Flying Tigers: End of an Era

Another Era Ends, but we’ll never forget...

Feb 6, 2020 the very last living member of the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers left us.
Frank Losonsky, crew chief in the AVG’s “Hell’s Angels” 3rd squadron, put a period at the end of a sentence comprised of the list of one of America’s most legendary military units of all time.

We wanted to re-post this brief FB tribute to him from a year ago…

It was an honor to know you Frank, you will be missed. -John

FRANK LOSONSKY (1920-2020) - LAST OF THE FLYING TIGERS-
A Veteran’s Tribute

As many of you know, one of my most treasured personal memories over the years of being involved in helping preserve our military history through artwork has been the privilege of getting to know and work with members of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the Flying Tigers.
In 1994, I and my family began acquaintances and in some cases, friendships, with many of these great veterans. Over the last 23 years (and 5 AVG paintings later), we’ve watched as one by one these wonderful men and women have left us. But their legacy and contributions will never be forgotten.

Approximately 300 original American volunteers sailed clandestinely over the Pacific in 1941 to fly and fight for China against unbelievable odds, there is only ONE single AVG veteran still with us.
Mr. Frank Losonksy, of Columbus Georgia… Having recently celebrated his 97th birthday, he is the last of the legendary Flying Tigers.

Like all the great vets of the AVG, it’s been a thrill and a privilege to know Frank and members of his family throughout the last couple of decades. Following are some photos and memories of his days in China & Burma, and special thanks go to his son Terry, who co-authored the wonderful book “Flying Tiger- A Crew Chief’s Story”…Hope you enjoy! John

#flyingtigers #p40 #franklosonsky #ww2#aviation

Frank was assigned as a crew chief in the AVG’s 3rd Squadron, “Hell’s Angels”. This picture depicts the 3rd Sq’s ground support crew. Frank is the second to last guy crouching in the front row.

Bore-sighting the P-40
As an aviation artist, for years I was fascinated by this photo, and others like it, about which Frank gives detailed accounts in his book. It would become the inspiration for the last painting I had the chance to do for the AVG as a group, entitled “Shark Sighting”
#AVG #P40 #ww2

Frank Losonsky

Frank Losonsky, a 19-year old cadet, newly enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1939. He had no idea the adventures that would await him over the next couple of years to come. Shortly following this picture taken at Selfridge Field, Michigan, Skip Adair, a representative of Claire Chennault, would visit young Frank and fill him in on the opportunity to head to the far east…

Relaxing on the job…

n the weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor, there was many a training accident. Not too many dull moments for a crew chief, patching up and salvaging the planes that would soon make history worldwide. Frank notes in his diary that this P-40, flown by Bill Reed, was one of 6 wrecked planes in 3 weeks! Note that the shark teeth had not yet been added at this point…
#flyingtigers #p40 #franklosonsky #ww2#aviation

Frank and another crewmember help prepare pilot Edwin Conant for a mission

Crew Chief

As a crew chief, he’d get to know every inch of his aircraft inside and out. Here’s Frank taxiing one of the 3rd Squadron’s P-40s

Frank in 2004, Orlando Florida, signing prints of “Summer of ’42”

Frank Losonsky, 2017.
The last of the great AVG Flying Tigers. Husband, father, aviator, American veteran and hero.

Frank looking toward the business end of a Tomahawk…
After his days in the AVG, during the rest of WWII, he would go on to become a senior mechanic with the CNAC in India, and began flying. Shortly after, he returned to the US to build B-24 Liberators. Shortly before the war’s end, he reenlisted as an officer cadet, and following the war, became an aircraft maintenance supervisor
at Clark Field in the Philippines. He’d continue in an aviation career taking him many places throughout the far east and around the world for decades, eventually retiring from the world of aviation to join his sons’ restaurant conglomerate in Georgia as Exec Officer. Throughout the years, Frank would maintain close ties with all his fellow AVG veterans as they wove their lives into different parts of the fabric of society...
#AVG #P40 #ww2 #flyingtigers

Autographing “Shark Sighting”-
2007 was the last time the AVG would sign a print together as a good-sized group, in Charleston, SC. Frank is in the foreground, next to fellow AVG 3rd Sqn ground crew Chuck Baisden and Joe Poshefko. 2nd Sq pilot Peter Wright is in the background.

A definite recommended read!! This superb publication “FLYING TIGER- A Crew Chief’s Story” was compiled by Frank and his son Terry. It is filled with his combat diary entries from his AVG days, and features a ton of wonderful photos and memories, just a few of which were shown here (thanks, Terry!). If you’d like to grab a copy, they’re only $35 (plus $5 postage) and a wonderful piece of Flying Tiger history. You can order them directly by mail with a check at this address:

Frank Losonsky / A Crew Chief’s Story
4744 Maple Ridge Trail
Columbus Georgia 31909.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0764300458/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_WTN6JHHRPGX7YW9GQQPZ

Well worth it!!

Shark Sighting

Here’s my rendition of a 3rd Squadron plane having its guns fine-tuned. While creating it, Frank and AVG armorer Chuck Baisden were helpful in providing me info about the whole process.
#AVG #P40 #ww2 #flyingtigers