Arthur Tien Chin1997101October 4th, a ceremony was held in the American Air Force War Heroes Museum, which belongs to the American Air Force History Museum, to pay tribute to the first American air combat hero in World War II. Surprisingly, he turned out to be a China native, who was Arthur Tien Chin, the air hero of World War II. Obviously, for Arthur Tien Chin, this award is decades late. The American Air Force History Museum in Midland, Texas, USA has a collection of more than 300 American aircraft. Its subordinate US Air Force Combat Heroes Hall specializes in collecting and displaying the deeds of American air combat heroes. However, the air combat hero selected for the museum must have a record of shooting down more than five enemy planes, and can only be awarded the title of Air Combat Hero (ACE) after being selected by the museum's advisory committee. The Advisory Committee is composed of active and retired US Air Force chiefs of staff, military experts and aviation experts, including a retired British Air Force Marshal, *** 120. In this year's activities to commemorate the "July 7th Lugouqiao Incident" and "Great Victory in the Anti-Japanese Air War on August 14th", the American media widely publicized Arthur Tien Chin's honor as an air combat hero and introduced his heroic deeds and bumpy life. For example, American newspapers such as World Journal, International Journal, Sing Tao Daily, and American Cable TV Military Channel. 1998 international daily in August 14 wrote that he was a "Chinese hawk" and "America's first air combat hero" in World War II; When the World Journal published his military uniform photo in the Guangdong Air Force, he called him "a hero of air combat between China and the United States" and "admirable forever". This has aroused great repercussions in American society, especially among overseas Chinese compatriots. 1932, Arthur Tien Chin, who was only 19 years old, returned to the motherland full of blood. 1937 On the second day of the "August 13th Incident", he participated in the "August 14th" air battle that shocked China and foreign countries. Two days later, he shot down the Japanese Mitsubishi bomber with an American eagle biplane fighter, setting a record for himself to shoot down enemy planes. From 1937 to 1939, 6 enemy planes were shot down and 3 enemy planes were shot down by the wingman. In the air battle, he fought bravely and dared to fight and rush. His plane was shot down by enemy planes three times, but all of them parachuted successfully and survived. Once, his plane was hit, and he risked his life to go straight to the enemy plane and crashed it. When the plane lost a wing, he successfully parachuted and survived. On another occasion, Arthur Tien Chin, who served as deputy commander of the Air Force in the autumn of 1939, flew planes twice to cover the Soviet Air Force bombing enemy-occupied areas around Kunlun Pass. In the battle over Yongning on February 27th, 65438, three China planes encountered 10 Japanese fighters. After a fierce air battle of 1 hour, China * * * shot down three enemy planes. In the battle, Arthur Tien Chin's plane fuel tank was unfortunately hit by an enemy plane and caught fire, and his whole body caught fire. He parachuted with flames. In order to blow out the flames on his body with the help of high-speed airflow, he didn't open his umbrella in time after parachuting and kept a clear head until he landed. Although the skydiving was successful, the face and body were still burned in large areas. His heroic deeds were widely celebrated at that time, known as "Hawk of Chima", and also published in American English extracurricular reading "Eagle of China". The series "Real Heroes, True Stories in Comics" published by the United States 1946 was published in the third issue of 13 in March-April of that year, with the title of "thrilling stories about real people and stories", which introduced his anti-Japanese achievements and extraordinary experiences. Roy Grinnell, a famous American painter, specially painted a picture to show the fierce air combat scene in order to commemorate his successful shooting down of the advanced Japanese Mitsubishi 96 monoplane bomber with a relatively backward biplane eagle fighter in 1937. It is said that a Hollywood film company also intends to put his story on the screen. Last year 10/4, 10, it is reasonable that the US Air Force Museum selected him as the earliest air combat hero in the United States during World War II. At the commendation ceremony, he was called "America's first air combat hero in World War II". Arthur Tien Chin was born in Dajiang Village, Taishan County, Guangdong Province, and had a rough experience. His father is from China and his mother is from Peru. 19 13, Arthur Tien Chin was born in Portland, Oregon, USA. He was interested in flying in his early years, so he learned to fly by working to earn money in high school. When Japan invaded China, he got an American pilot's license. 1932 After the September 18th Incident, Chinese in Portland decided to send volunteers back to China to participate in the anti-Japanese air war. At that time, Arthur Tien Chin had graduated from the American Aviation School founded by local Chinese, and he volunteered to join the Volunteers with 13 patriotic youths from Oregon, Washington and California, including a young woman. Arthur Tien Chin and his party arrived in Shanghai by boat at first, but they were not deceived by the Kuomintang Central Army. 1 1 year, Chen moved to Guangzhou to join the Guangdong Air Force, and was soon assigned to the Sixth Flying Team of the Guangdong Air Force with the rank of second lieutenant. 1935 was sent to Germany to study fighter flight and tactics, and was promoted to lieutenant after returning home. 1July, 936, Chen was transferred to the Nanjing government, and the Guangdong Air Force was incorporated by the central government, and was assigned to the Central Aviation School in Jianqiao, Hangzhou as a fighter flight instructor. In June of the same year 10 served as the squadron leader of the third brigade of Guangdong Air Force 17 squadron. 1938 summer promoted to major squadron leader. 1939 was promoted to vice captain of the third brigade. From 1937 Lugouqiao Incident to 1939 65438+February 27th, Kunlun Pass Campaign, it carried out many interception and escort missions in East China, South China and Central South China, and participated in famous major battles such as the victory of building a bridge in Hangzhou, the air battle in Wuhan and the defending battle in Nanjing. In the Battle of Kunlun Pass, Arthur Tien Chin was badly burned because of the fire in the plane fuel tank. Due to the inconvenient transportation, it took him three days to be sent to Liuzhou Hospital. At that time, his facial wound was infected and inflamed. Because the local medical conditions were poor, they could not get good treatment, and then they moved to Hong Kong and Hengyang. Finally, with the help of General Chennault of the Flying Tigers and Mrs. Song Meiling of Chiang Kai-shek, he returned to the United States for medical treatment on 1940. In the United States, his face plastic surgery was unsuccessful for five years. Despite his distorted face, he returned to the motherland at the beginning of 1945, carried out air transport mission on hump route, and continued to contribute to the war of resistance against Japan. After War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's victory, he was transferred to China Airlines as a pilot. In the summer of 1949, he returned to Portland and worked in a local post office, sorting and distributing 1952 letters until 1983 retired. 1997 died on September 3rd at the age of 84. There were three ladies before and after Arthur Tien Chin. The first is Wu Yuemei, a patriotic overseas Chinese, the daughter of Wu, a diplomatic official of Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary government. She met Arthur Tien Chin when she was studying in Guangdong. When the Japanese plane attacked Liuzhou at night, in order to save her husband, she threw herself on him and was unfortunately hit by shrapnel. Arthur Tien Chin and Wu Yuemei have two boys. At first, the second one was an American nurse, FrancisMurdock, whom he met during his five-year treatment in new york, USA. 1945, they broke up because Arthur Tien Chin returned to the motherland to fight against Japan after discharge. They have a daughter. The third lady, Yang Ruizhi, is from Shanghai. She met him when she was a ground worker in China Airlines, and 1948 got married. They have a boy who is now a diplomat in the State Council. Arthur Tien Chin now has four children, 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchildren. Arthur Tien Chin's heroic deeds and bumpy experiences at the top of the list greatly shocked another American air combat hero, that is, KenJernstbt. Ken Janster is a Flying Tigers pilot of the United States Air Force who volunteered to help China. After retirement, he served as an Oregon senator for more than 30 years. In the war against Japan in World War II, it achieved a brilliant record of destroying enemy planes 12 (5 Japanese planes were shot down in the air and 7 Japanese planes were destroyed on the ground). So he has already won the title of American air combat hero (ACE). When Arthur Tien Chin flew back to the United States for medical treatment on 1940, he also took the same plane, so they met. Although he has become famous, he was deeply moved when he learned about Arthur Tien Chin's brave, outstanding achievements and unfortunate experiences. He believes that Arthur Tien Chin is undoubtedly the first American air combat hero in World War II. Because of this, he has been fighting for Arthur Tien Chin's obscurity in the list of heroes in air combat for a long time, and tried his best to recommend Arthur Tien Chin to the Advisory Committee of the Air Force Museum. However, the Advisory Committee believes that the United States officially declared war on Japan after the "Pearl Harbor Incident" in February19417, and Arthur Tien Chin returned to the United States for medical treatment in February 1940. Moreover, Arthur Tien Chin was not in the US Air Force at that time, but in the Guangdong Air Force, so it was too late to determine. In fact, the attitude of the Kuomintang Air Force has been very disappointing for a long time: first of all, Arthur Tien Chin, who served the motherland by aviation and joined the army in Shanghai, should not be turned away; Second, Chen is not the Central Army, but the Guangdong Air Force. He has made such a meritorious military service, but he has not been publicized and praised. General Lai, the former commander-in-chief of Taiwan Province Air Force, once said: It is Chen's Cantonese army, not the Central Army. Although many Japanese planes have been shot down, they don't count. That's ridiculous! After persistent lobbying by Ken Janster, the advisory committee finally accepted Janster's suggestion on the grounds that Arthur Tien Chin was fighting the same enemy, that the Flying Tigers of the US Air Force had been fighting against Japan in China before the United States declared war on Japan, and that Arthur Tien Chin himself was an American citizen. In the selection process, Janster also insisted that Arthur Tien Chin was the first American hero to shoot down a Japanese plane. Therefore, Arthur Tien Chin's name was inscribed on the 1997 heroes list of the War Heroes Hall of the US Air Force, and he was officially selected as the first American air combat hero in World War II. At the same time, seven other American Air Force heroes were selected into the Who's Who of Fighting Heroes of the US Air Force. Arthur Tien Chin learned this news before his death, and originally planned to attend the commendation ceremony in person. Unfortunately, he died one month and one day before the ceremony, and his grandson, 17 years old, attended the ceremony in his place. Arthur Tien Chin's heroic deeds and misfortune caused great repercussions in American society, and Chinese Americans and news media paid more attention to it. In addition to extensive publicity in newspapers and periodicals, the US cable military channel is also preparing to make an album of his legendary life, and plans to make a series of feature films of air combat heroes who returned to War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression at that time. To this end, they specially entrusted Dr. Ye Chenhui, an American expert in Silicon Valley, to help find and collect information about Arthur Tien Chin before his death, especially the photos before his face was disfigured, as well as information about other heroes. Mr Ye Chenhui knows a lot about the history of air combat. Last year, he used the China media (see 1997 "The Barber's Adventure in China") and through the efforts of the relevant departments in Hunan, he finally found two benefactors who had saved the American air combat hero barber during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression period at the beginning of this year. Before being rescued in that distress, Barber shot down the plane of Japanese navy general Isoroku Yamamoto (see1the article "Who shot down Yamamoto should get to the bottom" in June, 997). After the news of collecting Arthur Tien Chin's information before his death was disclosed by the news media, many enthusiastic readers offered clues one after another. Mr. Ye Chenhui soon found Ms. Yang Ruizhi, the widow of Major Arthur Tien Chin, who lives in Portland, and was lucky enough to see her uniform photo of handsome Arthur Tien Chin when he first entered the Guangdong Air Force and the book China Eagle.