in Long Beach and Pensacola, earning his Navy wings in 1940. He then served in the Marine Fighting Squadron One and was qualified in gunnery, dive bombing, and carrier landings. Older joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in August 1941 and sailed to Burma. He served as a Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron "Hell's Angels," and participated in the squadron's first combat over Rangoon where he downed two enemy aircraft. By the time the AVG disbanded in 1942, he had 10 total victories. After leaving the AVG, Older joined the US Army Air Forces and returned to China in 1944 with the 23rd Fighter Group. After the war, Older left the Air Force as a Lt. Col. and earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law until becoming a superior court judge for Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he gained notoriety for presiding over the Charles Manson murder trials. In this tape, Older discusses his background that led him to becoming a pilot, his cadet training in Pensacola, and later joining the American Volunteer Group.
Charles Older
Charles Older interview (video and transcript, 2 of 7), 1991
Interview of Charles Older by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles Older trained as a pilot in Long Beach and Pensacola, earning his Navy wings in 1940. He then served in the Marine Fighting Squadron One and was qualified in gunnery, dive bombing, and carrier landings. Older joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in August 1941 and sailed to Burma. He served as a Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron "Hell's Angels," and participated in the squadron's first combat over Rangoon where he downed two enemy aircraft. By the time the AVG disbanded in 1942, he had 10 total victories. After leaving the AVG, Older joined the US Army Air Forces and returned to China in 1944 with the 23rd Fighter Group. After the war, Older left the Air Force as a Lt. Col. and earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law until becoming a superior court judge for Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he gained notoriety for presiding over the Charles Manson murder trials. In this tape, Older describes his experience meeting the other members of the AVG, their journey overseas to Rangoon, and the train ride to their barracks in Toungoo.
Charles Older interview (video and transcript, 3 of 7), 1991
Interview of Charles Older by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles Older trained as a pilot in Long Beach and Pensacola, earning his Navy wings in 1940. He then served in the Marine Fighting Squadron One and was qualified in gunnery, dive bombing, and carrier landings. Older joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in August 1941 and sailed to Burma. He served as a Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron "Hell's Angels," and participated in the squadron's first combat over Rangoon where he downed two enemy aircraft. By the time the AVG disbanded in 1942, he had 10 total victories. After leaving the AVG, Older joined the US Army Air Forces and returned to China in 1944 with the 23rd Fighter Group. After the war, Older left the Air Force as a Lt. Col. and earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law until becoming a superior court judge for Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he gained notoriety for presiding over the Charles Manson murder trials. In this tape, Older discusses his first duties at their base in Toungoo, in addition to his first impressions of General Chennault and his training methods.
Charles Older interview (video and transcript, 4 of 7), 1991
Interview of Charles Older by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles Older trained as a pilot in Long Beach and Pensacola, earning his Navy wings in 1940. He then served in the Marine Fighting Squadron One and was qualified in gunnery, dive bombing, and carrier landings. Older joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in August 1941 and sailed to Burma. He served as a Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron "Hell's Angels," and participated in the squadron's first combat over Rangoon where he downed two enemy aircraft. By the time the AVG disbanded in 1942, he had 10 total victories. After leaving the AVG, Older joined the US Army Air Forces and returned to China in 1944 with the 23rd Fighter Group. After the war, Older left the Air Force as a Lt. Col. and earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law until becoming a superior court judge for Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he gained notoriety for presiding over the Charles Manson murder trials. In this tape, Older describes the effect the injuries and fatalities during AVG flight training and the news of Pearl Harbor had on him while preparing for combat.
Charles Older interview (video and transcript, 5 of 7), 1991
Interview of Charles Older by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles Older trained as a pilot in Long Beach and Pensacola, earning his Navy wings in 1940. He then served in the Marine Fighting Squadron One and was qualified in gunnery, dive bombing, and carrier landings. Older joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in August 1941 and sailed to Burma. He served as a Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron "Hell's Angels," and participated in the squadron's first combat over Rangoon where he downed two enemy aircraft. By the time the AVG disbanded in 1942, he had 10 total victories. After leaving the AVG, Older joined the US Army Air Forces and returned to China in 1944 with the 23rd Fighter Group. After the war, Older left the Air Force as a Lt. Col. and earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law until becoming a superior court judge for Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he gained notoriety for presiding over the Charles Manson murder trials. In this tape, Older describes how it felt to shoot down enemy aircraft and his focus on survival, in addition to the types of planes that he fought.
Charles Older interview (video and transcript, 6 of 7), 1991
Interview of Charles Older by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles Older trained as a pilot in Long Beach and Pensacola, earning his Navy wings in 1940. He then served in the Marine Fighting Squadron One and was qualified in gunnery, dive bombing, and carrier landings. Older joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in August 1941 and sailed to Burma. He served as a Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron "Hell's Angels," and participated in the squadron's first combat over Rangoon where he downed two enemy aircraft. By the time the AVG disbanded in 1942, he had 10 total victories. After leaving the AVG, Older joined the US Army Air Forces and returned to China in 1944 with the 23rd Fighter Group. After the war, Older left the Air Force as a Lt. Col. and earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law until becoming a superior court judge for Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he gained notoriety for presiding over the Charles Manson murder trials. In this tape, Older discusses the loss of Frank Swartz, his impressions of the Chinese people while in Kunming, and his thoughts as their contracts with the AVG were nearing the end.
Charles Older interview (video and transcript, 7 of 7), 1991
Interview of Charles Older by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles Older trained as a pilot in Long Beach and Pensacola, earning his Navy wings in 1940. He then served in the Marine Fighting Squadron One and was qualified in gunnery, dive bombing, and carrier landings. Older joined the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in August 1941 and sailed to Burma. He served as a Flight Leader for the 3rd Squadron "Hell's Angels," and participated in the squadron's first combat over Rangoon where he downed two enemy aircraft. By the time the AVG disbanded in 1942, he had 10 total victories. After leaving the AVG, Older joined the US Army Air Forces and returned to China in 1944 with the 23rd Fighter Group. After the war, Older left the Air Force as a Lt. Col. and earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. He practiced law until becoming a superior court judge for Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he gained notoriety for presiding over the Charles Manson murder trials. In this tape, Older describes the meeting with General Bissell near the end of the AVG and his plans as his contract ended. He also expresses what his experience in the AVG meant to him and how it felt to be known as a Flying Tiger.
Charlie Bond interview (video and transcript, 1 of 12), 1991
Interview of Charlie Bond by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles R. "Charlie" Bond was Vice Squadron Leader of the First Pursuit Squadron "Adam and Eves" of the American Volunteer Group (AVG). Recruited by Skip Adair in 1941, he was inspired by photos of shark-mouthed Tomahawks of No. 112 Sqadron, RAF. He was the first to paint his P-40 in similar markings, setting the precedent for what became the trademark of the Flying Tigers. He shot down six Japanese fighters and one bomber. After the AVG disbanded, he rejoined the US Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics to train new fighter pilots. In this tape, Bond describes his background before joining the American Volunteer Group and his journey overseas from San Francisco to Rangoon.
Bond, Charles R., Jr.
Charlie Bond interview (video and transcript, 10 of 12), 1991
Interview of Charlie Bond by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles R. "Charlie" Bond was Vice Squadron Leader of the First Pursuit Squadron "Adam and Eves" of the American Volunteer Group (AVG). Recruited by Skip Adair in 1941, he was inspired by photos of shark-mouthed Tomahawks of No. 112 Sqadron, RAF. He was the first to paint his P-40 in similar markings, setting the precedent for what became the trademark of the Flying Tigers. He shot down six Japanese fighters and one bomber. After the AVG disbanded, he rejoined the US Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics to train new fighter pilots. In this tape, Bond discusses the period when the pilots were concerned over the future of the American Volunteer Group and their possible induction, in addition to the most memorable event in his life in the AVG that took place at Paoshan.
Charlie Bond interview (video and transcript, 11 of 12), 1991
Interview of Charlie Bond by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary, Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Charles R. "Charlie" Bond was Vice Squadron Leader of the First Pursuit Squadron "Adam and Eves" of the American Volunteer Group (AVG). Recruited by Skip Adair in 1941, he was inspired by photos of shark-mouthed Tomahawks of No. 112 Sqadron, RAF. He was the first to paint his P-40 in similar markings, setting the precedent for what became the trademark of the Flying Tigers. He shot down six Japanese fighters and one bomber. After the AVG disbanded, he rejoined the US Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics to train new fighter pilots. In this tape, Bond describes his survival after the combat in Paoshan, the meeting between the Flying Tigers and General Bissell, and the last days of the AVG.