Flying Tigers T-Shirt

This Product is Discontinued

In 1941, the Imperial Japanese forces were growing stronger and the Chinese government requested U.S. assistance in training and leading members of their air force. With a wink of the eye from President Roosevelt, a “mercenary” fighting force of pilots and mechanics was conscripted. Enter the 1st American Volunteer Group, famously known as The Flying Tigers.

The Flying Tigers saw their first action on 20 December 1941, mere days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their ability to not only meet the Japanese in aerial combat, but to garner significant success against great odds became a rallying cry for both the U.S. military and the country. With dramatically painted shark faces adorning their P-40 Curtiss planes, the Flying Tigers quickly became a feared unit. Many accounts have them destroying 297 enemy aircraft, including 223 in aerial combat. While the Japanese claim far fewer, in their entire tour of duty, the Tigers only lost 14 men, surpassing all other combats unit of the time in enemy kills per man. In fact, 19 members of the Tigers had over five aerial kills and five men had over ten.

The front of this shirt showcases the famous shark mouth of the Flying Tigers that adorned the front of all their aircraft. The back shows the blood chit that each pilot affixed to his uniform in case he was shot down in China. It reads: "I am an American airman. My plane is destroyed. I cannot speak your language. I am an enemy of the Japanese. Please give me food and take me to the nearest Allied military post. You will be rewarded."