- Soviet Volunteer Group
The Soviet Volunteer Group was the ostensibly volunteer
Soviet air force to support theRepublic of China during theSecond Sino-Japanese War between1937 and1941 . After theMarco Polo Bridge Incident , theSino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was signed and large Soviet support was given to China by the Soviet Union, including the volunteer squadrons. Of about 500 aircraft supplied, half were turned over to the Chinese Air Force and half were flown and maintained by personnel from the USSR. The Soviet air units were stationed at bases near the cities ofNanjing ,Hankou , andChongqing , and atLanzhou in China's northwest at the terminus of the Russian supply route. The Russian commander is identified in most histories as a General Asanov. [John Erickson, "The Soviet High Command: A Military-Political History, 1918-1941", p.491]The squadrons were withdrawn in 1941 after the Non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and Japan in 1941.
Monuments
There are several monuments in China, including one in Jiefang Gongyuan (Liberation Park) in Wuhan.
ee also
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Flying Tigers Notes
External links
[http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/George_Mellinger/soviet_fighters_in_the_sky_of_ch.htm Soviet Fighters in the Sky of China ]
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