Frank Fong: Fighter Pilot Extreme

An American citizen, Frank Fong wanted to serve his country. He volunteered to join the army in WWII. However, despite Fong’s eagerness and national pride, the army denied him entry because of his race. Fong tried to get local help and support, but was unsuccessful. Eventually he had to write to General Hap Arnold for assistance. After reviewing Fong’s application, General Arnold appointed Fong as a pilot candidate. After training for a year and a half, Frank Fong graduated at the top of his pilot training class and became one of the first Chinese American fighter pilots in WWII.


During the war he successfully and skillfully shot down two German pilot fighters. Unfortunately, during the war he sustained a spinal and eye injury (that led him to be blind in the right eye) that sidelined him from the war. However, due to pilot shortage he was called back to fight despite his condition (the army was unaware of the severity of his injuries and was ignored due to Fong’s eagerness to go back to war and fight). On June 6, 1944, Fong provided air covering during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. He rescued more than 1,000 pilots between January and May 1945. Fong flew ten more missions through June 5-13 before a flight surgeon ordered him to be transferred in order to get an evaluation and treatment on his eye and spine.

Despite his injuries, once again he chose to continue. He also served in the Korean and Vietnam War. Eventually, in 1972, he left the Air Force as a major with more than 400 hours of combat and twenty accolades which includes eight Air Medals, two Distinguished Flying Crosses (highest flying honor), and a purple heart.

Purple Heart


Distinguished Flying Cross


Air Medal

After leaving the service, Fong became a commercial artist. During his retirement he educated hundreds of high school and college students about the contributions of Asian Americans in the military. In everything that he did, he showed respect to the army, his country, and fellow soldiers. Despite a 50-year battle with the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), over disability payments for his blindness in his right eye, Fong never lost love for his country. Even though he faced so much prejudice for being Asian and had such a long battle with the VA, his patriotism never wavered.

In 2007, Frank Fong died. However his story will never be forgotten. Frank Fong broke the barrier for all Chinese Americans. He was a man that had so much passion, and love for his country that he did all he could to defend it. He saw himself as an American. For that, the will always be remembered: Frank Fong, the fighter pilot that kept on fighting



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http://us_asians.tripod.com/timeline-1940.html

http://www.asianweek.com/2009/07/10/chinese-american-hero-frank-fong/

http://www.electronicaviation.com/news/Military/1110
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Denise Lee