Last of the “Flying Tigers” Frank Losonsky dies at 99
Frank Losonsky, the last known surviving member of the legendary “Flying Tigers”, passed away on February 6 at the age of 99. He lived in Columbus, Georgia, before he died.
Losonsky was a Second World War veteran who joined the 3rd Squadron of 23rd Fighter Group, also known as “Hell’s Angels”, in 1941 as a crew chief. For many time, he took part in missions of carrying supplies to Kunming from Rangoon, the capital of Myanmar. In the post-war era, he worked in aviation industry and lived in Georgia until his death earlier this month.
Frank Losonsky came to China for his last time in 2015 to attend activities in relation to the 70th Anniversary of the End of Second World War. And in 2016, he returned to sky after over 70 years with his beloved Curtis P-40 Warhawk fighter, another wartime legend. When a pilot asked him: “Can you still fly upside down?” He confidently replied : “no problem!”
In 2014, Losonsky published his memoir named “Flying Tiger: A Crew Chief’s Story”, revealing his wartime experiences, especially those stories in Yunnan.
The American Volunteer Group (AVG) - nicknamed “The Flying Tigers” - was found by Claire Lee Chennault, a retired U.S. Air Force aviator, in 1941 to fight against the Japanese invaders in China. During the war, over 300 Americans were recruited by the “Flying Tigers”, including pilots, doctors, maintenance crewmen as well as administrators. They have undoubtedly made tremendous contributions to the victory of Second World War in China and the Asia Pacific.
On December 20, 2014, some ten Japanese fighters appeared in the sky of Kunming. The American pilots based in Kunming quickly took off and soon shot down four planes without any loss themselves. All the citizens in Kunming hailed for this incredible victory, and the AVG has been known as the “Flying Tigers” ever since due to their intrepidity.
The “Flying Tigers” were considered the safeguard of Yunnan during the war, and this nickname gained as much popularity back in the U.S. as in China. Walt Disney, the father of Mickey Mouse and Snow White, even designed a badge for them.
In recent years, many members of the “Flying Tigers” have traveled back to Yunnan to revisit those places where they worked an lived in before; and 15 of them have received honorary citizenship certificates of Kunming, including Frank Losonsky.
Writing by Wang Jian; trans-editing by Wang Jingzhong