The Flying Tigers

By A.N. Hughes

Steve and River can't believe it. They're going on another time traveling adventure! This time, they are a part of the American Volunteer Group, tasked with defending China against the attack of the Japanese in 1941. The two time travelers are joined by new friend Jackson flying dangerous missions, defend

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gray Jay Publishing
• Release date: Jan 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798989956319

A.N. Hughes

A.N. Hughes lives in Virginia with her amazing husband, two kids, and a neurotic Boston Terrier. She enjoys writing fantasy and science fiction stories for her daughter and son. She currently has two series available for young readers: The Time Travelers and The Society of Bones. She enjoys spending her days being as creative as possible, traveling with her family, and enjoying good food and music.

Book preview

The Time Travelers

The Flying Tigers

By A.N. Hughes

Copyright © 2022 by A.N. Hughes at Gray Jay Publishing.

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Dedication:

To my patient, loving, and supportive husband and my sweet, creative,

incredible kiddos.

I love our little squad and the life we get to live together!

Contents

Introduction:

The Bird Bully

On a Boat to….WHERE?

Warm Sands and Sunny Skies

Toungoo Training

Tiger, Tiger

War

False Alarm

Destruction in Kunming

The First Battle

A Harrowing Tale

Christmas Celebration

Rangoon Showdown

The Return

CLAIRE CHENNAULT

DAVID LEE TEX HILL

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Introduction:

This type of book is called Historical Fiction because it takes you back to a real place and time long ago. The story is a mixture of actual events and people, and made up events and people. Steve, River, and Jackson are fictional characters. Real life characters are Colonel Chennault, Tex Hill, Emma Jane, Jo and Doctor Thomas.

Chapter 1

The Bird Bully

Present Day-Portland, Oregon

The Spitfire dove and banked right, nearly missing the mailbox as the tiny engine whirred loudly, protesting the crazy flight pattern.

Yikes! That was close! Steve exclaimed. He pulled the plane higher above the dangerous ground level of cars, bushes, and mailboxes. He watched it climb into the sky, silver wings glinting in the sun. His fingers flew over the remote control, moving the levers and buttons that made the plane loop, dip, ascend, and bank left and right with ease.

You think you can outrun me, huh? River called out from across the street as she angled her P-40 Warhawk behind the Spitfire. She had a mischievous grin on her face, and she was bopping back and forth excitedly, moving with the plane as it mirrored the Spitfire’s maneuvers.

You bet I do! Steve said. I think I’ve got just a bit more dogfight experience than you. He knew this would fire her up.

And who was that in the Thunderbolt besting you in a little game of cat and mouse during your North Carolina training? she teased. Steve grinned. He was never going to live that down. During his time as a Red Tail, he battled a lot of great pilots, but River was definitely one of the best, even if they were just play fighting. Her job as a WASP had her flying planes from factories to their intended bases, but she really should have been flying the front lines with Steve and the Musketeers. Training is one thing, but instinct is something else entirely, and River had it in spades.

It had been a month since their first trip back in time aboard the ghost train. After discovering they lived across the street from each other, Steve and River spent every waking moment hanging out, whether at school or at home. They were either talking about flying, playing with model airplanes, or, on rainless Pacific Northwest days, battling each other and annoying the neighbors with their remote-controlled planes.

Steve jolted back into reality at the sound of River whooping with glee.

I’ve got you! she exclaimed. She moved in behind Steve’s plane and leveled her sights on him.

Darnnit! Steve said, shaking his head in admiration. Take your guard down for one second with River, and she’ll catch you every time. Nicely done.

You too, Airmen Allen, River answered with a grin. When the two of them were hanging out, she often called him by his Tuskegee Airmen name.

They continued to fly their planes, swooping and diving past each other in an aerial ballet until a movement behind the neighbor’s mailbox caught Steve’s eye. He quickly landed the plane and watched a small figure sneak between the bushes along the driveways. A flash of black followed the figure as they came closer and closer to where Steve and River were standing.

River, Steve whisper hissed. Look.

River brought her plane down gently on the grass nearby and looked in the direction Steve was pointing. A sleek bow and arrow emerged from the bushes, followed by a boy. He was dressed in camouflage colors, complete with a ball cap that seemed to be sprouting little branches and leaves. The boy slinked low to the ground, and just after him, a black cat belly crawled out of the bushes.

Steve and River watched as the boy moved silently past them without glancing in their direction. He positioned himself behind a bush and raised his bow and arrow at what looked to Steve and River to be nothing. Just then, the black cat came bounding by and dove into a row of small magnolia trees surrounded by thick brush along the driveway next door. A shrieking sound filled the sky, and a robin-sized black bird rose from the bushes. Its feathers flashed a rainbow of iridescent colors and it flapped