The Flying Tigers, as they were soon to be called, were in Burma training in Curtiss P-40s (actually Hawk Model 81-A-2s, or, as the British called them, Tomahawks) when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 8, 1941 (December 7 in the United States).

This is probably the most famous photograph of the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers, taken by R.T. Smith of the 3rd Squadron Hell's Angels. His son, Brad Smith, describes the photo this way: " The photograph was taken by Dad, probably from #47, on May 28, 1942 near the Salween River Gorge.

Jul 17, 2021 · Flight leader and fighter ace Robert “R.T.” Smith stands next to his P-40 fighter at Kunming, China. The “Flying Tiger” insignia was created by the Walt Disney Company.

Jun 12, 2016 · The photograph P-40 Tomahawk #47 flown by R.T. Smith of the Third Pursuit Squadron — Hell’s Angels — of the American Volunteer Group was probably taken on May 28, 1942 near the Salween River Gorge on the China-Burma border.

Fighter pilot R.T. Smith stands next to a P-40 in Kunming, China. The aircraft’s winged tiger design was created by Roy Williams and Henry Porter, two artists who worked at Walt Disney Studios.

Flight leader and fighter ace Robert "R.T." Smith stands next to his P-40 fighter at Kunming, China. The "Flying Tiger" insignia was created by the Walt Disney Company.

May 23, 2019 · American Volunteer Group squadron flight leader Robert 'R. T (“for tadpole”) Smith standing next to his P-40 Warhawk fighter, Kunming, China, 23 May 1942. Smith resigned his commission as a second lieutenant in 1941 in order to join Colonel Claire Lee Chennault's American Volunteer Group (AVG) as a ‘soldier of fortune' with the ...

Jul 15, 2019 · R.T. Smith’s first victory came on December 23, 1941 flying P-40B #77 (AVG referred to the aircraft as P-40B). In 1942 Smith received P-40B #47 from the 2nd Squadron and by June 1942 had scored 8.7 victories. The AVG is credited with 299 air victories and 153 destroyed on the ground.

Aug 21, 1995 · Received primary flight training at Santa Maria, CA; basic training with Class 40-C at Randolph Field, TX; and advanced training at Brooks Field, TX. Commissioned a Second …

May 25, 2009 · RT Smith also had his name, kill flags and Hell’s Angel art added at this time. His Flying Tiger decal had the two blue flashed added, making one of the most colorful of the AVG P-40’s. We worked from an original photograph that clearly shows all of these features.