P-40 Tomahawk

My 6th model of lockdown is the P-40 Tomahawk #68 flown by Squadron Leader Arvid Olson of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), Third Pursuit Squadron, Hell's Angels.

The AVG, more famously known as "The Flying Tigers", were a secret United States military operational entity, authorized and approved by President Franklin D. Roosewelt, on 23 December 1940, to provide air support to China, who had been at war with the Japan since 1937. Yes, it’s always been going on!

This covert operation, was originally requested by General Claire Lee Chennault (a former USAAC pilot instructor and veteran of WWI) on behalf of the leader of the Chinese Government, Chaing Kai-Shek. The AVG received 100 P-40 fighter aircraft diverted from a shipment to Britain and originally destined for North Africa. Pilots, mechanics, ground crew & medical staff were all recruited from active branches of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Pilots were offered the sum of $600 per month to fly for China, and a bonus of $500 for every Japanese plane shot down. In today’s value, that would be equivalent to approximately $10,000 and $8,000, respectively. Not yet being at war with Japan, there of course could be no paper trail that could be traced back to the US.

The AVG set up camp in Toungoo, Burma at the British-controlled Kyedaw Airfield. The British needed the support of the AVG due to the fact that their own supplies were largely diverted to the European war theater. The Tiger Shark motif on the aircraft was inspired, as I mentioned in the Sabre backstory, by The RAF’s 112 “shark” squadron which sported the sharkmouth design on their desert prepared P40s. The unusual blue Chinese Air Force roundels adorn the wings and the tiger insignia for the Flying Tigers on the sides was created by cartoonists at Walt Disney Studios! Each pilot also had a red and white lady painted on the nose to depict their squadron “Hells Angels” call sign.
During the short seven months of combat, the AVG acquired a record of 297 Japanese aircraft destroyed. AVG losses were 4 pilots killed in air combat, 7 killed by ground fire, 3 died as a result of Japanese bombing while they were on the ground and 1 missing in action presumed dead. That reflects an AVG to Japanese kill ratio of 50 to 1, a record that has never been equaled. When Chennault reviewed official Japanese war records, after the war, he discovered that the Japanese reported the destruction of 544 AVG aircraft. However, at no time did the AVG possessed more than 100 aircraft in their unit. The AVG was disbanded on 4 July 1942, though being seen by the military brass as being a bit of a renegade outfit, few of the original Flying Tiger pilots chose to or were invited to rejoin the official services.

An interesting factoid: the star of my model, Squadron Leader of the"Hell's Angels", Arvid Olsen, was affiliated with the foundation of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, (HAMC), in Fontana, California, March 1948, although he never apparently became a member. To this day, the HAMC use a red and white colour scheme in their emblems, just as Olsen’s painted ladies back in 1941.

If you want to see the Flying Tigers in action, there’s a classic 1942 film of the same name staring John Wayne, in which real footage of the P-40s are used.