WW II (World War Two) - CBI = China/Burma/India Theater of Operations; AVG = American Volunteer Group ~ "Flying Tigers" ~ Etc.

[Stryder50]

Often seen as an obscure and "neglected" Front, or Theater of Operations, CBI was a prime focus of sorts at the start of WW2, especially during the Japanese advances of 1941-1942. Also, some of the USA's first ventures in the war, thanks to FDR and perhaps Chennault, would be here via the AVG - (1st)American Volunteer Group more commonly known as the Flying Tigers.

Many historians claim that despite limited resources provided on the Allies part, significant Japanese resources would be engaged and "tied up" in these parts of Asia. Also, some interesting developments would come from this Theater, with impact towards the post-war world.

First use of helicopters in combat roles, mostly rescue related.
The airlift of supplies and men over the Himalayas, flying "the Hump", would be impetus for improvements in aerial navigation and weather forecasting.
Some of the earliest use of aerial insertion behind enemy lines.
...
"At the time the AVG was being put together (about a year prior to "Pearl Harbor"), the P-40 was the pinnacle of USA fighter aircraft technology. The P-39 and P-38 were just birthing out of prototype/testing and the P-47 and P-51 were yet to be "dreamed". As pointed out, the P-40 had it's advantages if used properly and is a design that found use and improvement through out the course of the war, which is hard to say of some of it's earlier advesaries.

The AVG had a short lifespan, barely seven months of combat before being 'drafted' into the CBI and eventual USAAF 14th Air Force.

One key aspect of the AVG ~ CBI venture that would have lasting and enduring impact was the role played by ATC, where "flying the Hump" would be the "spearpoint"of trans-global air supply 'networking'. Lessons learned here in adverse terrain, climate, and navigation challenges, would have profound impact in the growth and scope of post WWII commercial aviation; in forms of traffic control, radio and radar navigation, air freight efficencies, airframe type usage, etc. "
...

Flying Tigers - Wikipedia ​

 

[Stryder50]

Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45
by Barbara W. Tuchman

At Good Reads.com;

Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45 ​

Barbara W. Tuchman won the Pulitzer Prize for Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45 in 1972. She uses the life of Joseph...
www.goodreads.com

See also;

Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911–45 - Wikipedia ​

And the Wiki page on CBI;

China Burma India Theater - Wikipedia ​

 

[Stryder50]

The Flying Tigers and their saga has always been one of my more favorite episodes of WWII, slightly enhanced in that I had an uncle (sinced passed away) whom served with 14 AF in the CBI.

By far the best book, in detail and comprehensive, is Daniel Ford's; "Flying Tigers, Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941 - 1942";

9780061246555: Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942 - AbeBooks - Ford, Daniel: 0061246557 ​

AbeBooks.com: Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942 (9780061246555) by Ford, Daniel and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices.
www.abebooks.com

I highly recommend the 2007 edition which is greatly revised and updated/expanded. The volume is "controversial" because Ford has done extensive research into Japanese records of the era and his discoveries have down-scaled the quantitative impact of the Tigers. Never the less, this tome is number one on my list and among the several books I have on this subject.

Ford points out the the name/identity of "Flying Tigers" appears to reside with David Corcoran, one of the AVG "Washington Squadron" whom had approached Disney to design a unit emblem. A flying dragon had originally been considered, but Corcoran reported suggested a tiger instead. After the Tiger's first combat engagement, Dec. 20, 1941 (local date), Henry Luce of Time magazine played the popular journalism card with his story; "Blood for the Tigers", and a legend was born.

That "legend" has the Tigers 'credited' with nearly 300 confirmed enemy aircraft kills, in air and on ground, and nearly the same number 'unconfirmed', with some researchers claiming the real number may have been nearly double of those to figures. Ford, after researching Japanese records, finds the REAL number was more like 115, give or take a handful. As he points out, all sides in all theatres had a tendency to inflate claims of damage done to the enemy, not so much "lying", as more the nature of confusion inherent to aerial combat of those times where often more than one pilot was laying claim to the same "shoot down" aircraft, said kill oft being actually damaged and later able to make it back to a base.

The Tigers did often engage at vastly out-numbered odds and against an opponent whom had more combat experience, so the real numbers don't slight the valor and tenacity displayed by the Tigers. They remain real heroes when the Allies needed such to bolster morale. Considering many of the destroyed aircraft were bombers with large crews, we than can realize that while nearly one out of four AVG pilots were lost (killed, captured, missing) Japanese aircrew losses were close to 28 to one versus those of the AVG!

Ford points out that during their brief existence, the AVG inventory totaled about 116 Tomahawks and Kittyhawks, of which about 86 were lost to combat, accident, and abandonment. Latter two causes being the majority factor.

Quantitative adjustments aside, the qualitative impact and legacy of the Flying Tigers remains intact as one of the most accomplished, inspiring, and impressive units to operate in WWII

 

[Stryder50]

Another tidbit of Flying Tiger trivia, the famous 'Shark's mouth nose art'. Seen by one of the AVG pilots in an issue of Life magazine in an article on British flyers in North Africa, flying Tomahawks (@ equal to USAAF P-40Bs), whom had the "shark's mouth and eyes" painted on their aircraft as a unit emblem of sorts, the idea of copying this was kicked around and readily accepted by the AVG personnel. Would go into history as their 'signature emblem', even though they were neither the first nor the last to paint such an image on the nose of their aircraft.

----------------------------------

 

[Stryder50]

How the Curtiss P-40 Got That Wicked Shark Grin
The Tomahawk was not the first airplane to wear its trademark nose art.
....
The archetypal shark mouth, as we know it today, first appeared on the noses of the Tomahawks of Royal Air Force No. 112 Squadron, fighting in North Africa. “The Shark Squadron” had received its Curtiss fighters in July 1941. Squadron nose art underwent many iterations before the British airmen settled on the definitive design. The ultimate shark appeared while 112 Squadron was serving in Egypt.

That year, in another part of the world—a Baptist missionary’s house in Toungoo, Burma, to be exact—AVG pilot Charles Bond had grown bored with the after-dinner conversation. He picked up the November 2, 1941 copy of The Illustrated Weekly of India and saw, on its cover, a photo of a pair of 112 Squadron’s Tomahawks. In the photo, South African Flight Lieutenant Neville “Bowks” Bowker stood on the wing of a British Tomahawk Mk. 1 named “Menace.” But what struck Bond most was the fighter’s eyes and fearsome teeth.

“Gee!” he wrote in his diary, “I want my P-40 to look like that! I discussed it with the others and they thought it was a good idea.” Bond hoped to mark all the fighters of the First Pursuit Squadron with the design, however, AVG commander Claire Chennault said, “No.” Instead, he wanted every airplane in the entire group to carry the markings. On the following day, Bond wrote in his diary, “November 16, 1941. Quite sore today. I suppose it was from pedaling into town for the paint to jazz up the planes.”
...

....

How the Curtiss P-40 Got That Wicked Shark Grin ​

The Tomahawk was not the first airplane to wear its trademark nose art.

 

[Stryder50]

In the case of the AVG, ideology was a part of why some guys joined, but other reasons, more commonly mentioned, were to have adventure, see some action, get some real training, and as many expressed, expecting that the USA would be in the war eventually, they saw a chance to get an earlier start. There was also the pay, about $600/month and rank promotion a notch or two above where they were. The pilots usually had 1-2 years experience, or more, some were instructors, many of the USN sort flew scout/dive-bomber aircraft and had been engaged in "Neutrality Patrol" work. Basically professionals already and enticed by the recruitment and opportunity. Similar applied to the non-flying base and support types recruited. They were "contractors", signed on to a one year contract, and aware of the implied approval at higher levels, sort of an early version of mercenary, somewhat like forerunners of "Air America" a couple decades later.

While there wasn't "government assurance" "in writing", the USA was involved in build up of personnel and material for future war use, and current Lend Lease, and an implication they would be valued and desired for their experience when their contracts we up. There was also strong public sentiments in the USA at the time for the people of China and their treatment by the Japanese, perhaps aided by newsreel footage, some books and movies, and also the press and magazines, such as "Life".

Note both P-40B and P-40E shown here in above.

american volunteer group - Google Search

 

[Stryder50]

Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional)

Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional) - Wikipedia ​

14th Air Force Units (list)

CBI Unit Lineages and History ​

CBI Unit Lineages and History
www.cbi-history.com

 

[Stryder50]

Chiang may not have been the sharpest tack in the box when it came to military response to Japan's aggressions, but he was adept at countering the threats of the other 'warlords' whom had local/region control of parts of China. Makes him far from a doofus on the national political scale since he was dominate there. Actually, had as much if not more to do with marrying well, as Madame and her family appear to be the real powerhouses of Nationalist Government domination, and relations~manipulations of the other Western Allies.

Collectively, the Chiang's saw to it that their rivals didn't get too much of the Western aid/Lend-Lease to give them advatage over his regime while also remaining more focused on balancing any advantage the Communists might gain. The "mess" inside China during the War was as much countering any rival internal factions seeking to rule the nation as much as it was countering the foreign aggression of Japan. Both Nationalists and Communists held back to husband as much resources as they could while waiting to let the Western Allies~USA/UK/Etc. defeat Japan since to both it was the later and inevitable battle for whom would rule China after the War being the more important 'conflict' to focus upon.

Chiang Kai Shek could care less about being any sort of "hero"; power and being ultimate and supreme ruler of China was his only focus and goal and the Japanese invasion a slight diversion to the greater and long range goal/agenda.

 

[Stryder50]

R Leonard did a good job of answering the issue of the mix among pilots, and ground crew/staff that were recruited for the AVG. A reminder that in most cases these people had to get discharge from their branch of service and then signed one year contracts. Most began arriving in Burma by late Summer to early Fall of 1941.

The "close down of the unit"/AVG was the result of the USA entering into war against Japan and plans the USAAF had for operations in the CBI. The AVG became the 23rd Fighter Group;
...
The 23rd Fighter Group was established in World War II as the 23rd Pursuit Group of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).[3] Redesignated the 23rd Fighter Group before its activation, the group was formed in China on 4 July 1942,[3] as a component of the China Air Task Force and received a small cadre of volunteer personnel from the simultaneously disbanded 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) – the "Flying Tigers"[3] of the Chinese Air Force.
...
By 15 June 1942, under orders from Tenth Air Force, an advance cadre of pilots and aircraft had proceeded over the Hump to Kunming, China, for combat familiarization. Without ceremony, the 23rd Fighter Group was activated 4 July 1942, marking the first such activation of a United States fighter unit on a field of battle in World War II.[4][nb 2]

Claire L. Chennault, meanwhile, had been recalled to active duty with the rank of brigadier general and placed at the head of the China Air Task Force (later to grow into Fourteenth Air Force). The 23rd Fighter Group became a component of the Task Force and was assigned three squadrons, the 74th, 75th, and 76th Fighter Squadrons.[5][6][7][8]

The group inherited the mission of the American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers" (AVG). Five of Chennault's staff officers, five pilots[4] and 19 ground crewmen entered the United States Army Air Forces and became members of the 23rd Fighter Group. Approximately 25 Flying Tiger pilots, still in civilian status, volunteered to extend their contracts for two weeks to train the new group following the disbanding of their organization. The original aircraft of the group were a mixture of Curtiss P-40 Warhawks from a batch of 50 sent to China for the AVG between January and June 1942, and a follow-up shipment of 68 P-40Es transferred from the 51st Fighter Group in India and flown over the Hump by personnel to be assigned to the 23rd, also mostly from the 51st Group.[citation needed]

Others from the ranks of the original Flying Tigers left China when their contracts expired,[4] although some returned to duty later with the Army Air Forces in the China-Burma-India Theater. In addition to inheriting operational responsibilities from the AVG, the 23rd Fighter Group also benefited from the knowledge and experience of the AVG pilots, and took on the nickname of the disbanded unit.
...

23rd Fighter Group - Wikipedia ​

The US Army may have threatened, but never actually did. Many of those returning when the USAAF took over the AVG as the 23rd returned to their former service branches. Boyington going back to the USMC and later commanding a squadron of his own is one classic example.

Only a handful of the pilots recruited for the AVG had ever flown the P-40, and only slightly more had flown fighters. Most flew scout/bomber types while in the USN & USMC and one at least had multi-engine flying boat background. Hence everyone had a couple-few months of training to do before going into combat and a few either never got very good at flying the P-40, or died in training.

The Japanese tended to rotate whole units rather than individual pilots, and the AVG didn't see first combat until @ Dec. 22,1941 (a couple weeks after the PH attack). Most of the aircraft the Japanese flew were fairly current design and issue for the time. Most had been designed and entered production in the mid-late 1930s and were about as current design and tech as the P-40B which the AVG started with.

While one of the first A6M2 'Zero' the Allies would get their hands on was one that crash-landed in China, this was before the AVG arrived and the Pearl Harbor attack would occur. Chennault did get to examine this aircraft, which had flipped upon crash landing so it's vertical stabilizer(tail) was broken, resulting in some mistake regards the real configuration (thought to be more rounded than pointed). As Ford points out in his book, the AVG pilots took to referring to all Japanese fighters as "zeros" (rather than the later term 'boogie') so this could be a source of confusion to later historians. By the time the AVG entered combat, it was largely against the Japanese Army Air Force, so the bombers tended to be single engine Ki-30 (Ann)(1937), and twin engine Ki-21(Sally)(1939) and Ki-48 (Lilly) (1937). The fighter most often encountered was the Ki-27(Nate), and open cockpit (usually) and fixed gear light fighter. Nimble and fast climbing, but little armor and lightweight guns. Over time and as more became available, they tangled with the Ki-43 (Oscar) which did look very much like the A6M2 (Zeke)Zero. The Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Tojo) also saw brief and limited number use in CBI, mostly as a form of field test, and was quickly withdrawn.

Nakajima Ki-44 - Wikipedia ​

Ford provides a list(index) and information on which Japanese Sentai were encountered in the CBI.

 

[Stryder50]

Actually he (Boyington) only destroyed three aircraft in landing accidents. The joke among his fellow pilots was IF he destroyed two more he would be a "Japanese Ace". His name (used - nom de guerre) was Edwin Conant; real name John Perry; and he was a PBY pilot when recruited, and it had been over a year since he last did a landing on land. Also, as a flying boat pilot he was use to seating close to 25 feet above the surface when landing/settling down on water and had difficulty leveling off a lower altitude to the runway. When it came to transition out of the AVG, he returned to the Navy and eventually became a fighter pilot there and finally shot down three Jap planes in 1945 (had not shoot downs while with the AVG). He would also become one of the first Naval helicopter pilots.

 

[Stryder50]

Boyington's heavy drinking and abrasive personality didn't make him very popular with his fellow 'Tigers', or with Chennault. Records show he only had two air-to-air kills while with the AVG. However, since the AVG gave credit (bonus) for aircraft destroyed on the ground, he is shown as having a 3.5 kill record. Pilots could share in a kill to split the $500 bonus between them.

 

[Stryder50]

I'll first encourage all to read/review what I've already posted here for context.

Barely had the workings of the "American Volunteer Group"~AVG~"Flying Tigers" been put into motion than talks in D.C. between the "China Lobby" and FDR Admin. expanded to further considerations. One advocate point of the China Lobby was to take the war to the Japanese Homeland, hence a "fire-bomb their cities" strategy already forming. The China Lobby group wanted the USA to provide them with the new Boeing B-17 bombers for this purpose, but obvious objections arose from the USA, especially from military command which had barely received enough Boeing "Flying Fortresses" for their own needs/units.

The resulting "compromise" was an authorization for a 2nd AVG-Bombardment using other USA aircraft. The final composition was to have 33 of Douglas DB7/A-20 "Boston"/"Havoc" aircraft;

Douglas A-20 Havoc - Wikipedia ​

and also 33 of Lockheed A-29 Hudson bombers;

Lockheed Hudson - Wikipedia ​

As things would develop ...
The "A-20 Boston/Havoc" aircraft and air plus ground crews recruited and shipped were en route at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack and diverted to Australia where they would be absorbed into the eventual USA/Allied South~SW Pacific Theater (MacAuthur's).
The A-29 Hudsons and air and ground crews shipped were going via the flight path of Latin America~ Africa~Asia and eventually re-assigned to the local theaters where they were.

Hence neither aircraft, air crews, ground crews, etc. would make it directly to the CBI for the purposes intended.

Point to note here is that the "Flying Tigers" had barely formed and shipped to Theater, than two other Groups were in the making to further reinforce the effort to supply China with an "air force" to tie-down Japanese Army/Air Force resources in Eastern Asia.

BTW, the 3rd AVG-Pursuit, was planned to be equip with Vultee Vangard aircraft;

Vultee P-66 Vanguard - Wikipedia ​

TANSTAAFL = There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

 

[Stryder50]

For those interested in seeing what has been presented and posted on another forum/message board with regard to this subject; the replies I'm not allowed to present, etc. ...
CBI - China Burma India & the AVG

 

[Stryder50]

Another thread on another forum for reference and context ...
The United States in China: 1937 -1949: Political and Military Strategies and Actions

 

[Stryder50]

BUMP - for reference sake.

 

[whitehall]

FDR was a dying man in 1942 The U.S. adventures in the CBI front were possible despite FDR, not because of any relivant policy he came up with in his last 4th term.

 

[Stryder50]

FDR was a dying man in 1942 The U.S. adventures in the CBI front were possible despite FDR, not because of any relivant policy he came up with in his last 4th term.

As for "a dying man", I've heard it said that for all of us, tomorrow is a promissory note. Then there's the old Irish wag: "The longer you live, the sooner you'll die."

As for CBI and USA adventures there, by Dec. 7,1941 the USA, and FDR, were becoming embroiled in the global war(s), thanks muchly to input and influence of Winston Churchill. Between him and FDR it was seen as necessary (and useful) to "Keep China in the War" with regard to it's fight against Japan that had restarted in 1937, and looked to embroil the USA, UK, and others in the near future. The USA China Policy grew out of the extension of Lend-Lease to China and the input of many minds, political and military, USA and UK. In China's case, trying to get the most "bang for the least bucks". Also, much of the CBI was involving the UK and their Empire in South to South West Asia, and the linkage towards Australia and NZ, so like much in a Global War of that sorts, many parts interlinked and connected.

FWIW, the basic USA policy for what would become known as the CBI Theater(Front) was set before 1942. Remember, it was our embargoes and sanctions to Japan to try and get them to cease their war/attacks upon China that helped set the chain of events that would result in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack upon Pearl Harbor, along with offensives in many other places of Western Pacific~East Asia. The goal of the "Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere - Wikipedia​

...
The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (Japanese: 大東亜共栄圏, Hepburn: Dai Tōa Kyōeiken), also known as the GEACPS,[1] was a concept that was developed in the Empire of Japan and propagated to Asian populations which were occupied by it from 1931 to 1945, and which officially aimed at creating a self-sufficient bloc of Asian peoples and states that would be led by the Japanese and be free from the rule of Western powers. The idea was first announced on 1 August 1940 in a radio address delivered by Foreign Minister Yōsuke Matsuoka.

The intent and practical implementation of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere varied widely depending on the group and government department involved. Policy theorists who conceived it, as well as the vast majority of the Japanese population at large, saw it for its pan-Asian ideals of freedom and independence from Western colonial rule. In practice, however, it was frequently used by militarists and nationalists, who saw an effective policy vehicle through which to strengthen Japan's position and advance its dominance within Asia.[2] The latter approach was reflected in a document released by Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare, An Investigation of Global Policy with the Yamato Race as Nucleus, which laid out the central position of Japan within the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere,[3] and promoted the idea of Japanese superiority over other Asians.[4] Japanese spokesmen openly described the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity as a device for the "development of the Japanese race."[5] When World War II ended, the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere became a source of criticism and scorn.[6]
...

 

[whitehall]

It's a whole new way to look at the origin of the Pacific war to say that the oil embargo against Japan would rssult in anything but the attack on Pearl Harbor?

 

[AZrailwhale]

Another tidbit of Flying Tiger trivia, the famous 'Shark's mouth nose art'. Seen by one of the AVG pilots in an issue of Life magazine in an article on British flyers in North Africa, flying Tomahawks (@ equal to USAAF P-40Bs), whom had the "shark's mouth and eyes" painted on their aircraft as a unit emblem of sorts, the idea of copying this was kicked around and readily accepted by the AVG personnel. Would go into history as their 'signature emblem', even though they were neither the first nor the last to paint such an image on the nose of their aircraft.

----------------------------------

The P-40, especially the B and C models with the smaller radiator scoop really lent themselves to the shark mouth motif. It was used on other fighters, but the effect wasn’t as good.

 

[Stryder50]

The P-40, especially the B and C models with the smaller radiator scoop really lent themselves to the shark mouth motif. It was used on other fighters, but the effect wasn’t as good.

It goes back to WWI;

In WWII Germany would seem to be the first to start such. While seen at times on the Me-109;

More commonly known and seen on the Me-110;

It was RAF units flying P-40B in North Africa which gave the AVG the idea;

Some variations;

More at;

German Me 110 with shark mouth - Google Search

raf p-40 with shark mouth - Google Search

You're right, that B and C version of P-40 had the best style for effect.