When aging American WWII veterans step back onto Chinese soil, their eyes tell a story that took Jeffrey Greene, Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, a decade to decipher. "That look is pride," Greene reflects. "They see China today and they are proud, because what they did 80 years ago... set the base for China to be rebuilt."
These veterans include the legendary Flying Tigers—the American Volunteer Group and later the 14th Air Force—who defended Chinese skies against overwhelming odds. Piloting their iconic P-40 fighters adorned with shark teeth, they fought alongside Chinese forces and civilians, with many making the ultimate sacrifice. Their daring missions over the hazardous "Hump" airlift route kept vital supplies flowing when all other paths were cut off.
This profound connection, forged in the skies over China and on the ground where countless Chinese civilians risked everything to save American airmen, is a legacy Greene's foundation is determined to preserve. He notes a historical act of courage unique to China: "Every time a Chinese civilian saw an American coming down on a parachute, they wanted to go help." Yet, this instinct meant an impossible choice, for "If I help this guy... our whole village is dead."
The strategic impact of this alliance was monumental. Greene emphasizes that by keeping the Japanese army "stuck here," Chinese forces, guerrillas, and civilians played a "huge role in the Allied victory." This shared sacrifice, where "thousands and thousands of Chinese died," is a history he believes young Chinese should be proud of.
Now, the Foundation is channeling this past into future-building dialogue. Through its Flying Tiger Friendship School program, nearly 100 Chinese schools and hundreds of American students are connecting. They use video conferencing so thousands of students can talk to the few remaining Flying Tigers.
For Greene, this 80-year-old bond is more than history; it's a living example. He sees a simple, powerful truth: "The American people, the Chinese people, if they get together, there's nothing they can't accomplish together... If our countries of America and China work together more strongly... we will all win." In an era of complex relations, this lesson in unity over division echoes louder than ever.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Script & Text: Guo Zedong
Video editor: Ou Xiaoming
Cameraman: Guo Hongda, Ou Xiaoming
Video cover: Ou Xiaoming
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
