Flying Tigers (American Volunteer Group)

Aircraft, tactics, and characteristics

• Primary aircraft: The AVG flew the Curtiss P-40 fighter (often called the Tomahawk or Warhawk), favored for its ruggedness, firepower, and suitability for low- to medium-altitude engagements.
• Tactics: Under Chennault’s direction the pilots emphasized diving, slashing attacks and surprise hit-and-run strikes rather than turning dogfights—techniques effective against many Japanese designs of the period.
• Identity: Distinctive markings such as the shark-mouth nose art became a visual trademark and a morale symbol for Allied forces and civilians alike.

Operationally, the Flying Tigers escorted transports, attacked enemy airfields and ground targets, and defended supply routes that sustained Chinese resistance. Their actions protected convoys and the Burma Road approaches and helped maintain the flow of materiel into China, while also providing a propaganda boost and a symbol of American support for China.

After the AVG disbanded or was absorbed into U.S. military structures, many of its pilots were offered commissions in regular forces and the unit’s legacy continued in successor formations. The name "Flying Tigers" persisted as an emblem of early U.S. involvement in the Asian air war and of international cooperation; it remains prominent in books, museums, and memorials.

Distinctive aspects include the volunteer status of many aviators, the cross-service recruitment that drew on skills from the American Volunteer Group roots, and the leadership style of Chennault, whose ideas on air tactics influenced later operations. For further reading on unit organization and biographies of its members see more detailed sources and archival collections referenced by organizations that preserve their history.