On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill welcomed an intimate yet deeply resonant gathering. Inside Rooms 2044 and 2045, the story of the Flying Tigers—a band of American pilots who risked everything to support China during World War II—returned to life. The occasion: the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in WWII and a tribute to the legacy the Flying Tigers helped build between the United States and China.
A breakfast buffet set the tone at 8:00 a.m., followed by a forum that united descendants, diplomats, legislators, historians, and veterans’ advocates. Voices from both countries came together not simply to remember the past but to reflect on how shared sacrifice continues to shape engagement between Americans and Chinese people today.
Before the speakers began, Lysle S. Follette performed the United States National Anthem and Jessica Gu followed with the Chinese national anthem. Both anthems framed the event in dual loyalty, mutual respect, and collective memory.
Congresswoman Judy Chu, the host of the morning forum, opened with a tribute that felt both personal and patriotic. She welcomed organizations like the American Flying Tigers Institute, the Chennault Foundation, and the American Flying Tigers Friendship Association. She gave recognition to Michelle Clouthier, President of the American AVG Flying Tigers Association, and acknowledged the presence of General Claire Lee Chennault’s descendants. In a poignant moment, she recalled the 20,000 Chinese Americans—including her father—who served during WWII despite enduring the realities of the Chinese Exclusion Act. She noted with satisfaction that Congress had finally awarded these veterans the Congressional Gold Medal.
Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina followed, not as a lawmaker first, but as the son of a Flying Tiger. His father, First Lieutenant Hugh Wilson, flew with the 14th Army Air Force in 1944. Congressman Wilson carried forward his father’s deep respect for Chinese people and culture. He spoke about his enduring connection, even keeping bilingual business cards as a small personal gesture of goodwill.
Meredith Walker, an economist from Dallas, Texas and the grandniece of Major General Charles R. Bond Jr. of the 1st Pursuit Squadron, traced her career in U.S.-China relations back to her uncle’s wartime service. His story shaped her trajectory, just as it shaped the generations that followed him.
From the Chinese Embassy, Peijung Wang, Counselor conveyed the complexities of today’s U.S.-China relationship while pointing to history as a source of continuity. He spoke of a shared vision built on stability, soundness, and sustainability. His remarks included a reflection: “History is lesson from which we can learn, history is a mirror through which we can see, history is a legacy with which we can grow, history is story.”
Cynthia Chennault, daughter of General Claire Chennault, used her voice as a retired professor to encourage cultural understanding. She urged everyone in the room to teach others about the richness of Chinese culture as a way to combat stereotypes and misperceptions.
Nell Calloway, Chennault’s granddaughter and Director of the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, acknowledged the behind-the-scenes individuals who helped bring the event to life. She named David Die, Director of the Flying Tigers Museum in Chongqing, as a quiet force behind the gathering. She also gave credit to Karina Hou, Charlene Fontaine, and Pedro Chan for their roles in organizing the day. “A man is never really dead until he is forgotten,” she said, echoing a sentiment felt by all.
Michelle Clouthier shared her family’s connection. Her father, one of the original Flying Tigers, joined in 1941. His service inspired her lifelong commitment to preserving their legacy. Today, more than 200 descendants belong to the AVG Association. She recounted how those veterans often expressed disbelief that their service became an enduring chapter in U.S.-China friendship.
Dr. Joseph Peeden, who heads the scholarship committee for the AVG Association, introduced a forward-looking gesture: a scholarship fund for aerospace engineering students. The initiative aims to honor those who once flew into battle by investing in those who will one day fly for peace, discovery, and diplomacy.
Charly Chu, a bridge engineer from Los Angeles and President of the American Flying Tigers Friendship Association, brought humor and humility. He recalled asking a student during a 2015 visit to China if they knew the Flying Tigers. “Yes,” the student replied, “they sing very well.” That moment revealed a gap in awareness—and sparked his decision to found the Association. As a nephew of Chennault, he feels responsible for ensuring these stories are not lost. In 2018, he helped install a permanent Flying Tigers display at LAX to share their story with millions passing through.
Pedro Chan, Director of the American Flying Tigers Institute and Chief Organizer of the event, closed the forum. He recognized attendees who traveled from across the U.S. and even from China, including 41 descendants of Flying Tigers from the AVG, the Beijing Airforce, and Kunming Army Airforce.
The Flying Tigers themselves emerged in 1941 as the American Volunteer Group (AVG), led by General Claire Lee Chennault. Just months before the U.S. entered the war, 100 volunteer pilots and about 218 ground crew set out to help China resist Japanese aggression. Flying P-40 Warhawks with shark-faced noses, they quickly became legendary. Despite limited resources, they destroyed nearly 300 enemy aircraft, losing just 14 of their own in combat.
Their success inspired the creation of the China Air Task Force in 1942 and then the Fourteenth Army Air Force in 1943. Together, these units carried out bombing missions and offered critical support across China, Burma, and Indochina. Military records estimate that the Flying Tigers shot down hundreds of enemy planes and completed dozens of bombing missions while sustaining minimal losses. Their efforts became a lifeline for Allied morale during some of the war’s darkest days.
The Flying Tigers may no longer fly, but they continue to move generations. And in that movement, they still bridge two worlds.
