Military Aircraft Named After Ladies of Merit
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Military Aircraft Named After Ladies of Merit
C47 “Mei Ling Hao” (Madam Chiang Kai Shek)
During the Chinese Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists President Truman gave the Nationalist leader Generalismo Chiang Kai Shek a C47 exclusively for his personal use. The Generalismo named the C47 after his wife whose maiden name was Soong Mei Ling. The aircraft was in overall camouflage except for a white circular disc on each side of the nose directly below the pilots’ sliding windows. Painted onto the white disc in black Chinese characters was “Mei Ling Hao”. The word Hao after her name conveys confirmation that this aircraft belongs to Mei Ling. This made the C47 readily identifiably which was important considering the circumstances at the tme. President Truman’s gift served the Generalismo and his lady with distinction and it went with them to Taiwan when the Nationalists were defeated and had to flee. The “Mei Ling Hao” was later officially designated as the first “Airforce One” of the Chinese Republic and in recognition of this and as a sweetener to the Americans the name was changed to “Zhong Mei Hao” which means Sino American Friendship”. Today the “Zhong Mei Hao” resides at the Taichung Aviation Museum in Central Taiwan.
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MiG-15 “Chang Xiang Yu” (Yu Ju Opera Singer)
When the Korean Was was at its height a famous Chinese lady opera singer personally presented to the Chinese Volunteers who were flying with the North Koreans a cash donation to specifically purchase one fully operational Russian MiG-15. The lady’s name was Chang Xiang Yu and in recognition of her generosity the Volunteers named the MiG-15 after her and her name was written in red on both sides of the fuselage just back from the nose intake. This MiG-15 saw action in the skies over the Yalu River but unfortunately it did not survive.
The “Chang Xiang Yu” is now remembered and represented by another MiG-15 which stands in the Beijing Datanshan Aviation Museum. It carries only the lady’s name and is not adorned to claim victories. However in China it is an interesting fact that when one speaks to persons not in any way related to aviation or the military they all seem to know of the opera singer and her fighter plane. She remains a popular and very special person.
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B29 “Enola Gay” (His Mother)
One of the most famous aircraft in aviation history and named after a lady. It too stands proudly in a museum not as a symbol of patriotism but rather as a reminder to those who need to be reminded.
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Prince of Dzun
During the Chinese Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists President Truman gave the Nationalist leader Generalismo Chiang Kai Shek a C47 exclusively for his personal use. The Generalismo named the C47 after his wife whose maiden name was Soong Mei Ling. The aircraft was in overall camouflage except for a white circular disc on each side of the nose directly below the pilots’ sliding windows. Painted onto the white disc in black Chinese characters was “Mei Ling Hao”. The word Hao after her name conveys confirmation that this aircraft belongs to Mei Ling. This made the C47 readily identifiably which was important considering the circumstances at the tme. President Truman’s gift served the Generalismo and his lady with distinction and it went with them to Taiwan when the Nationalists were defeated and had to flee. The “Mei Ling Hao” was later officially designated as the first “Airforce One” of the Chinese Republic and in recognition of this and as a sweetener to the Americans the name was changed to “Zhong Mei Hao” which means Sino American Friendship”. Today the “Zhong Mei Hao” resides at the Taichung Aviation Museum in Central Taiwan.
_____________________
MiG-15 “Chang Xiang Yu” (Yu Ju Opera Singer)
When the Korean Was was at its height a famous Chinese lady opera singer personally presented to the Chinese Volunteers who were flying with the North Koreans a cash donation to specifically purchase one fully operational Russian MiG-15. The lady’s name was Chang Xiang Yu and in recognition of her generosity the Volunteers named the MiG-15 after her and her name was written in red on both sides of the fuselage just back from the nose intake. This MiG-15 saw action in the skies over the Yalu River but unfortunately it did not survive.
The “Chang Xiang Yu” is now remembered and represented by another MiG-15 which stands in the Beijing Datanshan Aviation Museum. It carries only the lady’s name and is not adorned to claim victories. However in China it is an interesting fact that when one speaks to persons not in any way related to aviation or the military they all seem to know of the opera singer and her fighter plane. She remains a popular and very special person.
____________________
B29 “Enola Gay” (His Mother)
One of the most famous aircraft in aviation history and named after a lady. It too stands proudly in a museum not as a symbol of patriotism but rather as a reminder to those who need to be reminded.
_____________________
Prince of Dzun
