Interview by Samuel Hui, December 2013

Where did he grow up?

I was born in 1922 at Jian of Manchuria’s Andong province. This place now belongs to Jilin province.

What sort of family was he from?

            I am a descendant of Genghis Khan’s fourth son. For this reason, my father was able to study aboard under the sponsor of Marshal Chang Tso-ling (Zhang Zuolin). After getting two master degrees in the United States and Switzerland, he returned to China and became a professor in the Northeastern University.

By that time, Old Marshal had already been killed by the Japanese. For this reason, Young Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang (Zhang Xueliang) invited my father to become his secretary. I was the oldest brother in my family, and I had four little sisters in Manchuria.         

How was his family affected by the Japanese invasion?

When the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931, my uncle’s son and I were forced to escape into the interior China. This is the reason why I attended elementary and middle school in Tianjin and Beijing. My father also lost his position within Young Marshal’s army after the establishment of Manchukuo. He went to Tianjin and became a professor in the Beiyang University.

Six years later, I began my second escape after the outbreak of Marco Polo Bridge Incident. I entered the National Northwest University located at Xian. It is a temporary university composed of students in exile from Beijing University, Beijing Normal School, Beiyang Institute of Technology and Beijing Research Institute.

Why did he decide to join the air force?

I had no intention to join the air force because I originally wanted to become a clerk in the bank after the graduation. When the air force was recruiting cadets for training in the United States, I was convinced by a medical officer to get a check of my body. At that time, tuberculosis was an incurable disease for people in China. Because the air force had the X-ray generator, I decided to go there to see if I got tuberculosis. I did not expect that I would pass the exam.

Surprisingly, I passed the exam with other 27 students. A farewell party was soon held for us 28 students who were selected by the air force for training. By that time, it was too embarrassing for me to quiet. My mom did not want me to go in the beginning, but she was eventually convinced by my father. Then a Russian-built military truck transported us to Kunming from Xian through Sichuan province. It was a long journey, and thankfully we went through it with a truck.

Did he have any previous aviation training?

No.                                                  

Did he attend a military academy?

I entered the Chinese Air Force Academy in 1941. We first reported to the main campus located at Wu Chia Ba airfield at Kunming. The Chinese Air Force planned to train us at Yunnanyi airfield first. After realizing that American Volunteer Group was going to use Yunnanyi airfield, we then moved to Zhanyi to continue our basic training in PT-17 trainer.

At Zhanyi, most of our instructors were Chinese. However, the instructors who checked us in the aircraft were Americans. Only those cadets who passed the exam given by those American instructors would be able to continue their training to the United States. About half of us 28 students from National Northwestern University were washed out from their training. Among 150 cadets who were at Zhanyi for basic training, only 82 were allowed to move on to the United States.

Where did he complete his pilot training?

After arriving at the United States, I began my basic training again at Thunderbird field at Arizona for basic training again in PT-17. The American instructors at there were very strict. About 20 of our cadets were washed out again. Then we moved onto Marana field located at Tucson. At there, I was assigned to be trained as a bomber pilot in BT-13 trainer. When I finished my primary training, I was then sent to William field for advanced training. I flew AT-9 trainer there.

I completed my training and got my wings (both USAAF and ROCAF) on Oct. 1 of 1943. We were then assigned to Operation Training Unit based in La Junta of Colorado to fly B-25 bombers.

Did he have American instructors?

Sure, we were at the United States for training. The one who I remember most is Otto Schteber. He was at Marana to train us Chinese cadets after completing 25 combat missions in Europe. Because I spoke English fairly well, Otto usually invited me to his house for dinner. We had developed very close friendship. I named my son Otto because of him. He tried to introduce girlfriend to me back in the US.

Barry Goldwater who later became senator was also there to teach us shooting at William Field. He had better relationship with the Chinese fighter pilots because he was the most important instructor at Luke field. 

Did he go through additional training at Karachi before going to combat?

No.

How did he end up in the 3^rd Bomb Squadron? When did he arrive?

I arrived at Karachi on February of 1944 and was assigned to 3^rd Bomb Squadron of 1^st Bomb Group, CACW. Our mission was to support General Stilwell’s X-Force in its advance towards Northern Burma. For this reason, we were put under the command of 10^th Air Force.

What did he think of B-25? Did he find it challenging to fly?

We had 12 B-25 bombers for our squadron. Because there are both American and Chinese crews aboard the aircraft, I think the most challenging thing for us is that we must understand and communicate in English.

Was the CACW evenly split between Chinese and Americana?

As for my unit, there were more Chinese than American. About 27 of us 49 cadets who completed training in the United States on October of 1943 were assigned to fly B-25 with the 3^rd BG. In contrast, there were only between seven and eight American pilots including the commanding officers. We had a Chinese squadron commander and four flight leaders too (They were trained under the older CAF system).

I remember we had a dozen of American ground crews to work with their Chinese counterparts. A crew chief was in charge of two or three B-25 bombers.

What was his impression of his commanders?

Our American squadron commander was Chester Conrad while the Chinese commander was Wu Chao-chen. What I remember about Conrad is that he was a man with pride. My flight leader was Captain Ray Roges. I flew as his co-pilot for some missions. He was a good friend of mine.

Officially, we were USAAF unit instead of ROCAF because we were commanded under the 10^th Air Force. For this reason, most of our missions in Burma were directed by American commanders. However, Wu was an outstanding and old-fashion commander too.

I met General George Stratemeyer too. What I remember about him is that he was very handsome.

Does he think CACW was a good model for building the Chinese Air Force?

Absolutely! The Republic of China Air Force was reconstructed with the experience and commanding system of the CACW. Even until today, you can say that the entire ROCAF in Taiwan is created by using the tactical air force command of the United States as its role model.

We all developed wonderful relationship with our American comrades. When the American pilots returned to the United States after the Japanese surrendered, we all cried during the farewell party. They are like family to us.

Where was his unit based?

We stationed at Moran airfield of Assam, India during the Second Burma Campaign. In that airfield, the 83^rd Bomb Squadron of 12^th Bomb Group and 90^th Fighter Squadron were there as well.

What targets were they going after?

Between June and August of 1944, we flew 170 missions against the Japanese supply line through the rail in Northern Burma to support General Stilwell’s army in Myitkyina. We began our first mission on Jun. 25 of 1944. It was carried out by Captain Thomas Simpson, 3^rd Bomb Squadron’s chief of operation. I personally flew between 14 and 15 missions from India.

Did he ever encounter enemy aircraft?

No, the 10^th Air Force controls the air in Northern Burma.

Did he have any trouble with anti-air fire?

Yes, the Japanese anti-air fire was still pretty tough in Burma. The Japanese soldiers attacked us with different kind of weapon while hiding themselves up in the forest. Because we all conducted low-level bombing, bullet holes could always be seen on our B-25s after the mission. None of our B-25 was ever shot down by the Japanese ground fire. However, three of our aircraft had to conduct force landing in territory controlled by Allied.

The first B-25s forced landed at friendly territory was piloted by Captain Simpson. Next day, Lt. Mark Seacrest’s B-25 went down as well. My B-25 was the third B-25 to be brought down. At that mission, Hoges flew as the pilot while I was the co-pilot. One of our engines was hit by the Japanese ground fire that time. Lucky enough, none of our crews were hurt during the force landing. We all returned to the base safely.

After our last mission on Aug. 16, we began our journey back to China.