NANNING, China, Sept. 09, 2025 — Relatives of the Flying Tigers and researchers gathered on Sunday, September 7, at an exhibition in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Hosted by the Liuzhou Military Museum, the display commemorates the history of the U.S. volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces during World War II.
Clifford Ray Long Junior, son of veteran Flying Tiger pilot Clifford Ray Long, highlighted his family’s enduring connection to China, spanning three generations. Speaking to Xinhua, he referenced two photographs permanently exhibited at the Liuzhou Military Museum: one capturing his father’s return to China in 2004, and another showing Long Junior with his grandson at Beijing’s Great Wall in 2023.
Clifford Ray Long became a Flying Tiger at just 19 years old in 1941. His son, Long Junior, recounted one of his father’s most dangerous missions: his aircraft was assailed by 13 Japanese fighters, yet despite significant damage, he skillfully regained control and survived a crash landing.
Long Junior revealed that this harrowing incident marked his father’s 23rd sortie. His father ultimately completed 104 missions, with his final flight occurring on his 20th birthday.
Also present at the exhibition was Virginia Lynn Krippner, niece of Flying Tiger Howard Lincoln Krippner, who proudly identified her uncle in a group photograph of the American pilots. She further contributed a vase, an original gift from the Chinese people to her uncle, to the collection.
Krippner voiced her hope that such artifacts would help more individuals discover and appreciate this enduring friendship.
Ma Kuanchi, Vice President of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization in the United States, recalled poignant reunions between American veterans and their Chinese wartime rescuers. He described these encounters as moments of true friendship, where participants would rise, salute, and embrace with tears in their eyes.
Jeffrey Greene, Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, addressed the gathering, stressing the significance of cooperation exemplified by this shared historical legacy. He also revealed intentions to bring more American students to Flying Tiger friendship schools in China next year, aiming to deepen their knowledge of World War II history and foster stronger people-to-people connections.
The exhibition, which opened on Sunday, showcases more than 1,000 artifacts, many contributed by individuals and institutions from China and the United States. Admission will remain free for the public indefinitely.
Source: Liuzhou Military Museum
CONTACT: Contact person: Mr. Zeng, Tel: 86-10-63074558
