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Bill 1422

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      1422
Type of Legislation:              Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20000531
Primary Sponsor:                  Wilson
All Sponsors:                     Wilson, Hayes, Branton, Leventis, 
                                  Russell, Ravenel and Bauer
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\swb\5300djc00.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     20000601
Subject:                          14th Air Force, "Flying Tigers" 
                                  of American Volunteer Group in Army Air Force; 
                                  Resolutions, Veterans' and Military


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  20000601  Received from House
House   20000531  Introduced, adopted, returned
                  with concurrence
Senate  20000531  Introduced, adopted, sent to House


              Versions of This Bill

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 14th AIR FORCE AND ITS IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS, THE FAMED "FLYING TIGERS" OF THE AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP AND THE CHINA AIR TASK FORCE, WHO SERVED SO VALIANTLY IN THE CHINA, BURMA, INDIA THEATER, ESPECIALLY REMEMBERING AND HONORING THOSE BRAVE PILOTS, AIRMEN, AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO WERE WOUNDED OR LOST THEIR LIVES AS THE RESULT OF ENEMY ACTION OR DISEASE DURING THE CRITICAL DAYS OF WORLD WAR II IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE OF ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS FOR THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 14th AIR FORCE AND ITS IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 14th AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION'S MEETING, OCTOBER 11th-14th , 2000, IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, in 1937, Claire L. Chennault, a retired Army Air Corps captain, accepted the gigantic task of reorganizing Chiang Kai-shek's Air Force of the Republic of China; and, from the onset of the Sino-Japanese War, Chennault repeatedly called for United States aid to China in the form of airplanes; and

Whereas, despite opposition by Generals Marshall and Arnold, a secret executive order from President Roosevelt, dated April 1, 1941, permitted Chennault to recruit volunteers from among active duty personnel. As a result of this secret order, a group of one hundred pilots and two hundred ground crew members volunteered, formed the American Volunteer Group (AVG), and proceeded to Burma; and

Whereas, at or about the same time, one hundred crated P-40 Tomahawk aircraft, rejected by the British as obsolete, were secretly sold and shipped to China. For fourteen months thereafter, in Toungoo, Burma, the pilots of the AVG were personally trained by Chennault, who knew how to elicit positive performances from both the pilots and the P-40 Tomahawks; and

Whereas, to enhance esprit de corps while contending against greater numbers and resources, the noses of the AVG aircraft were painted to symbolize the grinning mouth, flashing teeth, and evil eye of the tiger shark. Subsequently, newsmen referred to the planes and pilots of the AVG as "Flying Tigers", a name which rapidly caught on worldwide; and

Whereas, fighting against numerically superior forces, the "Flying Tigers" of the AVG compiled one of the greatest records of the war. Between December 18, 1941, and July 4, 1942, the AVG was officially credited with the destruction of two hundred eighty-six Japanese aircraft. In sharp contrast, the "Flying Tigers" had only eight pilots killed in action; and

Whereas, upon expiration of the AVG contract with the government of China, Chennault was recalled to active duty in the rank of Brigadier General as the Army Air Force moved into China. The China Air Task Force and 23rd Fighter Squadron carried on as the "Flying Tigers" under the command of Brigadier General Chennault; and

Whereas, Army Air Force numbers grew in China and a visit was made to Kunming by Army Air Force Chief "Hap" Arnold in March 1943; subsequently the 14th Air Force was established by special order of the President. Chennault continued as the commander and was promoted to Major General; and

Whereas, throughout the critical days of World War II in Southeast Asia, the famed "Flying Tigers" conducted effective fighter and bomber operations along a five thousand mile front from Chunking and Cheng Tu in the west to Indo-China in the south, and from the Tibetan Plateau in Burma to the China Sea and Formosa in the east. The "Flying Tigers" eventually grounded the Japanese Air Force as the war came to a close; and

Whereas, Chennault's record and the achievements of the brave pilots and men who served with him, unparalleled in the annals of World War II, boasted a courageous air strategist who produced a fighting force in spite of continuous obstacles. The man, and the men and women who served with him, are all legends in their own time. The "China Hands" of the 14th Air Force and their predecessors, the famed "Flying Tigers" of the American Volunteer Group and the China Air Task Force, were responsible for the destruction of more than two thousand one hundred Japanese planes, the sinking of two million, one hundred thirty-five thousand, four hundred eighty-nine tons of enemy shipping, and fifty-nine thousand, four hundred fifty enemy casualties; and

Whereas, the record of the 14th Air Force in the China, Burma, India theater during World War II remains one of the brightest pages in Army Air Force (AAF) history. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and commend the officers and men of the 14th Air Force and its immediate predecessors, the famed "Flying Tigers" of the American Volunteer Group and the China Air Task Force, who served so valiantly in the China, Burma, India theater, especially remembering and honoring those brave pilots, airmen, and support personnel who were wounded or who lost their lives as the result of enemy action or disease during the critical days of World War II in Southeast Asia, and to express the gratitude of all South Carolinians for the sacrifice and service of the members of the 14th Air Force and its immediate predecessors on the occasion of the 14th Air Force Association's meeting, October 11th - 14th , 2000, in Charleston, South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the 14th Air Force Association

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