"CHINA CRISIS" FLYING TIGERS / 14th AIR FORCE IN CHINA WWII CLAIRE CHENNAULT 21870 HD

Created during WWII, this film "China Crisis" shows the activities of the American Volunteer Force (AVG) Flying Tigers and their P-40 Warhawks. After Pearl Harbor this group was incorporated into the new 14th Air Force, and their C.O., Claire Chennault, was put in command. This is story of the 14th Air Force —also known as the Flying Tigers— in action, including P-40 gun camera footage, the epic airlift over "The Hump", and a rare look at air operations in China. It contrasts modern, Japanese-occupied cities with the primitive but resilient "Free China," where the U.S. and Chinese forces resist Japanese aggression. Led by General Claire Chennault, the 14th faced extreme logistical challenges, relying on a treacherous airlift over the Himalayas ("The Hump") to bring in every drop of fuel, bullet, and aircraft. Despite limited supplies, outdated equipment, and constant Japanese attacks, the Flying Tigers held their ground, built new airfields by hand with the help of thousands of Chinese civilians, and launched powerful air raids against Japanese shipping and infrastructure. In 1944, a major Japanese offensive forced the Americans to destroy their own bases and retreat, triggering a massive civilian refugee crisis. Yet, the 14th Air Force survived, relocated, and continued the fight, proving instrumental in keeping pressure on Japan and maintaining China’s role in the Allied war effort. 0:00 – Contrasting images of modern, Japanese-occupied China and traditional, rural "Free China," where American forces are assisting with the war effort. 2:00 – American involvement via air power, notably the 14th Air Force and Flying Tigers under General Chennault. 2:54 – Extreme logistical challenges of supplying the 14th: everything (gas, bullets, vehicles) is flown over the Himalayas ("The Hump") from India. 5:51 – Journey from Kolkata to air bases in Assam using a chaotic, mixed transport network: rail, barge, truck, and ferry. 6:30 – Airlift operation over the Himalayas, where terrain, weather, and enemy fighters take a heavy toll on American transport crews. 8:34 – Planes finally arrive in Free China, where they’re received and put to use in combat operations by the 14th. 9:04 – Origin of the Flying Tigers: American volunteers paid by the Chinese government before the U.S. entered WWII. 10:14 – General Chennault’s leadership of the newly formalized 14th Air Force, fighting off Japanese air attacks to keep the hump supply line open. 14:25 – American forces stabilize the front, and Chennault prepares to move eastward into offensive positions in China. 15:26 – Airfields are built deep in East China using hand labor—up to 90,000 Chinese workers per field, earning 20 cents and a bowl of rice. 19:21 – A vast Chinese air raid warning network helps protect U.S. planes from surprise attacks and rescues downed American pilots. 21:05 – New aircraft arrive (B-24s, B-25s, P-51s), along with Chinese-American units trained in the U.S., though supply limitations remain severe. 23:24 – The 14th has to improvise constantly. Fuel shortages mean a single mission consumes weeks of accumulated gas. 24:09 – Supply shortages worsen as operations move east; Christmas packages arrive in March. 25:36 – By fall 1943, American planes are heavily targeting Japanese shipping in the South China Sea and ports like Hong Kong. 28:15 – Japanese shipping losses climb dramatically; specially equipped U.S. bombers achieve record efficiency in tonnage destroyed per gallon of fuel. 29:15 – The Japanese launch a major 1944 offensive to knock the 14th out of China. Despite fierce resistance, the Americans run out of fuel. 31:20 – With fuel gone and bases overrun, the 14th begins a massive retreat. Airfields are mined and destroyed. 33:14 – Final evacuations take place as Luichow base is abandoned; everything is burned to keep it from the enemy. 35:13 – A massive refugee crisis ensues; 100,000 civilians crowd railroads and roads in a desperate flight westward. 36:06 – Chinese civilians and soldiers retreat on foot and by broken trucks. Despite everything, no civilians are killed by Japanese air attacks—thanks to U.S. air dominance. 38:18 – New airfields built deeper inland. American planes and Chinese troops counterattack successfully in Burma and stem the Japanese advance. 39:20 – Though the Japanese captured territory, they failed to destroy the 14th. U.S. air power from China and the Pacific now forms a pincer. 39:45 – Supplies increase as the Ledo Road opens—a vital new land route to China. 40:06 – Final recap: The 14th Air Force has destroyed thousands of enemy vehicles, planes, and ships—its mission continues. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com