It's Christmas Day, 1941,
It's Christmas Day, 1941,

and 23-year-old American pilot,
and 23-year-old American pilot,

Bill Reed, is stationed in an airbase near Rangoon.
Bill Reed, is stationed in an airbase near Rangoon.

His squadron have been told to expect an attack
His squadron have been told to expect an attack

and at 11am they get the signal to scramble.
and at 11am they get the signal to scramble.

Climbing into the airspace in Burma
Climbing into the airspace in Burma

he holds position with 4 other fighters over Rangoon.
he holds position with 4 other fighters over Rangoon.

They are at the controls of American Curtiss P-40B fighters.
They are at the controls of American Curtiss P-40B fighters.

Under the command of Claire Lee Chennault
Under the command of Claire Lee Chennault

known affectionately as “Old Leather Face”
known affectionately as “Old Leather Face”

Bill’s orders are to attack the enemy from above.
Bill’s orders are to attack the enemy from above.

At 15,000 feet, he thinks he’s high enough.
At 15,000 feet, he thinks he’s high enough.

The enemies are the Japanese, who up to now have been masters of the air
The enemies are the Japanese, who up to now have been masters of the air

raining down hell on China and the Burma Road,
raining down hell on China and the Burma Road,

a vital supply line.
a vital supply line.

Bill is from Iowa.
Bill is from Iowa.

The devastating attack upon Pearl Harbor
The devastating attack upon Pearl Harbor

took place a little over a fortnight ago,
took place a little over a fortnight ago,

and it’s fresh in his mind.
and it’s fresh in his mind.

Half an hour goes by.
Half an hour goes by.

Bill and his team scan the clouds for signs of approaching planes.
Bill and his team scan the clouds for signs of approaching planes.

The Japanese were reportedly preparing to strike.
The Japanese were reportedly preparing to strike.

One of Bill’s team rocks his wings to show he's spotted something.
One of Bill’s team rocks his wings to show he's spotted something.

Scanning below Bill can see nothing.
Scanning below Bill can see nothing.

Looking up into the sky though he sees them.
Looking up into the sky though he sees them.

Dozens of enemy fighters and bombers loom over Bill’s patrol
Dozens of enemy fighters and bombers loom over Bill’s patrol

at a few thousand feet above their current position.
at a few thousand feet above their current position.

Commander Chennault’s tactic of striking from the highest position goes out the window today.
Commander Chennault’s tactic of striking from the highest position goes out the window today.

Bill is going to have to play this very carefully.
Bill is going to have to play this very carefully.

The P-40s are at their best when flying above the enemy.
The P-40s are at their best when flying above the enemy.

There are two .50-caliber machine guns on the nose
There are two .50-caliber machine guns on the nose

and a couple of .30-calibers on the wings.
and a couple of .30-calibers on the wings.

Targeting is a challenge because the P-40’s gun sights are on the rudimentary side.
Targeting is a challenge because the P-40’s gun sights are on the rudimentary side.

These aircrafts are at an advantage when bearing down,
These aircrafts are at an advantage when bearing down,

relying on altitude and air speed
relying on altitude and air speed

as the P-40 is a slow climber.
as the P-40 is a slow climber.

That isn’t an option for Bill today.
That isn’t an option for Bill today.

Instead he’ll have to rely on the sturdy build of the P-40,
Instead he’ll have to rely on the sturdy build of the P-40,

as it’s going to have to take a lot of punishment.
as it’s going to have to take a lot of punishment.

Bill aims his plane at the heavens to get to the bombers.
Bill aims his plane at the heavens to get to the bombers.

But one of the Japanese escorting fighters sees the threat and heads to meet him.
But one of the Japanese escorting fighters sees the threat and heads to meet him.

It’s clear he’ll butt noses with the enemy.
It’s clear he’ll butt noses with the enemy.

Closing fast he opens fire on the Japanese fighter.
Closing fast he opens fire on the Japanese fighter.

He’s on target peppering the fuselage with tracers
He’s on target peppering the fuselage with tracers

and it’s a critical hit.
and it’s a critical hit.

On his way to the bombers, Bill engages in skirmishes with 2 other fighters.
On his way to the bombers, Bill engages in skirmishes with 2 other fighters.

But determinedly, he presses on.
But determinedly, he presses on.

The bombers are at 20,000 ft
The bombers are at 20,000 ft

and Bill engages them head on firing all of his guns.
and Bill engages them head on firing all of his guns.

But today luck is with the Japanese as his shots either miss the target
But today luck is with the Japanese as his shots either miss the target

or don’t cause enough damage to stop them.
or don’t cause enough damage to stop them.

Streaking past the formation,
Streaking past the formation,

Bill throws the P-40 into a tight turn to get a second pass.
Bill throws the P-40 into a tight turn to get a second pass.

As he turns he spots another American pilot in trouble about a mile away,
As he turns he spots another American pilot in trouble about a mile away,

beset by the Japanese.
beset by the Japanese.

Reed swoops in to help.
Reed swoops in to help.

The dogfight spills out across the Andaman Sea in South Burma.
The dogfight spills out across the Andaman Sea in South Burma.

A spiraling dance and a bullet-strewn whirlwind of fighting ensues.
A spiraling dance and a bullet-strewn whirlwind of fighting ensues.

However no one could get shots on target.
However no one could get shots on target.

With fuel running low, Bill and the other P-40 decide it’s time to break off
With fuel running low, Bill and the other P-40 decide it’s time to break off

and get back to base.
and get back to base.

While heading back home
While heading back home

the two P-40’s see 3 more Japanese fighters below them
the two P-40’s see 3 more Japanese fighters below them

heading back to base in Thailand.
heading back to base in Thailand.

Already low on fuel and over the sea,
Already low on fuel and over the sea,

they decide to chance their luck with yet another dogfight.
they decide to chance their luck with yet another dogfight.

The two American planes, drop down behind the Japanese,
The two American planes, drop down behind the Japanese,

firing on them from behind,
firing on them from behind,

Bill narrowly avoids a fiery end
Bill narrowly avoids a fiery end

as a Dragon explodes at close range right in front of him.
as a Dragon explodes at close range right in front of him.

The other P-40 clips the wing of another Japanese plane
The other P-40 clips the wing of another Japanese plane

and it crashes into the sea below.
and it crashes into the sea below.

With one Japanese fighter left, Bill swooped lower away from it to escape.
With one Japanese fighter left, Bill swooped lower away from it to escape.

Seeing even more Japanese fliers coming into view.
Seeing even more Japanese fliers coming into view.

Bill checks the gas meter, which is critically low.
Bill checks the gas meter, which is critically low.

He realized he must get out of the sky as soon as possible,
He realized he must get out of the sky as soon as possible,

otherwise he’s going to sputter out and crash into the sea.
otherwise he’s going to sputter out and crash into the sea.

He finally lands back on the airfield with barely a drop of fuel to spare.
He finally lands back on the airfield with barely a drop of fuel to spare.

Looking at his bird he realizes it’s covered in holes, saying later,
Looking at his bird he realizes it’s covered in holes, saying later,

“These P-40s absorb lead like a sponge does water.”
“These P-40s absorb lead like a sponge does water.”

He doesn’t realize it,
He doesn’t realize it,

but Bill is part of a major victory against the Japanese today
but Bill is part of a major victory against the Japanese today

with 15 fighters and 9 bombers being taken down.
with 15 fighters and 9 bombers being taken down.

The mood in America is somber this Christmas
The mood in America is somber this Christmas

after the shock and devastation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
after the shock and devastation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

With some good news, the press have a frenzy with everyone wanting to hear
With some good news, the press have a frenzy with everyone wanting to hear

how this small band of American pilots have taken the fight to the Emperor's aviators.
how this small band of American pilots have taken the fight to the Emperor's aviators.

The wounded America strikes back against the Empire of Japan.
The wounded America strikes back against the Empire of Japan.

But Bill isn’t exactly flying on behalf of the US.
But Bill isn’t exactly flying on behalf of the US.

While America is only just entering World War II,
While America is only just entering World War II,

he’s been on his own path for a while.
he’s been on his own path for a while.

He traveled to China to be part of the American Volunteer Group, or AVG.
He traveled to China to be part of the American Volunteer Group, or AVG.

This brave and adventurous group of pilots and ground crew
This brave and adventurous group of pilots and ground crew

are lured away from the US Army and Navy with promises of adventure,
are lured away from the US Army and Navy with promises of adventure,

better pay and bonuses for every Japanese plane they down.
better pay and bonuses for every Japanese plane they down.

The US authorized the sale of 100 P-40s to China
The US authorized the sale of 100 P-40s to China

to help them in their fight against the Japanese,
to help them in their fight against the Japanese,

but what was not made public was the American pilots and ground crew
but what was not made public was the American pilots and ground crew

who went with the planes.
who went with the planes.

President Roosevelt authorized the clandestine operation.
President Roosevelt authorized the clandestine operation.

Commander Chennault was allowed to recruit Army and Navy pilots and crew
Commander Chennault was allowed to recruit Army and Navy pilots and crew

but as America wasn’t able to help officially
but as America wasn’t able to help officially

they had to “resign” from the military and join the endeavor
they had to “resign” from the military and join the endeavor

under a "commercial" agreement.
under a "commercial" agreement.

As such Bill and his pals are fighting for Chiang Kai-shek –
As such Bill and his pals are fighting for Chiang Kai-shek –

leader of the Republic of China.
leader of the Republic of China.

Under the direction of Commander Chennault,
Under the direction of Commander Chennault,

the servicemen helped the Chinese to build a fighting force in the air.
the servicemen helped the Chinese to build a fighting force in the air.

Japan had been inflicting heavy blows on China since the early 1930s,
Japan had been inflicting heavy blows on China since the early 1930s,

and China needed the right kind of expertise to mount a defense.
and China needed the right kind of expertise to mount a defense.

While not in the air the AVG didn’t exactly behave like a military unit.
While not in the air the AVG didn’t exactly behave like a military unit.

With no official uniforms and an odd kind of discipline,
With no official uniforms and an odd kind of discipline,

many had long hair and sported facial hair.
many had long hair and sported facial hair.

Some had pet monkeys and gave the appearance of somewhat of a menagerie.
Some had pet monkeys and gave the appearance of somewhat of a menagerie.

Many of the men drank frequently,
Many of the men drank frequently,

but when it came to performance in the air they were stone cold professionals.
but when it came to performance in the air they were stone cold professionals.

The pilots became known not only for the shark motif painted on the noses of their planes,
The pilots became known not only for the shark motif painted on the noses of their planes,

but also the image of a cartoon tiger on the side of the planes.
but also the image of a cartoon tiger on the side of the planes.

A symbol of the name for which they will forever be associated...
A symbol of the name for which they will forever be associated...

the "Flying Tigers".
the "Flying Tigers".

In 1942 and 1943, Chennault recruited and trained
In 1942 and 1943, Chennault recruited and trained

Chinese pilots and air crew at a time when the world came together
Chinese pilots and air crew at a time when the world came together

to defeat a common enemy.
to defeat a common enemy.

We’d like to thank one of our viewers, Kevin Chiao,
We’d like to thank one of our viewers, Kevin Chiao,

for supplying details of his Grandfather, Major General Fred Chiao,
for supplying details of his Grandfather, Major General Fred Chiao,

who trained under Chennault and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart,
who trained under Chennault and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart,

Air Service Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation from Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Air Service Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation from Franklin D. Roosevelt.

You can hear more of his story in an interview with him in the link in the description.
You can hear more of his story in an interview with him in the link in the description.

We hope you like this video.
We hope you like this video.

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Thank you!
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