On this day, 84 years ago, on December 30, 1941 (November 13, 1941 in the lunar calendar), Chennault's "Flying Tigers" came to China to fight. American volunteer pilots set out in a team of oddly shaped fighter jets to attack the Japanese army. On December 30, 1941, Chennault's "Flying Tigers" came to China to fight. That day, the team entered the war for the first time in Kunming, shooting down nine invading Japanese bombers. "Flying Tigers" is the laudatory name for the American Volunteer Air Force. The "Flying Tigers" were formed at the expense of the China government and by retired U.S. Air Force officer Claire Lee Chennault recruited reserve and retired pilots from the U.S. Army and Navy. On August 1 of that year, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the "Flying Tigers" commanded by Chennault to be officially included in the ranks of China's armed forces. The "Flying Tigers" officially entered into combat this month after nearly five months of training at the Tonggu Air Force Training Base in Myanmar (rented by China). Retired U.S. Air Force officer Claire Lee Chennault