The next film from director John "Face/Off" Woo will be "Flying Tiger Heroes", a US/China co-production, based on the exploits of the WW II '1st American Volunteer Group', "The Flying Tigers" who flew missions against the Japanese during the war.A wing of the Chinese Air Force in 1941-1942, the group was a private military contractor, with the 'volunteers' called mercenaries, comprised of former US Army (USAAF), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and ground crew, recruited under Presidential sanction, commanded by Claire Lee Chennault.
The division consisted of three fighter squadrons of 20 aircraft, training in Burma before the US entry into World War II, with the intention of defending China against Japanese forces.The Tigers' shark-faced fighters remain among the most recognizable of any individual combat aircraft of World War II, demonstrating innovative tactical victories.
The suadron first saw combat December 20, 1941, 12 days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, receiving 'combat bonuses' for destroying nearly 300 enemy aircraft while losing only 14 pilots....
