Wings for the Dragon

Air Classics, Sep 1999 by Barton, Charles

On the second day, Kung came to the table and said, "Since I have heard no valid objection to this purchase, it has been decided to sign."

As Patterson flew back to the US in mid-April 1939, his briefcase bulged with the largest single order for military airplanes ever placed by the Chinese Government. In addition to 54 Seversky aircraft, Patterson had orders for 25 Vought SB2U-1 Scout Bombers, 70 Ryan Primary Trainers, and 50 North American NA 16-4 Combat Advanced Trainers.

His satisfaction was shadowed by nagging doubt about the Seversky order. Down, but far from out, Pawley was taking advantage of faulty wording in the contract. "Guaranteed bond," a British term, probably should have read "surety bond." In the end, US banks would not accept this term and the Chinese Ambassador to the US would not sign for a change in wording -- because Pawley got to him first.

Victory was tinged with defeat. Without the Chinese contract the Seversky Company was in the red. In May, Seversky was displaced as president and the company was renamed Republic Aviation. His P-35 design, however, evolved into the highly successful Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Chennauft was forced to work with Pawley because the latter's Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) was used as a cover for hiring and administering the volunteers who came to work with the Flying Tigers.

Later, Pawley delayed shipment of P-40s to Chennault's American Volunteer Group, and CAMCO maintenance work for the AVG fighting in Burma took second place to work on airplanes that Pawley was selling to the Chinese. Little wonder that AVG veterans resent Pawley's claims of responsibility for their successes. After the war, when Pawley sent a $ 10,000 check to the Flying Tiger Association with a request to join, it was refused.