China salutes US ‘Flying Tiger’ veterans and relatives

[Randy W]

China salutes US ‘Flying Tiger’ veterans and relatives on friendship mission

• Former air force members Harry Moyer and Mel McMullen are among a group visiting Beijing and various parts of the country where the volunteers fought alongside Chinese
• President Xi Jinping says the Flying Tigers can still help to foster better relations between their nations

from the SCMP

US World War II veteran Harry Moyer (second right) speaks next to his compatriot Mel McMullen (second left) and US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, (left) during a ceremony in honour of Flying Tigers and their descendants held at the US Embassy in Beijing on Monday.  Photo: AP

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Vice-President Han Zheng welcomed the group led by Harry Moyer and Mel McMullen, two former members of the US 14th Air Force, or “Flying Tigers”, who helped to defend China against Japanese forces in the 1940s.
“The Chinese people always remember the heroic deeds of the Flying Tigers and we will never forget our old friends,” Han said.

“More than 80 years ago, China and America fought side by side in the battle against fascism, and the great story of the Flying Tigers carries the deep friendship forged with their lives and blood of the two peoples .”

The two men are visiting with relatives of other members from the American volunteer group on a trip state broadcaster CCTV described as a journey to “enable friendship to be passed on from generation to generation”.

He Wei, vice-chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, hosted the visitors at the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall in Beijing.

Other American visitors included Nell Calloway, granddaughter of Flying Tiger commander Claire Chennault, and Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, an organisation set up in 1998 to recognise wartime friendship between the two countries.

 

 

Edited October 31, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)