By outdoor-nature-child.com On October 14, a ceremony was held at the Wuling campus of the Huxi Experimental Middle School in Liuzhou, Guangxi, to officially designate the school as a “Flying Tiger Friendship School.” The event was attended by descendants of Flying Tiger veterans who had previously visited the school to engage in discussions with students and faculty, continuing the spirit of friendship between the United States and China.
During World War II, U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault established the “American Volunteer Group” (commonly known as the Flying Tigers) to aid China in resisting Japanese aggression, forging a legacy of camaraderie that has endured for over 80 years. The former site of the Liuzhou airport, where the Flying Tigers were stationed, has been transformed into the Liuzhou Military Museum, a nationally recognized cultural heritage site.
To carry on the spirit of the Flying Tigers, the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation launched the “Flying Tiger Friendship School and Youth Leadership Program” on September 1, 2022. In 2023, Huxi Experimental Middle School officially partnered with Schofield Middle School in the U.S. to become a recognized “Flying Tiger Friendship School.” Veterans and descendants of the Flying Tigers have visited Liuzhou to foster exchanges and understanding.
Both schools hope that this designation will mark a new beginning, creating opportunities for friendly interactions that promote educational collaboration between their communities. The aim is to bridge the hearts and minds of youth from both countries, strengthening the foundation of Sino-American friendship.
Walt Greene, the chairman of the U.S.-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing more American students to China to enhance mutual understanding. He noted that when American students visit Liuzhou to experience the history of the Flying Tigers, they will bring those experiences back to the U.S. to share with others.
Under the foundation’s efforts, 45 schools in China have now been designated as “Flying Tiger Friendship Schools.” Greene plans to organize a Flying Tiger Friendship Forum in November, where Chinese students will have the opportunity to meet and interact online with representatives of the Flying Tiger veterans. Additionally, he is organizing two groups of American students to visit China next year, further facilitating understanding of the real China among Americans.