Summary

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Frank Losonsky
WWII Flying Tiger

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Courtesy Frank Losonsky

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Universal Newsreel

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Frank Losonsky
WWII Flying Tiger

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Universal Newsreel

1:12-1:14
Courtesy Frank Losonsky

1:15-1:21
Universal Newsreel

1:22-1:23
Courtesy Frank Losonsky

1:24-1:29
Getty Images

1:40-1:47
Universal Newsreel

1:48-2:03
Frank Losonsky
WWII Flying Tiger

2:14-2:20
Courtesy Frank Losonsky

2:21-2:27
Sam Kleiner
Author, The Flying Tigers

2:38-2:43
Courtesy Frank Losonsky

2:44-2:52
Sam Kleiner
Author, The Flying Tigers

2:53-2:59
Universal Newsreel

3:00-3:11
Frank Losonsky
WWII Veteran

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MEMORIAL DAYMEANT TO HONOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES SERVING OUR COUNTRY
TODAYCAN BE ESPECIALLY HARD FOR THOSE WHO SERVED WITH THE FALLEN
97- YEAR- OLD, FRANK LUH-SAWN-SKI IS ONE OF THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBERS OF HIS MILITARY FAMILY: THE FLYING TIGERS
JAKE TAPPER HAS MORE
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Nats war film astounding the world with heroism and daring
Frank Losonsky:
Well it was the best thing that ever happened to me I wasn't the only one there were quite a few of us most of them are all gone
97 YEAR OLD FRANK LOSONSKY IS A FLYING TIGER- ONE OF THE LAST THE FAMED AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP ENTERED WORLD WAR TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES - DEFENDING AMERICA'S CHINESE ALLIES AGAINST THE JAPANESE AS PART OF A COVERT MILITARY OPERATION
Frank Losonsky:
There was a time when they needed help and we all just jumped through - we were glad to give em help
THEIR ICONIC PLANES WERE PAINTED WITH A SHARK'S TOOTHY SNARL
BY SUMMER 1941, SOME 300 PILOTS, MECHANICS, NURSES, AND CREW WERE OVERSEAS TRAINING TO DEFEAT JAPAN IN THE PACIFIC
BUT ON DECEMBER 7TH - THEIR MISSION CHANGED
Got the news over the radio that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor
LOSONSKY LOGGED THE NEWS IN HIS DIARY
The president had declared war on Japan today//they won't last long now
NOW, HE AND HIS TEAM WERE ON THE FRONT LINES - DEFENDING NOT JUST THEIR ALLIES BUT THEIR HOMELAND
LOSONSKY WAS JUST 20 YEARS OLD
AS CREW CHIEF HE WAS IN CHARGE OF MAINTAINING THE TIGER'S P40-PLANES 100 TOTAL
That was a real good airplane it was like a tank it was sturdy, it could take a lot of shots
THAT SMALL FLEET WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOWNING NEARLY 300 ENEMY AIRCRAFT IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF THE WAR
Frank Losonsky:
We never did worry about when the boys would go out to flyand sure as the devil they come about 6 o clock they'd be coming in, flying and when they came in they'd do a barrel roll so we knew it was them
Sam Kleiner:
Were you involved in painting the shark face onto the p40?
Frank Losonsky: yah
Sam Kleiner:
You wanted it to look real scary
Frank Losonsky: yah
NOW MORE THAN 7 DECADES LATER, LOSONSKY'S STORY IS INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION AUTHOR SAM KELINER HAS SPENT YEARS COLLECTING STORIES AND RESEARCH FOR HIS NEW BOOK THE FLYING TIGERS
Sam Kleiner:
I think there was a real rush to capture this story while there was still some link to the living members of the flying tigers //there was a sense that they had a mission greater than themselves and I think that's something that I hope my generation and future generations will continue to remember about the tigers
Sam Kleiner:
You must have been real proud
FRANK: I was
LOOKING THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS AT LOSONSKY'S HOME IN GEORGIA, THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY MEMENTOS OF HIS SERVICE
Sam Kleiner:
They were the first pilots there ready to fight and they score the first victories against the Japanese after Pearl Harbor and help to inspire Americans that we can win what felt like an unwinnable war and so their heroism became a real inspiration to Americans
Frank Losonsky:
They were a good bunch of boys and they'll never be forgotten even though they're goneI think people are going to remember the flying tigers
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--KEYWORD TAGS--
MEMORIAL DAY WORLD WAR II MILITARY