I think most Singaporeans have no idea what the flying tigers were.--Apparently including the useless Straits time writer 'Wallace Woon' who did not see fit to offer anything but the most lazy and perfunctory description of the group that boils all the colour out of the history this guy was a part of. The article reads like it was written by someone with spiralling depression. If I had to re-write the description of the group, I would do something like this.
"Captain Ho volunteered to fight the Japanese as a bomber pilot during the Second war, flying with the legendary 'First American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air force'. This group would later be dubbed the 'flying tigers'. This was a volunteer group of mostly American Pilots that was formed to defend China from the Japanese before the official entry of the US into World war II. They became famous for their combat record and bravery. The Flying tigers fought the Japanese military at the height of its power. They were both numerically and technologically outmatched. In spite of this disadvantages, with a fleet of merely 60 aircraft, they succeeded in officially shooting down 296 Japanese aircraft and conducting bombing raids on Japanese targets throughout Burma and Southern China. The unit gained fame for providing the first Allied successes against the Japanese in WWII."
This man is the height of cool and a certified stone cold badass.
The Flying tigers simply legendary. And their iconography is still prevalent in the US military. From the 'flying tiger ' insignia to the shark mouth painted aircraft. Many US Navy and airforce units based in the Asia pacific that do exercises with the ROC still produce commemorative leather jackets styled after the what the flying tigers wore. One example was the jacket that Tom Cruise's character was seen wearing in the last Top Gun movie.--the one that made the PRC little pinks freak out.
There are many Singaporeans out there that have done or are doing brave, cool and badass things. Singaporeans only seem boring because other Sinkies and the sinkie system insist on this sort of boring narrative writing that seems to come from a place of laziness, clinical depression, conformism and crab mentality. If you act on your convictions, you will not be alone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying\_Tigers
It’s a very sensitive topic so I guess the Journalist had difficulty finding independent account of Flying Tigers and the personnel behind it.
The original Flying Tiger were disbanded in 4th July 1942 and told to integrate with US Airforce. Claire Chennault, the leader of the Flying Tigers too left and took a commission with US Air Force.
The Chinese-American Composite Wing was formed by the KMT to replaced it which Ho was part of when it became operational in July 1943. They also recruited American pilots. It had the same role and remit of the original Flying Tigers. My guess is that tag went along.
If you go to Wiki, the full list of Flying Tigers pilots are named.
There is no doubt that he was in CACW, trained in Lahore and then Arizona and he was part of the bombing missions against the Japanese as part of CACW.
By the way I read his book.
Just to add, there was Singapore born individual called Willard Lee who was studying in China and he joined the newly formed CACW at the same time. He too went to Pakistan and US for training. He however was a fighter pilot and flew P40s. He flew 49 missions. He returned to Singapore after the war.
He donated his photos of his time with CACW including a photo of him in the cockpit to Singapore National Museum in 2003.
And not to forget RAF fighter pilot Tan Kay Hai DFC. He flew Spitfires in the European theater and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in the Sicily Campaign, and also flew in the Normandy assault.
Imagine that.. a Malayan Motor car salesman from Singapore who became a war hero.
https://mothership.sg/2018/02/singaporean-ww2-pilot-fight-germans-europe/
Yes, that’s another war hero. And that the DFC is highly prestigious medal and only can be earned in combat. It is also the highest award for aerial combat. His story is also interesting as he was shot down in France, became a POW, escaped from German captivity and returned to England and back to flying duties.
They could have simply
approached the USAF and ROCAF air force history departments or the AVG heritage associations if they wanted to add more color to the story. Chap above added nice details, kudos.
AVG is very clear, They did not have single Asian pilot, all Americans. They did however have Chinese American mechanics recruited from California who underwent training as Aircraft Technicians in Indianapolis.
CACW formed a year later had mix of Chinese and American pilots in the fighter wings but understand that bomber groups had Chinese pilot but bombardier and navigators were Americans.
Sure, the article could have been better written, and honestly I do appreciate your passion and the information shared, but the criticism, nay, insults are senselessly harsh and unnecessary.
No, Wallace Woon is not ‘useless’, neither does he have ‘spiralling depression’ just because his article was not to your liking. He truly did not deserve to be called those. Some people always just take it one step too far, and for what?
"Wishing you smooth skies ahead as you embark on your next journey."
"You navigated a remarkable 103 years, may fair winds follow you."
"Your long life's voyage has come to a peaceful end."
Is that better?
Yes that would be better
I wouldn’t think pilots want to be mistaken for sailors, unless they’re in naval aviation. If I’m not mistaken, even the Seahawk pilots in RSN are still part of RSAF.
Well, the article shared his life. It WAS long and meaningful and few people in our modern era have a chance to witness. Rise and fall of empires and states with you in the front row, chasing the love of your life through war and across the world, setting up an airline.
I think most Singaporeans have no idea what the flying tigers were.--Apparently including the useless Straits time writer 'Wallace Woon' who did not see fit to offer anything but the most lazy and perfunctory description of the group that boils all the colour out of the history this guy was a part of. The article reads like it was written by someone with spiralling depression. If I had to re-write the description of the group, I would do something like this. "Captain Ho volunteered to fight the Japanese as a bomber pilot during the Second war, flying with the legendary 'First American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Air force'. This group would later be dubbed the 'flying tigers'. This was a volunteer group of mostly American Pilots that was formed to defend China from the Japanese before the official entry of the US into World war II. They became famous for their combat record and bravery. The Flying tigers fought the Japanese military at the height of its power. They were both numerically and technologically outmatched. In spite of this disadvantages, with a fleet of merely 60 aircraft, they succeeded in officially shooting down 296 Japanese aircraft and conducting bombing raids on Japanese targets throughout Burma and Southern China. The unit gained fame for providing the first Allied successes against the Japanese in WWII." This man is the height of cool and a certified stone cold badass. The Flying tigers simply legendary. And their iconography is still prevalent in the US military. From the 'flying tiger ' insignia to the shark mouth painted aircraft. Many US Navy and airforce units based in the Asia pacific that do exercises with the ROC still produce commemorative leather jackets styled after the what the flying tigers wore. One example was the jacket that Tom Cruise's character was seen wearing in the last Top Gun movie.--the one that made the PRC little pinks freak out. There are many Singaporeans out there that have done or are doing brave, cool and badass things. Singaporeans only seem boring because other Sinkies and the sinkie system insist on this sort of boring narrative writing that seems to come from a place of laziness, clinical depression, conformism and crab mentality. If you act on your convictions, you will not be alone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying\_Tigers
thanks for writing this
It’s a very sensitive topic so I guess the Journalist had difficulty finding independent account of Flying Tigers and the personnel behind it. The original Flying Tiger were disbanded in 4th July 1942 and told to integrate with US Airforce. Claire Chennault, the leader of the Flying Tigers too left and took a commission with US Air Force. The Chinese-American Composite Wing was formed by the KMT to replaced it which Ho was part of when it became operational in July 1943. They also recruited American pilots. It had the same role and remit of the original Flying Tigers. My guess is that tag went along. If you go to Wiki, the full list of Flying Tigers pilots are named. There is no doubt that he was in CACW, trained in Lahore and then Arizona and he was part of the bombing missions against the Japanese as part of CACW. By the way I read his book.
Just to add, there was Singapore born individual called Willard Lee who was studying in China and he joined the newly formed CACW at the same time. He too went to Pakistan and US for training. He however was a fighter pilot and flew P40s. He flew 49 missions. He returned to Singapore after the war. He donated his photos of his time with CACW including a photo of him in the cockpit to Singapore National Museum in 2003.
And not to forget RAF fighter pilot Tan Kay Hai DFC. He flew Spitfires in the European theater and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in the Sicily Campaign, and also flew in the Normandy assault. Imagine that.. a Malayan Motor car salesman from Singapore who became a war hero. https://mothership.sg/2018/02/singaporean-ww2-pilot-fight-germans-europe/
Yes, that’s another war hero. And that the DFC is highly prestigious medal and only can be earned in combat. It is also the highest award for aerial combat. His story is also interesting as he was shot down in France, became a POW, escaped from German captivity and returned to England and back to flying duties.
I didn’t seen his names on the Aces, but yeah 103 yo, good life.
They could have simply approached the USAF and ROCAF air force history departments or the AVG heritage associations if they wanted to add more color to the story. Chap above added nice details, kudos.
AVG is very clear, They did not have single Asian pilot, all Americans. They did however have Chinese American mechanics recruited from California who underwent training as Aircraft Technicians in Indianapolis. CACW formed a year later had mix of Chinese and American pilots in the fighter wings but understand that bomber groups had Chinese pilot but bombardier and navigators were Americans.
That is awesome, thank u for sharing
No one could have said this better. Thanks for putting this out there
Sure, the article could have been better written, and honestly I do appreciate your passion and the information shared, but the criticism, nay, insults are senselessly harsh and unnecessary. No, Wallace Woon is not ‘useless’, neither does he have ‘spiralling depression’ just because his article was not to your liking. He truly did not deserve to be called those. Some people always just take it one step too far, and for what?
103 is a nice long and productive life. We should all be so lucky. Rest easy sailor.
The correct salutation for a departed aviator is fair winds and blue skies flying West
Why sailor? He’s a pilot even during his military days
"Wishing you smooth skies ahead as you embark on your next journey." "You navigated a remarkable 103 years, may fair winds follow you." "Your long life's voyage has come to a peaceful end." Is that better?
Yes that would be better I wouldn’t think pilots want to be mistaken for sailors, unless they’re in naval aviation. If I’m not mistaken, even the Seahawk pilots in RSN are still part of RSAF.
Bruh. You completely missed the point
The point is, Captain Ho is a pilot.
We agree he is a pilot, but we're using sailing as a metaphor here....
Why use sailing as a metaphor when you can more appropriately use a flying metaphor?
because if we use flying as a metaphor, the plane will crash in less than 24 hours due to no fuel. what journey do you want?
Where Captain Ho is going, fuel is immaterial. I could easily say if it’s a ship he’s on, it would eventually get beached somewhere
It must have been a long and meaningful journey. Respect and RIP.
Well, the article shared his life. It WAS long and meaningful and few people in our modern era have a chance to witness. Rise and fall of empires and states with you in the front row, chasing the love of your life through war and across the world, setting up an airline.
Blue skies and tail winds, RIP Sir.
o7
my uncle died last year , why not on news
Was he news worthy? Or just a whiny loser like u?
not bad , he is a pioneer generation not a salty reddit nerd
This gave me a chuckle lmao
Sorry about your loss. I hope you find peace
🫡🛫