On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-US diplomatic relations, a 10-member party including the representatives of the "Flying Tigers" veterans and others who were in China to participate in the China-US Veteran Peace Forum, came specially to the Chinese People's Association for friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) on the afternoon of Nov. 16 to attend "the get-together and forum of the Chinese and Americans on digging out, repairing and protecting the aircraft of the Flying Tigers crashed for assisting China during the Anti-Japanese War in Jianli County, Hubei Province" which was held in the CPAFFC, and jointly sponsored by the organizing committee of Chinese Cultural Link Program and the CPAFFC.

　　Edward Bennida, son of Lieutenant Glen Bennida of the Flying Tigers, was the focus of the forum, because the crashed aircraft was firmly believed to be the fighter piloted by his father. Decades ago, his father Glen Bennida was unfortunately shot down on his way back to the base after accomplishing a bombing task. He was saved and helped by over 10 farmers of Jianli County after bailing out.

　　Afterward, he was sent to the headquarters of the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army and was personally cared for by Li Xiannian, the then commander of the division. Before his return to the Flying Tigers after having a rest cure for several months, Li Xiannian presented him with one of Li's photos inscribed by him on the back. Glen Bennida has all along treasured the photo. Since he could not come to China in person on account of his health, he entrusted his son Edward to enlarge the photo and the inscription and present them to the sponsors.

　　"I chose the Chinese painting named 'Flying Dragon and Leaping Tiger' to express my support to this project. The fighter will become a long-lasting symbol for the friendship between the American and the Chinese people as well as a historic fortune shared by the American and the Chinese people," said Jeff Green, president of the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, when he was presenting the reproduced Chinese painting by Mr. Chen Ron in Song Dynasty to the sponsors.

　　The sponsors named the project of digging out, repairing and protecting the crashed aircraft of the Flying Tigers "Flying Dragon and Leaping Tiger". "Dragon" stands for the Chinese people, while "tiger" represents the Flying Tigers and the American people. Mr. Green asked the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to reproduce the painting to show his support to this idea.

　　"This is a pack of soil from the US. I hope it can be used as part of the foundation when the monument is to be erected at the site of the crashed aircraft," said J Vinyard, president of the US Hump Pilot Association. His unique and unexpected gift touched all the people on the spot at heart. The friendly feeling that it contains by blending the soil from the hometown into the earth of the place where he once fought is beyond words indeed.

　　"After the aircraft is fixed, I hope I can cover it with a banner of the Flying Tigers in person. And I hope the history and friendship between the US and China can be passed down forever," said the 85-year-old Vinyard. His grandson Toms said: "I am very proud to what my grandfather did. When I have a child, I will bring him back here and to make him keep firmly in mind this part of the history."

　　"The relation between countries is based on the intimate friendship between people," said Li Daoyu, former Chinese ambassador to the US. The Flying Tigers risked their lives to assist China in the Anti-Japanese War, and in turn, the Chinese people also laid their lives on the line to save the American pilots who were helping China. The project of digging out, repairing and protecting the crashed aircraft of the Flying Tigers embodies the common ground between the Chinese and American people in terms of friendship and value. It will also be deemed as an essential link between China and the US as well as a spiritual fortune shared by the people of both countries.

　　By Zhang Dongyu and Liu Mingxue

　　(Nov17, PLA Daily)                                                Editor: Dong Zhaohui