{"product_id":"original-signed-limited-edition-print-framed-flying-tigers-by-stan-stokes-with-24-signatures-of-avg-flying-tigers-pilots-33-x-30","title":"Original Signed Limited Edition Print: Framed “Flying Tigers” by Stan Stokes With 24 Signatures of AVG Flying Tigers Pilots - 33 ½” x 30”","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was formed to help oppose the Japanese invasion of China. Operating in 1941–1942, it was composed of pilots from the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC), and was commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. Their Curtis P-40B Warhawk aircraft, marked with Chinese colors, flew under American control. Recruited under President Franklin Roosevelt's authority before Pearl Harbor, their mission was to bomb Japan and defend the Republic of China, but many delays meant the AVG first flew in combat after the US and Japan declared war.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group consisted of three fighter squadrons of around 30 aircraft each that trained in Burma before the American entry into World War II to defend the Republic of China against Japanese forces. The AVG were officially members of the Republic of China Air Force. The group had contracts with salaries ranging from $250 a month for a mechanic to $750 for a squadron commander, roughly three times what they had been making in the U.S. forces. While it accepted some civilian volunteers for its headquarters and ground crew, the AVG recruited most of its staff from the U.S. military.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Flying Tigers began to arrive in China in April 1941. The group first saw combat on 20 December 1941, 12 days after Pearl Harbor (local time). It demonstrated innovative tactical victories when the news in the U.S. was filled with little more than stories of defeat at the hands of the Japanese forces, and achieved such notable success during the lowest period of the war for both the U.S. and the Allied Forces as to give hope to America that it might eventually defeat Japan. AVG pilots earned official credit and received combat bonuses for destroying 296 enemy aircraft, while losing only 14 pilots in combat. The combat records of the AVG still exist and researchers have found them credible. On 4 July 1942 the AVG was disbanded and replaced by the 23rd Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces, which was later absorbed into the U.S. Fourteenth Air Force with General Chennault as commander. The 23rd FG went on to achieve similar combat success, while retaining the nose art on the left-over P-40s.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one-of-a-kind print is serial number \u003cstrong\u003e283 out of 1500\u003c\/strong\u003e prints made. “Flying Tigers’ is an individually numbered lithograph, each personally signed by the artist, Stan Stokes, and by pilots of the original Flying Tigers. This lithograph is a limited edition of 1500. All printing plates were permanently destroyed upon completion of the totals made. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eof\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePilots\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCharles BAISDEN\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCharles BOND\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCarl BROWN\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJim CROSS\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eParker DuPOUY\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRobert Duke HEDMAN\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDavid Lee \"Tex\" HILL\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eKen JERNSTEDT\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRobert \"Bus\" KEETON\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStephen KUSTAY\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eC.H. Link LAUGHLIN\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBob LAYHER\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBob LOCKE\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRobert \"Moose\" MOSS\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBob NEALE\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eChuck OLDER\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePaul PERRY\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBob \"Catfish\" RAINES\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEd RECTOR\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDon RODEWALD\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJohn R. \"Dick\" ROSSI\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eErik SHILLING\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRobert T. SMITH\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFritz WOLF\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePeter WRIGHT\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComes more than ready for further research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40430564016197,"sku":"ONSV22SDN10","price":2295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV22SDN10__01.jpg?v=1668816976","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-signed-limited-edition-print-framed-flying-tigers-by-stan-stokes-with-24-signatures-of-avg-flying-tigers-pilots-33-x-30","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}