Mythmaking and underlying racism the American media had propagated in the time of the AVG
What role do volunteer forces play in shaping international conflict? How was the union of America and China against imperialist Japan through the employment of guerilla airforce warfare interpreted by both parties? For one, it created a shockwave of morale that reverberated through the souls of civilians. For another, it meant that the achievements of the Flying Tigers epitomised U.S. superiority in technological advancements, presenting the Americans as valiant, whilst the efforts of the Chinese faded. This article will argue that American mythmaking about the Flying Tigers acted as a source of reassurance for American benevolence and gave a sense of superiority following the seemingly unstoppable Japanese advance across the Asia-Pacific region.
Historical background
By the time the Flying Tigers were formed, the United States had not entered World War II. Formed by retired U.S. Army Captain Claire Lee Chennault [1], the Flying Tigers were American volunteer pilots recruited by the Chinese to fight the Japanese in Burma (now known as Myanmar) in 1941-42. Contrary to popular belief, it was actually China’s Nationalist Government that had come up with the idea to employ U.S. warplanes and experienced pilots[2].
This was during a time when Japanese forces had control over Chinese ports and, therefore, forced China into facing chronic shortages of fuel, mechanical parts, and pilots. Their initial primary objective was to secure the Burma route, through which military supplies were transported to China. Despite the American Volunteer Group (AVG) having a force of no more than 62 combat-ready pilots, they were recognised as heroes for their attainments [3]. However, these pilots joined for various reasons rather than being determined to assist China. Many of them joined for the rewarding salaries; mechanics earned between $USD350 - 400 per month, a wingman earned $USD600 per month and a squadron commander $USD750 per month. Some men even joined out of boredom and to avoid fighting in Europe. Due to the tedious training and the diminishing allure of the Orient, many had begun to complain about how the agency had “deceived” them into taking the job. [4]
The airforce employed ingenious "defensive pursuit” tactics, leveraging the inherent benefits of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk – its trademark versatility and exceptional low-speed handling enabled swift manoeuvering on the battlefield. Albeit most notably, the plane’s iconic surface, resembling the snouts of ravenous tiger-sharks, marked the unique establishment of the Flying Tigers. [5]
American myth-making
Myth-making is defined as the process of creating stories and foundational myths that serve to convey cultural beliefs and deploy phenomena. In many articles published about the Flying Tigers, a trend could be interpreted in which the articles praise the heroic joining of two countries in the midst of trouble, an iconic symbol of alliance - and this article agrees, undoubtedly so. However, the subtle aggression and superiority of the Americans presented in articles and publications during the time remained prevalent.
One example is in Hollywood media. The movie “Flying Tigers”, directed by David Miller presented the Flying Tigers as Americans encompassing valourwhilst the contributions of Chinese groups were disregarded. In brief, the movie follows the protagonist “Woody Jason,” who no longer fights for money after growing sympathy towards the Chinese children in the midst of the war. At the end, Jason sacrifices his life in a suicidal bombing mission. In this movie, the Chinese appear as peasants, servants and refugees in dire need of American tutelage [6]. The only scene that placed value on the Chinese was when one soldier provided the AVG with negligible assistance in broken English. It is clear how much the significance of Chinese intelligence gathering in running AVG operations was undermined. In reality, the Nationalist government had ordered its people to help downed US air men, and even offered high rewards to rescuers [7] .
The Mythmaking of the AVG had exacerbated the stereotype of the Chinese being racially inferior and incapable on top of downplaying Chinese war efforts. Scholars such as Michael H. Hunt in “The Making of a Special Relationship: The United States and China to 1914” and Leong “The China Mystique” have expressed the shift in American perception towards the Chinese, creating the impression that they were becoming a “modern” American-style country with U.S guidance in the field of protestant religion and democratic ideology [8]. Racism and paternalism could be interpreted as acting in combination, merging of discriminatory advances to assert US dominance
During wartime, Americans often highlighted the AVG as a means of asserting U.S. superiority - this narrative glorified the AVG whilst ignoring their misconduct, which harmed the relationship between the U.S. and China. The wartime stories actually reiterated American racism and paternalism towards the Chinese instead of marking a unique episode on U.S-China relations. U.S wartime storytelling unknowingly dismissed the misconduct that the Flying Tigers committed, not knowing that it soured relationships with the locals. Such misconduct included earning a reputation of getting drunk, reckless driving, assaulting Chinese civilians and even looting. Chinese military associates often wrote letters complaining about the rampant verbal and physical abuse inflicted by the AVG members, stating that the social misconduct that the acts of racism and mistreatment had hindered their desires for cooperation, even asking the Flying Tigers to reconsider their conduct and respect Chinese allies and laws [9].
The response to this showed a prevalent divide between the attitude of both countries. On one hand, Chinese media published articles to encourage the Chinese to prioritise gratitude to the voluntary fighters, preserving their hospitality, and to acknowledge that “human beings cannot be perfect.” [10] By contrast, back in the U.S., media outlets had significantly diluted the controversy. The New York Times had phrased the Flying Tiger’s access to alcohol as a means for relaxation. The New York Times, New York Herald Tribune, and Time maga-zine had depicted the Flying Tigers as “family-men” who prioritised sending money back to their families [11]. The marginalisation of the misconduct of the Flying Tigers distilled the rampant abuse of rights and privileges, ignoring Chinese unrest towards the unequal treaties.
This internalised superiority felt by the Americans at the time proved to be a continuum - an example being Americans celebrating the allied landings at Normandy as a crucial step to defeating Germany, omitting the Soviet Union’s major contribution that was the main determinant for the result [12]. Overall, it exposes the loud yet subtle depiction of the Chinese being backwards, ignorant and primitive that ran rampant throughout the course of history and is still very much noticeable today. Although this essay’s aim is not to criticise the U.S., it aims to expose the diffusion of the contributions of ethnic minorities within several conflicts - it being a conflict in itself. Undoubtedly, the statement still remains true that The Flying Tigers was a commendable force - a true blend of heroism and alliance, creating palpable morale in times of distress.
Bibliography
[1] [3] “Flying Tigers | United States Military.” Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/topic/Flying-Tigers.
[2] Martha Byrd, Chennault: Giving Wings to the Tiger (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, 1987), 106–108
[4] Byrd, Chennault, pp. 123, 117; Eisel, The Flying Tigers, pp. 10, 13; Daniel Ford, Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941–1942,
Li, Rong (Aries). “Wartime Storytelling and Mythmaking: Interpreting and Remembering the Flying Tigers in the United States, 1941–1945.” The Journal of American-East Asian Relations, vol. 27, no. 4, 2020, pp. 347–73
[5] in. “Flying Tigers of World War II: A Legacy Born in 1941.” MiLB.com, 2025, www.milb.com/lakeland/about/history. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
[6] Flying Tigers (1942)
[7] Li, Rong (Aries). “Wartime Storytelling and Mythmaking: Interpreting and Remembering the Flying Tigers in the United States, 1941–1945.” The Journal of American-East Asian Relations, vol. 27, no. 4, 2020, pp. 347–73
[8] Leung, Edwin Pak-Wah. “The Making of a Special Relationship: The United States and China to 1914. By Michael H. Hunt. [New York: Columbia University Press, 1983].” The China Quarterly 98 (1984): 367–368. Web.
Leong, Karen J. The China Mystique: Pearl S. Buck, Anna May Wong, Mayling Soong, and the Transformation of American Orientalism. 1st ed., University of California Press, 2005.
[9] Letter from Lin Wen-kuei to Chennault, 6 , March 1942, folder 12
Special Orders 55, Headquarters First American Volunteer Group, 2 December 1941
[10] Li, Rong (Aries). “Wartime Storytelling and Mythmaking: Interpreting and Remembering the Flying Tigers in the United States, 1941–1945.” The Journal of American-East Asian Relations, vol. 27, no. 4, 2020, pp. 359
[11] “Victories of A.V.G. Laid to Courage,” New York Times, 14 March 1942
[12] Woods, Alan. “D-Day 80 Years On: The Truth about the Second World War.” The Communist, 6 June 2024, communist.red/d-day-80-years-on-the-truth-about-the-second-world-war/.
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