Tigers Prove It

The boys had heard a lot about the Japanese Nakajima plane Type O. The Japanese pursuit could do 300 m.p.h. and was highly maneuverable; it had great fuel capacity. Their own P-405 were of an early model, far from tops. They knew, too, they would be outnumbered: but it was up to them to prove a thesis that once had seemed beyond question: that man for man, plane for plane, anything labeled U.S.A. could whip anything labeled Made-in-Japan.

The demonstration took place in Rangoon. Part of the international volunteer air force had been assigned by the Chinese to hold an umbrella over the ocean inlet of the Burma Road. Another group (including a onetime TIME Inc. office boy, John Newkirk) protected Kunming, the inland terminus. On Dec. 23, the Japanese came over Rangoon for the first time, lost six bombers to the Flying Tigers who lost four planes, two pilots.

On Christmas Day, the Japanese returned: 60 bombers escorted by 18 fighters. But this time the volunteers were veterans. Eleven out of 18 enemy fighters, nine out of 60 bombers tumbled to earth. One American, ringed by Japanese planes, zoomed at the enemy, sideswiped a Japanese O-type, tore off its wing and sent it to death, went on to land safely.

Ace of the engagement was a rugged South Dakota farm boy called "Duke." He had bagged five Japs. Said he: "The first formation of bombers was close up when we attacked. I am pretty sure I got two of them. I gave them bursts at from 200 to 50 yards and saw them both go down. . . . Afterward I saw three bombers cut loose to one side, so I went after them and I know I got two. I was alone and both went down in flames. Later on I got one fighter. When I landed I was fresh out of gas."

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