Figure:  Group photo on the donation scene

On March 25, 2017, Florence Fang, the pioneer honorary president of YRIC donated a military transport C47 plane used in the World War II and putted it permanently in the Flying Tiger Heritage Park in the city of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China to honor an American air squadron which helped the Chinese fighting against Japanese aggression. 

Figure: Florence Fang, honorary president of YRIC and Liu Meng, executive president of YRIC on the flight, code buzz buggy

Florence Fang, honorary president of YRIC, Liu Meng, the executive president of YRIC, Xieyuan, Vice-president of Chinese People 's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Zhang jianqing, director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Charles Bennett, Consul General of the United States in Guangzhou, Nell Carlove,  granddaughter of Chennault general, James Whitehead, the Chairman of American Flying Tigers History Committee and other leaders attended the donation ceremony and unveiled the transport aircraft.

Figure: Group photo in front of the the Flying Tiger Heritage Park

The 76-year-old aircraft, code buzz buggy, was purchased and donated by Florence Fang in 2014, and it was formed in 1941 led by U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault to help China drive out invading Japanese troops. It particularly repeated a flight of the treacherous Hump, or the "death route" over the Himalayan mountains, operated jointly by China and the United States to transport military supplies from India to China.

Figure: Ms. Florence Fang (left), Mr. Liu Meng (middle) and Ms.Nell Carlove (right)

Fang delivered a speech in a ceremony to celebrate the aircraft's stay in Guilin Flying Tiger Ruins Park. She said that the donation of this C47 transport aircraft to China has an extraordinary significance to her: "When people ask me why I bought a World War II aircraft to China, my answer is that I love these two countries, I long for Sino-US friendship. The history of China and American is the history of mutual respect. Where there is a need, they will help each other. For instance, in World War II, the United States helped China to fight against Japan 's aggression, and many soldiers even lost their precious lives in China.

Figure: the executive president of YRIC Liu Meng (left) and the chairman of Flying Tigers History Committee James Whitehead (right)

She also pointed out that more than 150 years ago, the Chinese railway laborers had made great contributions to the prosperity of the western United States. Today, China and the United States should continue to carry forward the alliance and cooperation and achieve win-win situation between the two countries. On the donation ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Xie Yuan and Vice Chairman of the Flying Tigers History Committee Ma kuanchi also read the congratulatory message of Ms. Chou Xiangmei, Vice President of the State Council of China, Liu Yandong and General Chennault’s widow respectively.

Figure: the executive president of YRIC Liu Meng (left) and the Consulate General of the US Consulate General in Guangzhou Charles Bennett (right)

It is understood that, the volunteer crew headed by Larry Jobe, President of the American Flying Tiger Historical Organization, even risked their lives to make this impossible mission possible during the 3-month flight journey, experiencing tons of untold hardships, including two engine failures. With the help from relevant countries and organizations, the plane landed in Guilin, southeast China’s Guangxi province after 97 days’ flights. It is noteworthy that, The five old pilots who finished this extraordinary trip were the elderly, and the average age of them hits 80 years old.