Ann Lee

In the history of aviation development in the early-20th century, Tom Gunn was one of the greatest Chinese aviation pioneers. He was the very first Chinese individual who achieved the “FAI – Fédération Aéronautique Internationale” license. He not only created a new type of hydroaeroplane, but also won the international award. 

In order to revitalize Chinese aviation industry, American-born Tom Gunn crossed a long journey to China to follow Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s revolution to overthrow the feudal warlords.

While many people believe that Feng Ru was the father of modern Chinese aviation, there were many other people who had also made outstanding contributions to the aviation industry in China. Wong Tsu, for instance, was one of the talented students who had been sent by the Beiyang Government to MIT and was praised as “the first and best engineer” of the Boeing Company.

After the Mukden Incident (September 18, 1931), staged by the Japanese army and followed by the Japanese occupation of all three northeast provinces of China, overseas Chinese communities launched various activities to support the Chinese people’s fight against the Japanese invasion. They donated a great amount of money and materials, and sent their children back to join the Chinese army. Some organizations in the United States also raised funds and set up a number of aviation schools and training centers. Many young men went back to join Chinese Air Force after their graduation.

John Angel Chu was one of these overseas Chinese youth who were from different parts of the United States but joined together in China to fight against the Japanese invaders. They gave the best years of their life to the anti-Japanese cause, some even sacrificed their young life for the peace of the world.

On December 17, 1903, after over one thousand failed attempts, the “Wright Flyer 1”finally flew into the sky and started the era of world aviation. The success of the Wright Brothers attracted many aviation enthusiasts all over the world. Several Chinese in the United States were among those aviation pioneers who dreamed of flying into the sky. Ru Feng (aka Fung Joe Guey) was the first one who made outstanding contributions to the development of Chinese aviation history.

Sen Yet Young, a Chinese American from a wealthy family in Hawaii，learned to fly and became the first Hawaiian-born aviator with an official pilot license. At Yat-sen Sun’s invitation, Young traveled to China to organize and lead an aviation brigade. He was tasked to train Chinese pilots and build China’s first airplane. After his death in 1923, he was posthumously awarded the rank of lieutenant general and is remembered as the founder of the Chinese Air Force.

In the famous 14th US Army Air Force, several logistic maintenance and intelligence squadrons were composed entirely of Chinese American soldiers, who proudly call themselves part of the “Flying Tigers”.