Steve Kusak, Pilot in China

Confusion or cultural differences?

One of the hardest things for me was to figure out who was who, and what was what during the 1940's. For the Chinese today, any American involved in the war in the 40's is a Flying Tiger. They make no distinction between the pilots who flew transport planes over the Himalayas (Hump pilots), and those who flew fighter planes to intercept Japanese bombers and fighters (AVG and 14th squadron).

Growing up in Mallorca in Spain, I had several Flying Tigers as neighbors – the AVG Flying Tigers, that is. For years I never understood why my father would be called a Flying Tiger, but he would deny being one.

Today, whether in the US or in China there is no clear understanding of the matter. The original Flying Tigers were the American Volunteer Group (AVG). To know more and appreciate their historical importance, I recommend that you check the AVG website.

July 4, 1942 the AVG was disbanded. Many of its pilots joined CNAC rather than the US military’s 14th squadron (who took the name as well as the famous shark-face markings on the nose of their planes). "Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers" is a great documentary about it.

CNAC, in its turn, was a professional non-military volunteer group too. It helped the war cause, but it was a privately owned corporation created July 8, 1930.

Its historical importance is unique.  The way Chinese and Americans collaborated was synergistic since the 1930's. Its role in helping China in its darkest hour is not well known. Later, once the US was involved in WW2 it collaborated with the Air Transport Command (ATC) of the US military. (note to self: need to make my own mini-page about CNAC's history).

Sometimes, because  this website is more about CNAC than the armed forces, it may sound anti-military. I hope not. That is not my intention at all.

What I believe to be more important is that there is a unique way of leadership. Chennault knew it well and used it well. It was also the leadership style, and a way of life in CNAC. This rare form of leadership can also be found in the military, universities, corporations and families. 

Part of my personal mission is devoted to understanding this form of leadership.