In Their Own Words

1st Lt. John Yee 

WWII

China/Burma/India 

Interpreter

Chinese Air Force attached to the American Volunteer Group (AVG) Flying Tigers

Kunming, China, Tsuyung, China, India, various U.S. Air Bases

 Intel made all the difference

In 1941, Japan occupied most of China. Bombing raids leveled towns and villages, killing thousands of people with alarming frequency. China only had a handful of WWI airplanes for defense. The Japanese met with little resistance.

With help from Chenault, the Chinese created a warning system for protection from the Japanese air attacks. 

First, Chenault sent reconnaissance planes out to spot Japanese planes. Second, if planes were spotted, officials in the threatened towns hung a red ball at the police stations, which meant get out of town. And finally, if the sirens wailed, you were to hide fast, because a strike was imminent and you were probably going to be killed.

Interpreter John Yee, stationed on the newly devised radio network, found himself translating critical information between ground operations and Chenault’s new secret weapon - the Flying Tigers. . .

In Their Own Words briefly describes a specific historical story told during an APHA interview that is used as short stories for the media.