[Lennart Andersson]

Six Ansaldo A 300-4 two-seat reconnaissance biplanes were purchased from Carlo Pestalozza of C:a Asiatica Importazioni ed Esportazioni by Chihli (Paoting Air Corps) in 1924. The first two were shipped in October, but the remaining four, shipped from Genoa on the SS “Pfalz” on 4 November, were seized by the British authorities at Colombo in 1 December. They were later released and shipped back to Italy on the SS “Trier” in April 1925. Those that arrived were taken over by Manchuria.

I am not aware of any Russian pilots at paoting. For further details see my book on aviation in China:
http://z-bok.se/catalog.12.html

Lennart Andersson