Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Other Finding Aids
Arrangement
Related Materials
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) Special Collection
creator:
Schreibman, Robert S.
creator:
Pentecost, Walter
creator:
McKellar, Ed
creator:
Pistole, Larry M.
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10008
Physical Description:
4.47 Cubic Feet
It contains correspondence, articles, documents, reunion yearbooks, artifacts, etc., relating to the American Volunteer Group
(AVG), known as the “Flying Tigers,” the China Air Task Force, the United States 10th Air Force, and the United States 14th
Air Force, all of which have used the Flying Tigers designation.
The collection consists of seven flip-top archival boxes; three measuring 10.5”x15.5”x7’, two measuring 10.5”x15.5”x5”, and
two measuring 10.5”x12.5”x5”.
Date (inclusive): 1927-2000
Abstract: This series contains various correspondences, articles, documents, reunion yearbooks, etc. relating to the American Volunteer
Group (AVG), known as the “Flying Tigers.”
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
Biographical / Historical
The 1st American Volunteer Group, also known as AVG, and more famously as the Flying Tigers—was a group of volunteer American
pilots from various branches of the military, led by Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault. Answering a call from Madame
Chiang Kai Shek, Chennault initially gathered together the AVG to perform a survey of the Chinese Air Force. The AVG was comprised
of 3 squadrons: 1st Adam and Eves, 2nd Panda Bears, and 3rd Hell’s Angels. The group saw combat after Pearl Harbor in 1941,
and went on to produce multiple victories against the Japanese, and emerged with multiple Flying Aces. Chennault employed
his fighter doctrine, which was based on careful study of the enemy’s tactics, while employing their strengths in altitude.
The Flying Tigers were famous too for their successes in the air battle over Rangoon.
In addition to their combat victories, the Flying Tiger members and Chennault were highly celebrated, and in 1992, AVG veterans
were finally recognized as members of the military services, and all members were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The ground crew were rewarded the Bronze Star.
In popular culture, the Flying Tigers are readily recognizable in their iconic shark face nose art. They have also been featured
in various movies, books and documentaries.
Scope and Contents
The collection is broken down into pre-war, wartime, and post-war eras, but each era may contain material on the subject from
later years. The collection begins with background information on the China-Japanese War in early 1941, prior to the involvement
of the AVG, with an emphasis on assessment of Chinese air power. The second section documents the establishment of the AVG,
which became known as the Flying Tigers. The third section documents activities of the United States Air Force from July
4, 1942 on, the official date of the disbanding of the AVG. The fourth section covers activities of the AVG Veterans' associations,
including incorporation and the application for veteran status. The last section covers the activities of the 14th Air Force
Association, including merchandising, books/brochures/periodicals, and a number of the Flying Tigers reunion booklets. Each
section will contain some or all of the Series listings noted below.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The bulk of this collection was donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum prior to 2007, when it was compiled from existing
holdings. The contents of Box 03 and Box 04 were previously known as the Papers of Walter W. Pentecost as of August 2006.
Preferred Citation
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Other Finding Aids
A more detailed, item level finding aid is available at http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/collections/collection_item.php?id=139
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in an imposed order according to subject and material type.
Related Materials
The SDASM library and archives holds many photographs of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk in its collections as well as multiple books
on the subjects listed in the Important Personalities & Subjects section below.
Additional copies of books represented in this collection are available in the SDASM library:
Bond, Charles R. Jr. and Anderson, Terry. A Flying Tiger's diary.
D 790 .B59 1984
Pistole, Larry M. The Pictorial History of the Flying Tigers.
D 790 .C46 1983
Rosholt, Malcolm. Claire L. Chennault : a tribute.
TL 540 .C54 .R67
Elwyn Gibbon Personal Papers http://sandiegoairandspace.org/collections/collection_item.php?id=77
Related Research Institutions:
The Hoover Institution at Stanford University (http://www.hoover.org/library-archives) holds the papers of Claire L Chennault,
commander of the 14th Air Force.
Secondary Sources:
American Volunteer Group-Flying Tigers Association. "Flying Tigers AVG - Home." Flying Tigers AVG. http://www.flyingtigersavg.com/
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
China Burma India Theater (CBI)
World War, 1939-1945
Schreibman, Robert S.
United States. Army Air Forces
Pentecost, Walter
Chennault, Claire Lee
McKellar, Ed
United States. Army Air Forces. Air Force, 14th
China National Aviation Corporation
Flying Tigers (AVG), Inc.
China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group
Pistole, Larry M.