Flying Tigers VS Christopher Shores?

[RodM]

Hello One & All,

having read some of the arguments put forward on the AVG forum (which, obviously don't neccessarily represent the view of the AVG survivors themselves), I wouldn't pay much attention to some of the (so-called) counter-arguments.

e.g.

"To rely on your country's enemies for reliable information seems to me, to be quite a questionable practice..." (the Japanese aren't still enemies are they? To rely only on your own countries' records is even more questionable)

"I never understood why some 'American' authors find such joy in undermining the achievements of their countrymen, and their country's history." {Well, I thought it was to establish some form of verifable truth and to decontruct propaganda! ...and to phrase the word 'American' in such a way as to suggest that a US author is un-American, for expressing freedom of speech and trying to further historical knowledge, disgusts me, quite frankly)

What would interest me, has anyone checked verifible bank records or official Chinese documents to see just how much money was paid out for claims to the AVG? I haven't read the books to be able to find out.

Cheers

Rod

PS - I can commiserate with Ford and Shores et al, as I have contributed to an in-depth study, soon to be published, that doesn't gloss over the sometimes inflated German night fighter claims...We'll see how long after publication that the Flak barrage begins from certain circles (and I have faced the accusation that British Bomber Command records are not complete or deliberately hide losses...utter rubbish).

[Oldpilot]

Ajax Baumler resigned from the army to join the AVG but was refused a passport because of his service in Spain, so he didn't go to Burma with the rest. (That's why there were only 99 pilots instead of the intended 100.) He tried to get to Chennault as an army officer in December 1941 but was turned back by the Japanese attack on Wake. He set out a third time as a captain by way of Africa, and reached Chennault's headquarters in April or May 1942. See www.warbirdforum.com/baumler.htm

He did fly at least two missions with the AVG and claimed one Japanese plane shot down. However, he was a uniformed officer of the USAAF at the time, not a member of the AVG.

[CJE]

Thanks Ruy. This should write the word finis to this debate.

Chris

[Ruy Horta]

My thanks goes to Chris Shores for his contribution.