Contribute to the continuation of the friendship between the Chinese and American people

Recently, the "Remembering Heroes - Flying Tigers Theme Historical Photo Exhibition Tour" jointly sponsored by the US China Aviation Heritage Foundation and relevant Chinese units was held in Jiangsu, Fujian, Hunan and other places, aiming to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti Fascist War, promote civil exchanges between China and the United States, and make the profound friendship between the two peoples in the war known to more people. During the exhibition, a delegation of Flying Tigers, consisting of members of the US China Aviation Heritage Foundation and descendants of Flying Tigers veterans, visited multiple local schools to witness the establishment of the "Flying Tigers Friendship School" between Chinese and American schools, contributing to promoting youth exchanges between the two countries and continuing the friendship between the Chinese and American people.

The United States and China used to cooperate, and they can do the same today

This is my father, "Margaret Kinkanon, Vice Chairman of the US China Aviation Heritage Foundation, pointed to a photo and affectionately told reporters at the" Remembering Heroes - Flying Tigers Theme Historical Picture Exhibition Tour "in Nanjing, Jiangsu. In the photo, a US soldier and Chinese ground crew are working together as a bomber to replace tires. It is reported that the event exhibited about 180 historical pictures and more than 100 cultural relics and historical materials, many of which were precious historical image materials donated selflessly by Flying Tigers veterans and their families.

James Mills, the father of Jin Cannon, is the American soldier in the photo. He left his hometown and came to China in 1944, where he was responsible for maintaining and repairing aircraft in the US Air Force. Later, he became a gunner for the B-25 bomber of the Flying Tigers until the victory of the Anti Japanese War.

My father often proudly said that he was the 'Flying Tiger' who fought against fascism in Chinese airspace, "Jin Kannong said. In order to make this history known to more people, she spent several years writing the book" Air Force Squadron: strafing and praying ". I have a responsibility to share what I know, which is also what I am currently working hard to do. "Jin Kannong believes that the spirit of the Flying Tigers is timeless and needs to be continued to be inherited and carried forward." The United States and China used to cooperate, and they can do the same today

In 1998, the US China Aviation Heritage Foundation was established. With the help of the foundation, more than 500 Flying Tigers veterans or their families have visited China. The Flying Tigers themed historical photo exhibition is touring in China, adding new vitality to the people to people exchanges between China and the United States. Jeffrey Green, Chairman of the US China Aviation Heritage Foundation, said that the photo exhibition brings together historical moments and shows the world what unity is, and this spirit is precious in the present.

During the exhibition, the Flying Tigers delegation visited Jinling Middle School and Nanjing Normal University Affiliated Middle School, and Green awarded the "Flying Tigers Friendship School" plaque to the leaders of the two schools. Jinling Middle School and Nanjing Normal University Affiliated Middle School have officially joined the "Flying Tigers Friendship School and Youth Leader Program".

Green introduced that the US China Aviation Heritage Foundation launched the "Flying Tigers Friendship School and Youth Leader Program" in September 2022, hoping to inherit and promote the spirit of the Flying Tigers through student exchanges, online conferences, knowledge competitions, summer camps, and other forms of communication between the two countries, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between young people of the two countries. Since the beginning of this year, more than 70 American teachers and students have come to China for exchange through this program.

At Nanjing Normal University Affiliated Middle School, students sang "Eternal Friendship" together. The members of the Flying Tigers delegation raised their phones one after another to record this touching moment. Green was moved to tears by the sincere singing of the young people. "I look forward to the young people of the United States and China continuing to tell the touching stories of the Flying Tigers and continuing the spirit of the Flying Tigers," he said

Let the spirit of the Flying Tigers be passed down between the new generations of the two countries

At that time, Chinese military and civilians made a lot of contributions together with the Flying Tigers, which was very important for achieving the ultimate victory, "said Clifford Long, a veteran of the American Flying Tigers, next to his old photo.

In Changting County, Longyan City, Fujian Province, the "Remembering Heroes - Flying Tigers Theme Historical Picture Exhibition Tour" selected precious historical pictures and divided them into six parts to review the history of the Chinese and American military and civilians who fearlessly sacrificed themselves and fought together in the anti fascist war, reproducing the historical scene of the Flying Tigers fighting side by side with the Chinese military and civilians and standing together against the enemy.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Changting became a strategic location connecting the southeastern provinces and the southwestern and northwestern rear areas due to its unique geographical location. On February 2, 1945, the Flying Tigers established an office in Changting, with over 100 ground and pilot personnel stationed there. More than 40 fighter jets and 20 transport planes landed at Changting Airport. Afterwards, the Flying Tigers lived closely with Chinese military and civilians in Changting, fighting together day and night, and establishing a deep friendship.

Huang's Liyuan, located on Shuidong Street in Changting, was one of the former bases of the Flying Tigers. I never thought that one day I would be able to follow in my father's footsteps in this way. "Jin Kannong walked into this exquisite ancient house for the first time, strolling through the place where his father once lived, and was filled with emotions. During his service in the Flying Tigers, my father developed a deep bond with the Chinese military and civilians. More than 70 years have passed, and he still remembers the names of the two Chinese pilots who maintained the aircraft together, "she said.

During the exhibition, Changting No.1 and Elroncho High School in the United States formed a "Flying Tigers Friendship School". "During the most difficult period of the Second World War, the people of the United States and China forged an enduring friendship. From the story of the Flying Tigers, we can understand the history of our parents' winning through unity and cooperation. Our mission is to spread the story of the Flying Tigers, carry forward the spirit of solidarity, cooperation and mutual respect between the people of the United States and China, and let the spirit of the Flying Tigers be passed on between the new generations of the two countries," Green said.

To contribute to the continuous development of US China relations

In Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province, the Flying Tigers delegation walked into the Zhijiang Flying Tigers Memorial Hall, carefully examining the exhibits such as old photos, military uniforms, airplane models, and battle maps, and occasionally communicating with Chinese visitors. Precious historical photos and detailed historical introductions, combined with Green's heartfelt narration, bring the audience's thoughts back to the turbulent years of war and turmoil.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Zhijiang was a military stronghold. The Flying Tigers entered Zhijiang Airport in June 1943 and left in September 1945. Green stated that Zhijiang Airport played an important role from 1943 to 1945. Pilots from both the United States and China worked tirelessly day and night, contributing to the victory of the anti fascist war.

Some members of the Flying Tigers delegation had previously visited Zhijiang. This time, Jin Kannong brought three old photos to donate to the memorial hall, one is a portrait of her father, and the other two are photos of her father with Chinese personnel back then. I will bring more photos to Zhijiang in the future, so that more people can understand the history of the United States and China fighting side by side, "said Jin Kannong.

Green and Flying Tigers veterans planted a cypress tree in the Sino US Friendship Forest next to the memorial hall in 2005. Looking at the tall and verdant cypress trees and the photo taken in front of them, Wu Jianhong, the director of the Zhijiang Flying Tigers Memorial Hall, said to Green, "I hope that the friendship between China and the United States can last forever like this cypress tree

At the exhibition of "Remembering Heroes - Flying Tigers Theme Historical Pictures" at the Changsha Museum in Hunan Province, Greene knew the stories behind each photo like a treasure trove. "At that time, the Chinese military and civilian built many airports in various places. From the old photos, we can see that there are women with children, laying runways with stones together." Green introduced that several groups of photos on display restored the scene at that time, "because there is no heavy equipment, they can only use shovel, pickaxe, handcart and other tools, and sometimes even need to work with bare hands."

During their visit to Hunan, the Flying Tigers delegation also went to Changsha Lushan International Experimental School to exchange ideas with the school's teachers and students. Yang Gefei, the principal of Lushan International Experimental School, believes that the visit of the Flying Tigers delegation and the exchange and interaction between the two sides demonstrate the inheritance of heroic spirit and the continuation of the profound friendship between China and the United States.

When the students of Lushan International Experimental School unfolded the banner of "Eternal Friendship between China and the United States, Flying Tiger Spirit Forever", the members of the Flying Tiger team delegation were all moved. Green said, "The spirit of US China cooperation demonstrated by the Flying Tigers has profound significance. We hope that students from both countries can strengthen exchanges and interactions, enhance mutual understanding, and contribute to the continuous development of US China relations

People's Daily (November 6, 2024, 15th edition)