Ep 3. Flying Tigers

Dogfights is an American documentary series that depicts historic air battles that have been fought throughout history. It portrays the events and scenarios leading to the wars, along with giving an insight into the minds of the pilots who fought. The show uses realistic animation and interviews the pilots involved in the battles, giving the show a real-life feel.

The third episode of Dogfights season one, named “Flying Tigers,” covers the events of the first American Volunteer Group (AVG) during World War II. The story revolves around the Flying Tigers, a group of American pilots who went to China to fight against the Japanese army during World War II. This episode provides an in-depth look at the Flying Tigers’ challenges, including their training and the different battles they fought in.

The episode begins with the introduction of the Flying Tigers, who were a group of American pilots recruited by the Chinese Air Force to fight against the Japanese. They were led by Colonel Claire Chennault, who had extensive experience in air combat. Chennault had designed a new strategy for air combat, which would become highly successful during the Flying Tigers' missions. His tactics revolved around using the superior maneuverability of their planes to defeat the Japanese planes, which were more advanced than the planes flown by the Flying Tigers.

Throughout the episode, we see how Chennault implemented his new strategies through intense training sessions with his pilots. The training sessions included drilling techniques for diving, climbing, and suddenly reversing direction to take the enemies by surprise. These techniques were drilled into the pilots to give them a better chance to survive the war and take down their enemies.

After completing their training, the Flying Tigers are sent to their first mission to defend Burma and China. Their mission was to protect the Burma Road, a vital supply route that was under threat by the Japanese. Japan had established air superiority by this point, and their planes were more advanced than those flown by the Flying Tigers.

The Flying Tigers' first battle was against a wave of Japanese bombers heading towards the Burma Road. The show depicts the intense battle that occurred, and we get to see the Flying Tigers execute Chennault's tactics with great precision. With their unparalleled maneuverability, they take down many Japanese planes. However, their triumph was short-lived as a surprise attack by the Japanese causes them to suffer significant losses.

The Flying Tigers' next mission was to protect Rangoon, the capital city of Burma. During the mission, they encounter a massive wave of Japanese fighters. The Japanese planes were more advanced and outnumbered the Flying Tigers, and they had no ground support. Again, we see the Flying Tigers show their mettle in a highly intense air battle. They use their superior maneuverability and expert tactical maneuvers to take down the Japanese planes.

Towards the end of the episode, the Flying Tigers are called for one final battle. The Japanese have launched a massive attack on Kunming, the capital city of the Chinese province of Yunnan. The Flying Tigers are tasked with defending the city, but this time, their planes have run out of fuel and ammunition. They need to manage their resources carefully and rely on their ingenuity to take down the Japanese planes. This battle becomes one of the most intense battles of the war, and the Flying Tigers fight until the last bullet and last fuel.

In conclusion, Dogfights season one episode 3, named "Flying Tigers," depicts the story of American pilots fighting against the Japanese during World War II. The episode covers their intense training sessions and the different battles they fought to protect the Burma Road and China. The show depicts the tactics used by their leader, Colonel Claire Chennault, and the expert maneuvers used by the Flying Tigers to win these battles. This episode gives a unique look at the brutalities of war and the bravery of the Flying Tigers in the face of adversity.