“Flying Tigers return to Kunming and visit the
Blackburn P-40 recovery site” 

Photographs by Mr. Deng Yi courtesy of Hunan News Net,
the China  Association for Expedition and the SAAHF

Following their participation in a special memorial ceremony in Chaing Mai Thailand, on November 11, 2003 AVG veterans “Dick” Rossi, Peter Wright and Bob Layher, Dick’s wife Lydia, Peter’s wife Sinione, Bob’s wife Mariam, and Bob’s daughter Lynda, flew to Kunming, China where they were the guest of the Yunnan Provincial Government and the China Association for Expedition. On November the 14th, the group went out on Lake Dianchi and received a thorough briefing from Mr. Yan Jiangzheng, Director of the China Association for Expedition on the status of the ongoing recovery of John Blackburn’s P-40 aircraft.  

1. AVG veterans and their wives are photographed upon their arrival in Kunming,  From left to right in front row are; Peter Wright, Sinione Wright, Robert Layher, John “Dick” Rossi, Lydia Rossi, Mariam Layher and Mrs. Deng Mei Ying of the Information Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province. In the second row are members of the China Association for Expedition including the CAE’s Director Yan Jaingzheng, its Deputy Secretary General Zhang Liping and its chief underwater consultant Dr. Zhu Ji Mao and Jeff Greene of the SAAHF.

2.  Yan Jiangzheng, the Director of the China Association for Expedition and Jeff Greene, the Executive Director of the SAAHF, utilize a map of Lake Dianchi and printouts from a recent underwater magnetic survey of the crash site of John Blackburn’s P-40, to discuss the latest developments in the Blackburn aircraft recovery.  

3. The barge that serves as the CAE’s main recovery platform is seen moored above the Blackburn crash site on Lake Dianchi.  In the background are Kunming’s Western Hills, which were particularly welcomed landmarks to  USAAF and CNAC transport aircrews that flew supplies into China on the “Hump” air route.  Once past these hills and over Lake Dianchi, the transport crews were on their final approach to the main airfield at Kunming, which meant that they had survived another trip over the often deadly “Hump.”

4. Standing by pilot house of the CAE’s recovery barge are SAAHF DirectorJeff Greene, CAE Director Yan Jaingzheng, CAE Deputy Secretary General Zhang Liping and a CAE recovery team member.

5. Zhang Liping, the Deputy Secretary General of the CAE, is seen giving last minute instructions to one of the CAE divers who is about to dive on the Blackburn crash site. 

6. The CAE diver has just entered the water and is preparing to descend on the Blackburn crash site.  The diver is wearing audio ear-phones, that are part of  an underwater metal detection system that allows him reach the Blackburn crash site, despite the extremely poor visual conditions that exist within the waters of Lake Dianchi..

7. Members of the CAE underwater recovery team are seen monitoring underwater search equipment aboard the CAE recovery team’s support boat.

8. CAE recovery technicians are seen as they prepare to lower a robotic underwater camera to the floor of Lake Dianchi.  Blackburn’s P-40 is encased in a dense layer of mud, approximately one meter below the lake floor.

9 .The CAE’s Director, Yan Jiangzheng is pictured while noting a positional reference from a GPS device over the general area of the Blackburn site.  The CAE recovery barge is seen anchored in the background.

10. CAE Director, Yan Jiangzheng interviews Mr. Yang Chun, who as a young man witnessed many of the activities that led to the underwater recovery of John Blackburn’s body from his P-40 aircraft in early May 1942.

11. Flying Tiger Association President and AVG fighter ace John “Dick” Rossi and SAAHF  Ex. Director Jeff Greene share a quiet moment on the deck of the CAE’s recovery support boat.  Rossi is looking out towards the city of Kunming.  

12. Professor Zhu Ji Mao, Director of the Institute of Underwater Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, is photographed while giving a briefing to the AVG veterans aboard the CAE’s recovery support boat.  Professor Zhu, is considered one of China’s leading underwater engineering and recovery experts.

13. With AVG veterans Rob Layher and John “Dick” Rossi looking on, Professor Zhu explains the printout data from a recent magnetic survey of the lakebed floor immediately above Blackburn’s aircraft.

14. CAE Director Yan Jiangzheng and SAAHF Ex. Director Jeff Greene are pictured on the deck of the CAE’s recovery barge.  Kunming’s Western Hills are clearly seen in the background.

18.  Following their visits to Kunming and the recovery operations on Lake Dianchi and to the Zhi Jiang International Peace and Culture Festival, the AVG/SAAHF group visited Beijing, where among other activities, the three AVG veterans; John “Dick” Rossi, Peter Wright and Bob Layher were interviewed on China’s CCTV Channel 4.  The interview on CCTV Channel 4 was one of several television interviews the AVG veterans gave throughout their visit to China.

Additional Photos of the recovery activities and John Blackburn >>>