14th Air Force - Flying Tigers - Agawam, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 02.742 W 072° 37.114
18T E 697089 N 4657594
A monument dedicated to those who served with 14th Air Force - Flying Tigers during World War II is located along Memorial Path in the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery, 1390 Main St, Agawam, MA.
Waymark Code: WMVZVY
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 06/18/2017
Views: 0
A 3' high granite granite monument contains the winged tiger emblem of the Flying Tigers and the following inscription:
DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED
14TH AIR FORCE -·- FLYING TIGERS
CHINA W.W. II
The First American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force (1941–1942) was popularly known as the Flying Tigers. They were formed by pilots from United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC), and commanded by Major General Claire Lee Chennault.
The Flying Tigers were composed of three fighter squadrons of around 30 aircraft each whose mission was to defend China from Japanese aggression. They trained in Burma before the American entry into World War II. They first saw combat December 20, 1941, 12 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States entry into World War II. They were credited with the destruction of 296 enemy aircraft. They suffered the loss of 14 pilots.
The unit was disbanded on July 4, 1942 and replaced by the 23rd Fighter Group of the U. S. Army Air Forces which became part of the U.S. Fourteenth Air Force under the command of General Chennault.