Flying Tigers: a bibliography of the American Volunteer Group

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Interviews, correspondence, and documents

I conducted scores of author interviews, mostly before but also after Flying Tigers was first published in 1991. The audio tapes of many are at the Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola FL. Another valuable series of interviews was conducted in 1962 by Frank Rounds Jr. for the Columbia University Oral History Research Office. Alas, the tapes weren't preserved, but second-generation transcripts are cataloged at the National Air and Space Museum Library, Washington DC, in two volumes as "The reminiscences of the Flying Tigers," call number qTL539.C72. They were part of the Pistole collection, later acquired by the Flying Tigers veterans group. Other sources of interviews and documents were the Air Force Historical Research Center (AFHRC) at Maxwell Field; the NASM archives in Washington DC; the Chennault Papers at Stanford University, with microfilm copies at the Library of Congress, Washington DC; and the AVG Archives at San Diego Aero-Space Museum, also later acquired by the Flying Tigers Association.

Anonymous. "Activities of Third Pursuit Squadron" 31 Dec 1941, Pistole collection

----. "Diary of a Japanese Airman" 1937, at AFHRC 248.211-24

Adair, Claude Bryant. Author interview (telephone) 1986

Allison, Ernest. Films from China 1929-1937, supplied by Nancy Allison Wright

Alsop, Joseph. Author interview (Washington DC) 9 Oct 1985

American Volunteer Group. "Diary of 3rd Pursuit Squadron" 1941-1942 [maintained by Daniel Hoyle] at AFHRC 863.059 and Pistole collection.

---. "Group War Diary" 1941-1942 [maintained by Olga Greenlaw and Doreen Davis] at AFHRC 863.305 and CLC Papers 29-30.

---. Victories attributed to AVG pilots, 1942, in CLC Papers 13.

Bacon, Noel. Author interview (telephone) 1990.

Bargh, C.V. ("Vic"). Author interview (telephone) 1995. Transcript at the Annals of the Flying Tigers.

Bishop, Lewis. Letter to his family 6 Dec 1941, supplied by Clint Dygert

Blackburn, John. Letters to family 1939-1942, supplied by Stanley Blackburn

Britain: Military Intelligence. "Japanese Air Losses, Burma Operation" at Imperial War Museum AL 5190.

---. Summary of Japanese documents, Burma invasion, at Imperial War Museum AL 5191.

Britain: Royal Air Force. Pilot's Notes: Tomahawk I, Publication 2013A, n.d. The aircraft described is actually the Tomahawk IIB, 100 of which were diverted to China and flown by the AVG.

---. Log of 17 Sq, at Public Record Office AIR 27/235; 67 Sq, AIR 602-603; 113 Sq, Public Record Office AIR 878; 135 Sq, AIR 949. Incomplete combat diaries of three fighter squadrons and a bomber squadron that served in Burma.

Brown, Carl. Author interview (Ojai CA) 4 Jul 1989

Butsch, Helen. Letter to author 3 May 2000

Burgard, George. Diary 1941-42, Pistole collection

Byrd, Martha. Author interview (Durham NH) 6 Aug 1992

Cavanah, Herbert. Author interview (telephone) 1986

Chen, Moon. Author interview (Arlington VA) 11 Jul 1989

Chennault, Anna. Author interview (Washington DC) 23 Oct 1985

Chennault, Claire. Reports to Adjutant General, 1937-1938, at AFHRC 248.211-24

----. Diary, 1937-1941, supplied by Jack Samson

----. Air Force interview, 5 and 16 Apr 1948, AFHRC 105.5-11

----. "Air Warfare in China" lecture 29 Aug 1952, AFHRC K239.716252-17

Chennault, Joesph L. Emails to author 2005

Corcoran, Joan. Author interview (telephone) 1992

Corcoran, Thomas. "Pacific Wars" typescript, supplied by Anna Chennault

----. Columbia interview 1962

Crookshanks, Jesse. Author interview (Ojai CA) 4 Jul 1989

Currie, Lauchlin. Memos and letters 1941-42, at FDR Library

Donovan, John. Letters 1941-42, in Pistole collection

Donovan, William. Memos 1942, in Secretary's File 163-64, FDR Library

Dunsmore, Dorothea. Author interview (Washington DC) 11 Jul 1989

Dupouy, Parker. Author interview (Providence RI) 22 Aug 1985

----. Letters to author 1992-

Fairbank, John King. "Air Program" 15 Jan 1941, supplied by William Leary

----. Letters to author 1987

Fritzke, Allen. Author interview (Piscatway NJ) 25 Jul 1985

Fu Jui-yuan. Author interview (Taipei) 9 Dec 1986

Greene, Paul. Author interviews (Ojai CA), 2-4 Jul 1989

Griffith, S. D. "The Chinese Air Force" 21 Aug 1937, AFHRC 248.211-24

Hanks, Emma Jane (Foster). Author interview (Ojai CA), 3 Jul 1989

Harrington, Jasper. Author interview (Ojai CA), 4 Jul 1989

Haynes, Caleb. Letter to USAAF historian, 20 Apr 1943, supplied by Martha Byrd

Hedman, Robert. Author interview (telephone) 1986

Hennessy, John. Author interview (Ashland NH) 3 Dec 1988

Hill, David Lee. Columbia interview 1962

----. Author interview (Ojai CA) 3 Jul 1989

Hinoki Yohei. Letters to author 1988

Izawa Yasuho. "Japanese Fighter Units and Aces" typescript, supplied by John Fredriksen

Jernstedt, Kenneth. Author interview (Hood River OR) 1 Mar 1988

Jordan, Joseph. Columbia interview 1962

Keeton, Robert. Diary 1941-42, Pistole collection

----. Author interview (Ojai CA) 5 Jul 1989

Kuo Ju-lin. Author interview (Taipei) 9 Dec 1986

Kuykendall, Matthew. Columbia interview 1962

Layher, Robert. Columbia interview 1962

----. Author interview (Ojai CA) 3 Jul 1989

Lee Cheng-yuan (Henry Lee). Author interview (Taipei) 10-11 Dec 1986

Liu S.Y. Author interview (Tapei) 8 Dec 1986

Lopez, Donald. Author interview (Washington DC) 11 Jul 1989

McGarry, William. Robert Andrade interview 1989

McHugh, James. Reports from China 1938, AFHRC 248.211-24

----. "The History and Status of the First American Volunteer Group" 1941, Cornell Univ. Library 2770

----. Reports from China 1939-41, at Cornell Univ. Library, supplied by William Leary and David Dunlap

Mangleburg, Lacy. Letters to his family 1941, supplied by Harry Mangleburg

Mao Chao-pin. Author interview (Taipei) 8 Dec 1986

Mao Pang-chu. Air Force interview, 28 Apr 1948, at AFHRC 105.5-10

Metasavage, Frank. Air Force interview, at AFHRC 549-3

Mott, Charles. Diary 1941-42, Pistole collection

----. Author interview (Arlington VA) 19 Jul 1988

Morgenthau, Henry. Diaries 1941-42, at FDR Library

Murano, Shinichi. Memoir of the 56th Division, author collection

continued in part 2

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Also by Daniel Ford

Remains: a story of the Flying Tigers (the novel)

The Lady & the Tigers (Olga Greenlaw's 1942 account)

Flying Tiger stuff
at Historic Aviation

Tiger Pass

Autographed print - Tex Hill flies his sharkface Tomahawk through the hills of southwest China. 27"x 19" limited edition numbered and signed by Tex Hill and the artist. $225.00 Click here to order from HA

Sharks on patrol

Autographed photo -- This reprint of R.T. Smith's famous color photograph captures the Flying Tigers in action. Signed by AVG aces Tex Hill, Robert Layher, and Dick Rossi. 10"x 8" photo arrives ready to frame and includes certificate of authenticity and full history. $79.95 Click here to order from Historic Aviation

P-40 Tomahawk kit

P-40B kit - From the shark-mouthed nose to the pilot figure, this 1/48 model has "authentic" written all over it. Features Flying Tiger markings with a detailed cockpit. Skill level 2. $11.95 Click here to order from Historic Aviation

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