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74th
Fighter Squadron - 23rd Fighter Group
CHINA 1942-45
The 74th
Fighter Squadron, formed on July 4, 1942 in China, to succeed the 1st
Pursuit Squadron of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), possesses a most
unique and diverse history. It inherited the AVG P-4() B & E Models,
was manned by two Majors, eighteen Lieutenants, one M/Sgt, two Tech/Sgts,
seven buck Sergeants, thirty-five Corporal/Privates. The earliest
flights struck Japanese targets in Indo-China, Thailand, Burma and
defended areas of west China. The Squadron was nearly decimated when
caught on the ground by Japanese aircraft, without warning, suffering
severe losses in men, material and aircraft at Yunnanyi, China.
The Squadron moved to
Kweilin in May ‘43, and acquired an offensive role. Escort missions of
B-25 and B-24 aircraft to the Canton - Hong Kong area were
frequently conducted.
In the Fall, the
Squadron joined with the 75th Squadron at Hengyang to repel
the Japanese incursion crossing the Tung Ting Lake in their annual
"rice bowl" raid around the Changsha area. These close support
and interdiction missions were deadly, costly and successful.
Spring of 1944 found
the Japanese commencing their Ichigo Campaign which ultimately severed
China in half by sweeping and occupying our forward Bases at Ilengyang,
Lingling, Kweilin and Luichow. It was the norm for the men to work
round-the-clock maintaining damaged war-weary aircraft, while, pilots
were flying four to seven close support missions per day. The Squadron,
selected by Eglin Air Base Proving Ground, was the first to test and
employ in combat the cumbersome and frequently inaccurate Air-to-Ground
missile.
Upon loss of Bases, 14th
Air Force Squadrons were forced to evacuate westward, while the 74th
was directed to move east and "commence operations behind enemy
lines" from Kanchow. Targeting ranged along the east coast from
Hong Kong to Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, and down the Yangtze
River. striking virgin territory of Anking, Wuhu, former Capital Nanking
and the unsuspected airfields at Shanghai. It was this time frame in
which the 74th was recognized and identified as the Guerrilla
Squadron. The 74th Commander during this period was Major
John C. "Pappy" Herbst, who became the leading Ace of the 14th
Air Force with 18-1/4 air kills.
Upon evacuation of
Kanchow in February ‘45, the Air Operations of the 74th
became an anticlimax.
The overall record of
the 74th, like its sister Squadrons, was outstanding under
deplorable logistical support, severe weather phenomenon and rigorous
living conditions. Missions ranged from the Salween River 1,600 miles
east to Shanghai, from the Yangtze 750 miles south to the Hainan Island
- Hong Kong area, transversing mountainous terrain with no electronic
aids for navigation. Only pilotage, time and distance was utilized with
inaccurate maps on which the Far North was marked,
"Unexplored".
One hundred
twenty-four Japanese Aircraft were destroyed in Air Combat, an estimated
143 destroyed on the ground, 43 thousand tons of enemy shipping was
sunk, arid estimated seven thousand Japanese military personnel killed.
The 74th
losses totaled forty outstanding men, of whom seven were ground crew
members killed by Japanese bombs and strafing. Of the thirty-three
pilots, only four were shot down by Japanese aircraft, twenty-three to
enemy ground fire and five to weather conditions. It is noteworthy that
our ground crews, averaging almost three years in China, existed and
labored under the most austere conditions. It is to those skilled men
that we owe so much. The Mission of the 74th would not have
succeeded without the ingenuity, productiveness, and Love of Country
exemplified by these marvelously Young Americans.
The 23rd
Fighter Group is acknowledged as one of the outstanding Fighter Groups
that served our Nation during WWII. It’s combat record is certainly
one to be both admired and coveted; however, there exists another
element which made a significant contribution to the Group’s fame,
history and heritage. Members of the American Volunteer Group, A.V.G.
Flying Tigers, upon deactivation July 4, 1942 accepted Army Air Corps
comparable ranks and remained in China as the leaders and the nuclei of
the 23td Group. Specifically, six pilots and twenty-eight flight-line
men were divided within the three Squadrons. Major Frank Schiel became
the first 74th Squadron Commander, Major David ‘Tex’
Hill, 75th Squadron Commander and Major Ed Rector, 76th
Squadron Commander. Major Schiel was subsequently killed in a crash near
Kunming. Majors’ Hill and Rector commanded the 23rd Group
in 1944 and 1945 respectively.
It is based on this
History and the leadership of former A.V.G. Flying Tigers within the
three Squadrons, that the mantle and honor of being identified as Flying
Tigers was inherited.
June 1, 1992, a new
generation, The twenty-third Wing, Pope AFB, North Carolina was
activated, and proudly carries on the tradition and heritage of the
Flying Tigers.
Submitted by: Clark
Manning, (74th Fighter Squadron Association) |
