75 years ago the The First American Volunteer Group was formed to help China fend off the Japanese invasion. In 1941 Claire Lee Chennault led a Fighter Group that destroyed 300 Japanese planes in the seven months they where in action. The shark faced Curtiss P-40s where know as the Flying Tigers from the Walt Disney designed tiger image but, the squadron themselves came up with the shark mouth known now as Tigers Teeth. This warriors ID has been honored repeatedly right up until today where it is used in many applications from shoes to ships.
R.T. Smith wrote about the groups adventures in his 1987 book Tale of a Tiger and he took the photo below of his squadron mates lined up as they head for another of their furious battles in the skies above Kunming, China.
