The Chinese Flying Club of Portland (CFCP) was a flying school founded in 1932 in response to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. [1] Donations totaling $20,000 came from around the world to fund the CFCP. [2] It was initially housed at the Christofferson airport, but eventually moved to Swan Island Airport in Portland, Oregon. [3]
The head instructor was Al Greenwood, and the club was sometimes referred to as the "Al Greenwood Flying School." [4] [5]
Every CFCP student signed a pledge that they would be willing give up their life for China. [2] A total of 32 Chinese-American students who had trained in Portland were sent to China. [2] The first group of students departed for Canton, China in August, 1932. [2] The second group, composed of 17 students, departed to join the air force of the national government of Northern China in March, 1933. [2] Two died in China. The first was a woman, Virginia Wong, who died of malaria after arriving in China, but before beginning her campaign. [2] And the second student, Millard Chung, died while practicing bombing in China. [2]
Notable alumni include Hazel Ying Lee, John Wong Pan-Yang, Louie Yim-qun, and Arthur Chin.
The Chinese Flying Club of Portland was probably the largest flying club and training school of Chinese-American pilots leading up to World War II. [2] There were other clubs and schools around the country [6] including the Chinese Patriotic Flying Club in Boston [7] and the Chinese Aeronautical Association in Los Angeles. [8]
The Chinese Flying Club of Portland (CFCP) was a flying school founded in 1932 in response to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. [1] Donations totaling $20,000 came from around the world to fund the CFCP. [2] It was initially housed at the Christofferson airport, but eventually moved to Swan Island Airport in Portland, Oregon. [3]
The head instructor was Al Greenwood, and the club was sometimes referred to as the "Al Greenwood Flying School." [4] [5]
Every CFCP student signed a pledge that they would be willing give up their life for China. [2] A total of 32 Chinese-American students who had trained in Portland were sent to China. [2] The first group of students departed for Canton, China in August, 1932. [2] The second group, composed of 17 students, departed to join the air force of the national government of Northern China in March, 1933. [2] Two died in China. The first was a woman, Virginia Wong, who died of malaria after arriving in China, but before beginning her campaign. [2] And the second student, Millard Chung, died while practicing bombing in China. [2]
Notable alumni include Hazel Ying Lee, John Wong Pan-Yang, Louie Yim-qun, and Arthur Chin.
The Chinese Flying Club of Portland was probably the largest flying club and training school of Chinese-American pilots leading up to World War II. [2] There were other clubs and schools around the country [6] including the Chinese Patriotic Flying Club in Boston [7] and the Chinese Aeronautical Association in Los Angeles. [8]