This page is dedicated to Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, an original Flying Tiger who was dishonourably discharged from that unit, not for failure to fight but for fighting with Chennault as well as the Japs, and who later, as a USMC Major went on to lead the "Black Sheep" a famous squadron of Corsair jockeys operating from Espiritu Santo. He was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.

Captain, AVG "Flying Tigers" in leather flight jacket

The American Volunteer Group, or AVG, was a force of American military pilots who were recruited by then-retired Captain (Major?) Claire Chennault to fight for China against the Japanese in the period before Pearl Harbor and America's official entry into the war.

The "Flying Tigers," as the Chinese affectionately dubbed them,  were technically mercenaries, but actually both their services and the aircraft they flew were secret gifts to China from the U.S.

This AVG pilot wears a Chinese-issue clone of the U.S. military's G-1 leather flying jacket, with knitted wool cuffs and fur collar.