The Air Service Group

US airmen in China obviously faced serious language problems. Gen. Chennault then requested Washington to recruit a group of Chinese American to support US armed forces in the CBI. Coincidently the 5th Air Service Command at Patterson Field, Ohio was already formed at the initiative of Mr. Sing Yung Yee. This group of 20 ethnic Chinese were highly trained radio communication technicians. By special arrangement of the War Department, they were then transferred to the 14th Air Service Group. The Group was then greatly expanded. After a few months’ training, the Air Service Squadron, Signal Company, Ordnance Company and other units were sent to China in January 1944. Upon their return in 1945, many of them went to college under the GI Bill. Others entered government service and turned a new page in the history of the Chinese immigrants in this country.

We have interviewed veterans of the Air Service Group in New York, Houston and San Francisco.

Interviewees:

• John Ong

• Richard Gee

• Henry Y. Mar

• James Jay

• S. Ngew Lee