Let 'em Roar: Flying Tigers, Disney, Air America and the CIA.

(1)

The 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) is better known by their more popular title, The Flying Tigers. Organized in the early years of World War II, this group of volunteers fought with the Chinese against the Japanese invasion with a considerable amount of success. Although their fighter, the Curtiss P-40, was outclassed in dogfighting with the very agile Mitsubishi Zero, a change in tactics and approach to air combat somewhat evened the odds.

(2)

What you might not know about this unit, however, is the hidden history of the squadron insignia...the fact that it was designed by the Disney studios. Says Toons at War:

"...One interesting item of note is the fact a squadron of P-40 Flying Tigers fighters, (piloted by a group of American volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese Nationalist forces), is shown coming to the aid of Chesty and his friends. In real life, the insignia for the Flying Tigers was created by Disney artist Hank Porter..."

Source: (Toons At War)

(3)

FDR also played a primary role in the formation of the unit, personally stepping in and "borrowing" some P-40's that were bound for England, changing their destination to China under the lend-lease act. This unit also contained some famous volunteers. Included in this is Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of the famed VMF-214 fighter squadron, the "Black Sheep". In the later part of the war, the unit was gradually rolled into the regular United States forces and became part of the 14th Air Force.

Postwar, two interesting developments happened. The leader of the Flying Tigers, Chennault stayed in China and formed the Civil Air Transport, supporting the Chinese Nationalists in their struggle. Also known as the CAT, they became involved with the Central Intelligence Agency through the fifties and sixties, eventually becoming the unit known as Air America.

Another flying outfit organized from some of the pilots was the Flying Tigers Line, organized in 1946. Famous for flying the first commerical cargo route postwar, this airline flew into the 1980's before being taken over by Federal Express.

What a post...some great history today! Please take a few moments to check the links out as there is some really great information.

Have a great day, see you tomorrow!


Links:

Flying Tigers (Wikipedia)

Civil Air Transport (Wikipedia)
Civil Air Transport
Air Force Magazine, March 2002--Flying Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Chennault information) (PDF)
Air Force Magazine, 1958--Flying Tigers (link to html)
Curtiss P-40 (Wikipedia)
Flying Tigers Aircraft
Air America


Source:
(1) Library of Congress--Prints & Photographs Reading Room
(2) National Archives
(3) Wikipedia, via Maxwell AFB/ww2incolor.com

Shooting Satellites and Starfish Prime

I've been reading about the proposed downing of the dying US satellite, but I don't understand all the brouhaha that appears to be upsetting everyone. I certainly don't want anyone hurt, but if we consider this whole event in the light of what happened in 1962, it is a minor issue. So what happened?

Operation Starfish Prime.

Backstory:

Doing research about a possible post on the original Telstar, I ran across information on Starfish Prime. A subset of the Operation Dominic series of nuclear tests in the early Sixties, Starfish Prime consisted of a single rocket and nuclear warhead exploded into the upper regions of the atmosphere. The resultant 1+ megaton blast lit up the skies for miles.

(Source: Archive.org and The Nuclear Vault->see below for link)

One of the staff involved in the testing said of the night skies:

"...The Hawaiian news media touted this high altitude nuclear test series as the "rainbow bombs" because of the spectacular auroral displays that had been visible from Hawaii. On the night of July 9, 1962 when Starfish Prime was scheduled, the hotels in Hawaii offered roof top bomb watching parties. It seemed that everyone in the Pacific hemisphere was watching the sky over Johnston Island and listening to April Weather...."
(Source: Wikipeda and Cecil Coale's page on Starfish Prime)

Some of the purposes of this test included:

• effects on communication
• missile killing characteristics
• nuclear detection systems
• surveillance capabilities after a nuclear blast
  

The launch vehicle for the tests was the Thor.

(Source: Archive.org and The Nuclear Vault->see below for link)

There were many other nuclear weapons tested that year in addition to this one. Try the links below for more detailed information. Have a great day!

See you tomorrow!

More details:

Direct PDF link to results of Starfish Prime

Operation Dominic I

Archive.org movie overview on Operation Dominic
(additional source: The Nuclear Vault)

Atomic Veteran's History Project

Wikipedia entry: Starfish Prime