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CULTURAL LEGACY OF THE FLYING TIGERS & HUMP AIRLIFT |
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1. This highly stylized Chinese propaganda poster depicts an American aviator trampling over the body of a Japanese Army officer. The poster was published in late 1943 as a patriotic New Years greeting for the coming new year. Among the printed text that appears at the bottom of the image, is the statement: This is an American pilot, he is driving the invaders out of China, help him. |
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2. American motion picture legend John Wayne, is pictured with a replica P-40 aircraft in a publicity photograph that promotes his staring role in the 1942 motion picture “The Flying Tigers.” Though only loosely based on the factual experiences of the American Volunteer Group in China, the motion picture proved to be a huge box office success with the American audience, and did much to lift the spirits of the America “home-front,” at a time when American and Allied battle-field successes were few and far between. To depict the movie’s numerous aerial combat scenes, film makers at the Republic Studios fabricated a number of full size, “non-flying,” replica P-40’s, built scale models that were suspended from wires and utilized newsreel and combat footage from China --- including actual motion picture footage of the American Volunteer Group. |
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3. This 1943 feature magazine ad for the Coca Cola Company, dramatically depicts a group of Flying Tiger pilots and ground crewmen, who along with a Chinese Army Officer are taking a break from the heat of battle to enjoy a “refreshing” bottle of Coca Cola. |
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