When 70-year-old Clifford Long Jr. , son of Clifford Long Sr. , a member of the “Flying Tigers,” U. S. Air Force veterans were forced to join the Flying Tigers. UU. de World War II who helped the Chinese people in their war of resistance against Japanese aggression (1931)-45) – visited the Liuzhou Military Museum in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in November, his eyes filled with tears as he saw the war archive containing photographs, weapons, remains and artifacts on display.
Later, in front of media cameras, she shared a few occasional snaps from her family album. The symbols represented his father’s wartime moments. One symbol showed Clifford Sr. sitting alone in a fighter jet. In other images, the father can simply get noticed with his air force crew members.
“My father was here (in China) in 1944. I was 19 years old when I was doing a floor flight very close to the Chinese soldiers. They identified him in the cockpit and nicknamed him ‘Lieutenant Moonface’ (because they came up with his face). it was round),” he said, his voice tinged with pride.
The son shared another picture wherein his father is seen standing alongside a grounded fighter jet. “This is a picture of him after crash landing. He survived, else I’d not be here,” he said with a laugh.
Clifford Long Jr. lives in the United States and has been deeply involved for many years with the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, a leading NGO promoting the legacy of the Flying Tigers. The NGO is led by its president, Jeffrey Greene.
From late October to early November, Long was in China as part of a Foundation delegation invited on a 10-day visit. The Foundation seeks to promote goodwill and friendship with the Chinese people.
The delegation of more than 30 people included two living legends: Flying Tigers veterans Harry Moyer and Mel McMullen, and first, second- and even third-generation descendants of the Flying Tigers.
The adventure took them to ancient sites and tourist attractions beyond Liuzhou, including Beijing, Chongqing and Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province.
Long said that before going to China, he talked to as many people imaginable in the U. S. The U. S. government has asked about the Flying Tigers’ dates with other Chinese. He tried to gather as much information as possible so that he could share it with others.
“In our country, although many people are familiar with the term ‘Flying Tigers,’ they only associate it with P40 aircraft with drawings of tiger teeth, and they don’t perceive or are not taught history. “he said.
“I go out to communicate about this (part of) the story with as many other people as imaginable and will continue to do so once we return to our exit, to promote China-U. S. relations. That’s what I’m doing. I’m running with Jeff (Jeffrey Greene) and helping him in any way I can, to publicize our bilateral relationship. “
Speaking about the basic spirit of the Flying Tigers, Long said that love, life and circumstance characterized the young veterans of World War II, which is now part of history.
His parents, he remembers, fell in love while they were in school. Later, her father joined the US Army Air Corps and came to China. After a long and eventful life, her father passed away in 2019 at the age of 94. Months later, his mother died.
Long said that when his father was in China, his parents “would write to each other one and both days and he would put his call and his call on his plane. “
“In 1944, there was no communication with the foreigner, there was no Internet. . . You couldn’t even communicate by phone from one continent to another,” he said.
At the time, Long Senior was just a young man from a small town in the United States and had never flown before joining the Air Force.
“He was taught how to fly a plane, he came to China to fly for General (Claire) Chennault, and during his time here, he fell in love with the other Chinese and was very proud to be able to help them. ” said Largo.