The Flying Tigers were a group of planes that were manned by volunteer American men that was based in China. They made it possible for China to stand their ground against Japan, who very possibly could've taken over the Chinese empire, therefore gaining their resources, making them alot harder to stop.
In 1937, Claire L. Chennault, a Captain retired from duty of the US Army Air Corps, was sent on a three month mission to take a confidential survey of the Chinese Air force. He stayed and helped the Chinese to reorganize their Air Force, which was previously in shambles. He stayed for three years before ever coming back to America, and he set up a strong system of air fields and air raid warning systems. Without these, it would have been niegh impossible to set up any sort of American air support. He then proposed to send a small but well equiped group of American planes to help china in their war against Japan.
This is a video of the Flying Tigers first dog fight.
