Flying Tigers on THC...

[Rule of Wrist]

There's a show on the American Volunteer Group, or Flying Tigers, on the History Channel today... pretty interesting stuff about their record and tactics and history.

I feel close to this group because my Dad knows a few of them, and I've been to a couple of functions where a couple of them were guests.

What is interesting is that their combat records against the japanese was swept under the rug until about ten years ago...

They racked up an impressive record at that, with 296 confirmed air to air kills against 4 losses, along with over 200 ground targets destroyed.

For a unit that almost always fought when heavily outnumbered, and was only active significantly for about a year, their affect on the overall outcome of the pacific war was dramatic. Without the AVG in their way, the Japanese could have been successful in their bid to take over China, which would have changed the face of the pacific war entirely.

[PudriK Profile]

Gotta give them major props (ak pun!) for getting that K:D ratio while flying the P-40, which was outclassed by almost every Japanese plane. Just goes to show you what skill and tactics are capable of despite limitations of the machine.

[Doug the Unforgiven]

I watched part of that today....great stuff. Hell, the History Channel is almost the only TV I can stand anymore.