China's last 'Flying Tiger' dies at 91

Long in pilot uniform. [Photo/Xinhua]

Long, born into a well-off Hong Kong family, joined the American Volunteer Group in the 1940s, which fought the Japanese during World War II as the Flying Tigers.

He flew the famous Camel Peak Aviation Route across the Himalayas, the so-called "death route," delivering urgently needed military supplies to support China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and carried out bombing missions against the Japanese in Myanmar.

After being demobilized in 1952, Long worked as a technician, porter and English teacher in Chongqing, China's wartime capital during WWII.

Long, who spoke English and loved Mozart, was hospitalized in July with a serious lung infection.

Between December 1941 and September 1945, the Flying Tigers shot down 2,600 Japanese military planes, destroyed 44 warships and killed 66,700 Japanese soldiers.