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ANNALS OF THE FLYING TIGERS

Tigers flying Thunderbolts

Terrence Alleg turned up this story about John Croft, one of the many Flying Tigers who returned to the US in the spring and summer of 1942 and rejoined their branch of service, flew cargo and men for the military, or became test pilots. It's one of thousands of document pages from the history of the Republic Aviation company on Long Island, New York, that have been archived by the Long Island Republic Airport Historical Society. I did a search for "Flying Tigers" and turned up mention of Croft, Parker Dupouy, Ken Jernstedt, David Harris, and Frank Adkins, all of whom worked for Republic at one time or another and probably flew the P-47 Thunderbolts before they were delivered to the US Army Air Forces.

The formidable Thunderbolt, which became a low-level bomber and strafing machine in Europe and Asia, was preceded by the P-43 Lancer, of which 125 were sent to China in 1942 to equip the 3rd American Volunteer Group, but in the event were turned over to the Chinese Air Force. I did a search for the ill-fated Lancer and was amused to find a December 1940 article in the Republic Aviation News promising that it would "become one of the most formidable units in the air force of this country." Didn't work out that way, for the USAAF or for the Chinese! Blue skies! — Dan Ford

A 'Special Air Unit' for China: