Henschel HS-123

[Oldpilot]

The Chinese bought bits and bobs of aircraft from all over the world, often enough civilian transports that the manufacturer promised could be used as bombers. I remember reading in the Foreign Relations of the United States about the State Department's efforts to block the shipment of twenty-odd Bellancas in 1938 or 1939--probably did a favor to the Chinese!

There were a few Heinkels in CAF service at the outbreak of war in August 1937, but the most successful imports were those assembled locally, including Italian planes (not many left by August 1937) and American, notably Curtiss Hawk II and III biplanes.

Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Coming August 21: Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942

[marsyao]

hi, what is the difference between this book and the previous " Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and the American Volunteer Group " ?

[Krzysztof Pawlowski]

I tried to have the text from the Chinese web site translated. According to the author China bought 12 Hs123 and the planes were delivered crated in 1938. They were assembled in Nanking (Nanjing).The value of contract was 2,018,000.- RM.
In the first paragraph it is mentioned that China bought 12 He50 in 1935. Delivery was delayed by 6 months due to the demand from German air force.

K

[Oldpilot]

Originally Posted by marsyao

hi, what is the difference between this book and the previous " Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and the American Volunteer Group " ?

Twenty years' worth of additional research!

The 1991 Smithsonian Inst Press edition had some minor corrections in its 2nd printing, and more extensive one in the 7th printing in 2001. But I was very limited as to how many changes I could make (the lines always had to come out the same).

SIP went out of business in 2005, and the last copies of that version were soon sold. So HarperCollins, which acquired the Smithsonian list and name, agreed to publish a revised edition. I spent last year rewriting the book. It's a bit shorter, and much of the "back matter" has been moved onto my website (see the link in my sig file). As a result, HarperCollins achieved the remarkable feat of lowering the price by six dollars over 2001.

It's astonishing how much new information can emerge about happenings of sixty-odd years ago. Rick Dunn of this message board is only one of the resources I didn't have when I began to study the AVG in the 1980s. (Ask him! He's seen the book, and I haven't.)

Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Coming August 21: Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942