The Flying Tigers: The Untold Story of the American Pilots Who Waged a Secret War Against Japan

It’s 1937. Japan has invaded China. Canton, Nanking, and cities further inland have been conquered and mostly destroyed. The Chinese army is fighting a losing battle to hold back the invaders. The leader of China and his wife need some way to slow down or stop the Japanese. They enlist an American, Claire Chennault, to recruit, train, and lead a group of like-minded pilots, and thus the Flying Tigers are organized. The Flying Tigers by Sam Kleiner chronicles the group’s exploits as they rob the Japanese of air superiority in a mostly forgotten theater of WWII. As part of a covert operation funded by a sympathetic president, they fought with P-40s against more agile Zeros and won. Though unofficial, they gave the United States victories, heroes, and hope when those commodities were sorely needed, especially after Pearl Harbor. This book is their history, from formation until their integration with the Army Air Corps. It contains stories of the pilots, their missions, and their wins and defeats when each win was the chance to fly again and defeat meant death or capture. The author used diary entries, historical documents, and interviews with surviving pilots and families to tell this story. It is fast paced, more so once they start flying. The exploits are breathtaking and poignant. It is a great chronicle of determination and heroism.