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Highly Desirable and Rare Framed WWII American Volunteer Group Silk Banner

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,600.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Highly Desirable and Rare Framed WWII American Volunteer Group Silk Banner
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Estimate: $4000 - 6000
This Chinese made American Volunteer Group (AVG) silk banner measures approximately 33" x 26". An embroidered "AVG" in an upward arch is centered at the top with embroidered U.S. roundel featuring a red circle centered on the star on the left side and Chinese Nationalist roundel on the right side. Below "AVG" is a large embroidered AVG Flying Tiger insignia featuring a tiger with wings flying through a large "V" for victory. The banner is mounted in a 39 1/4" x 31 1/2" wood frame. "AVG" in tacks is featured at the top of the frame and "FLYING TIGERS" in tacks is featured at the bottom of the frame. 1st American Volunteer Group or the Flying Tigers flew for the Chinese Air Force from 1941 to 1942. The Flying Tigers consisted of U.S. pilots recruited under Presidential sanction and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault, a retired U.S. Army Air Corps officer who had worked in China since August 1937. With three P-40 fighter squadrons, the mission of the AVG was to defend China against Japanese forces and the group destroyed nearly 300 enemy aircraft, while losing only 14 pilots on combat missions. The shark-faced painted fighters made the AVG among the most recognizable WWII combat squadrons and the group's innovative tactics used against a superior enemy achieved notable success during the lowest period of the war for the United States. The AVG disbanded on July 4, 1942 and was replaced by the U.S. Army 23rd Fighter Group, which was later absorbed into the U.S. 14th Air Force.
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Condition: Good. The silk shows some areas of worn threading and the colors of the embroidery have bleed onto the silk. These banners were sometimes embroidered and personalized with the name of an AVG pilot to which it was presented. Others like this were meant for personnel in the AVG group.