George B. Hightower military service information
File
George B. Hightower World War II diary transcript, 1945 [Digital]
Photocopies of LTC Hightower's World War II papers, including his diary (22 January - 10 May 1945) written while he was C.O. Forward Echelon, 68th Composite Wing HQ, 14th AAF, China; military orders; commendations; correspondence; photographs; printed material.
Dates
- From the Collection: Majority of material found within 1941 - 1995
Extent
From the Collection: 5.5 cubic feet (5 boxes)
Biographical / Historical
George Hightower (VMI Class of 1933) served in World War II with the famed Flying Tigers. The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–1942, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was composed of pilots from the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC), recruited under presidential authority and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. The shark-faced nose art of the Flying Tigers remains among the most recognizable image of any individual combat aircraft or combat unit of World War II.
Online Access
- 14th Air Force Association (U.S.). -- Flying Tigers
- Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958
- China -- History -- Republic, 1912-1949.
- China. -- Kong jun. -- American Volunteer Group
- Diaries
- Flying Tigers (AVG), Inc.
- United States. -- Army Air Forces. -- Air Force, 14th
- United States. -- Army. -- Forces in China-Burma-India Theater
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives
Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository
