The Flying Tigers
In the early days of what was to become WWII in the Pacific, a small group of Americans began training for what was going to become one of the most heroic efforts of the war. The Chinese had been invaded and needed an air force to protect their supply lines and allow them to survive the unceasing onslaught of the Empire of Japan. This presentation covers the early history of the war, the formation of the American Volunteer Group, the 14th Air Force and the cost of the air war in China. The American Air War in China lasted for the time it took to defeat the Japanese. The foundations of the Sino-Japanese War will be presented along with the strategy that was put in place to allow the Chinese Nationalist Government to survive the war.
About the Speaker - Ray Cosyn
Mr. Cosyn is a native Chicagoan who has called Saratoga home for the past 30 years. He is a graduate of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois and holds a master’s degree in history from San Jose State University. His career was in high tech having worked for several companies in sales, product marketing and management. He is currently on the board of directors of the Saratoga Historical Foundation and is a member of the Saratoga Traffic Safety Commission.