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| CHINESE
AIR FORCES
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1. A Russian-built Tupolev SB-2 medium bomber of the Chinese Air Force is seen undergoing maintenance work at Kunming, China. | ||||||||
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2. Chinese ground crewmen ready two Republic P-43 Lancer fighters of the Chinese Air Force. The Chinese P-43's shared the airfield at Kunming with the American Volunteer Group. | ||||||||
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3. A line up of Polikarpov I-153 fighters of the Chinese Air Force seen at Kunning in early in 1942. By this point in the war, the Russian-built biplane fighters were relegated to pilot training duties. | ||||||||
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4. A recently appinted Chief Adviser to the Chinese Aeronautical Commission, Claire L. Chennault is pictured with the head of the Chinese Aeronautical Commission, General Chow Chih Jou, and fellow American advisors, Billy McDonald and Frank Higgs in front of a C.N.A.C. Junkers Ju-52 transport. The photograph was taken in 1937 while Chennault was evaluating the combat readiness of the Chinese Air Force. | ||||||||
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5. In a photograph that was probably taken in mid-1938, a damaged Russian-built Polikarpov I-16 fighter of the Chinese Air Force, is being moved by Chinese Air Force maintenance personnel to a repair facility. This particular aircraft is a two-seat training version of the I-16 fighter. When first introduced in the mid-1930’s, the stubby little Russian fighter was one of the world’s most formidable fighter aircraft, and when flown by an experienced pilot, Chinese I-16’s were capable of meeting Japan’s best fighter aircraft on equal terms. |
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6. Chinese Air Force Major Gao Zhihang is regarded as the first great hero of the Chinese Air Force. The aggressive young fighter pilot led the Chinese Air Force’s first successful interception of a major Japanese air attack. In the ensuing engagement, Gao and his fellow pilots would be credited with the destruction of six of the attacking Japanese aircraft, while suffering no losses of their own. Unfortunately, Major Gao was killed while attempting to defend the City of Nanking from a Japanese air attack. Disregarding both falling bombs and instructions to remain on the ground, Major Gao raced to is aircraft and prepared to take off, however before Gao could get into the air, his aircraft was hit by a Japanese bomb and destroyed. For his determined heroism in face of the enemy, Major Gao Zhihang was posthumously promoted to the rank on Major General. |
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7. Several “factory fresh” Curtiss C-46F Commando transports of the Chinese Air Force are seen on a Chinese airfield during the closing months of the War. These particular C-46’s were delivered to the Chinese Air Force as part of the “war-time” lend-lease aid program, which allowed large quantities of American military equipment to be supplied to its allies through a long term leasing agreement. |
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