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Congress honors Chinese WWII Hero
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today unanimously approved H.R. 5220, Congressman David Wu’s legislation to name a United States Post Office in Beaverton, Oregon after Major Arthur Chin, a Chinese American World War II fighter pilot.
“As a fighter ace in World War II, Major Arthur Chin was a true Chinese American hero,” Congressman Wu said. “I am proud to honor Major Chin’s life and his service to our country.”
Arthur Chin was born in Portland, Oregon in 1913. Chin helped organize the Portland Chinese Aero Club and started taking flying lessons while still in high school. Angered by the Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931, Chin and several other Chinese American flyers from Portland sailed for China in 1932 to volunteer for the Chinese Air Force. Chin was eventually accepted as a probationary warrant officer in the Chinese Air Force and was sent to Germany to receive advanced fighter training, as was routine for the Chinese military at the time.
Upon his return to China in 1937, Chin was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and was reassigned as the vice commander of the 28th Squadron, 5th Group. In August 1937, Chin saw his first aerial combat against Japanese aviators. Nearly always outnumbered, Chin fought valiantly and was shot down and wounded three times. By mid-1939, Chin was promoted to the rank of captain, and was officially credited with having shot down five and a half enemy aircraft. This made him one of the first American fighter aces of World War II. Chin's heroism, however, was not without its costs.
In 1939, Chin, by then a major, was severely burned when his Gloster Gladiator was hit by enemy fire and exploded. After numerous surgeries to heal his extensive injuries, Chin was eventually reinstated to flight status and returned to service. He ended his flying service in an American uniform, ferrying supplies from India to China over the Himalayas on what was known as the "Hump" air route. For his bravery and service, Chin received numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In 1949, Chin returned to Portland where he worked in the U.S. Postal Service. He died in September 1997. One month later, Chin was honored posthumously as one of the first American aviators inducted into the American Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame.
Congressman Wu introduced H.R. 5220 on January 29, 2008.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today unanimously approved H.R. 5220, Congressman David Wu’s legislation to name a United States Post Office in Beaverton, Oregon after Major Arthur Chin, a Chinese American World War II fighter pilot.
“As a fighter ace in World War II, Major Arthur Chin was a true Chinese American hero,” Congressman Wu said. “I am proud to honor Major Chin’s life and his service to our country.”
Arthur Chin was born in Portland, Oregon in 1913. Chin helped organize the Portland Chinese Aero Club and started taking flying lessons while still in high school. Angered by the Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931, Chin and several other Chinese American flyers from Portland sailed for China in 1932 to volunteer for the Chinese Air Force. Chin was eventually accepted as a probationary warrant officer in the Chinese Air Force and was sent to Germany to receive advanced fighter training, as was routine for the Chinese military at the time.
Upon his return to China in 1937, Chin was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and was reassigned as the vice commander of the 28th Squadron, 5th Group. In August 1937, Chin saw his first aerial combat against Japanese aviators. Nearly always outnumbered, Chin fought valiantly and was shot down and wounded three times. By mid-1939, Chin was promoted to the rank of captain, and was officially credited with having shot down five and a half enemy aircraft. This made him one of the first American fighter aces of World War II. Chin's heroism, however, was not without its costs.
In 1939, Chin, by then a major, was severely burned when his Gloster Gladiator was hit by enemy fire and exploded. After numerous surgeries to heal his extensive injuries, Chin was eventually reinstated to flight status and returned to service. He ended his flying service in an American uniform, ferrying supplies from India to China over the Himalayas on what was known as the "Hump" air route. For his bravery and service, Chin received numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In 1949, Chin returned to Portland where he worked in the U.S. Postal Service. He died in September 1997. One month later, Chin was honored posthumously as one of the first American aviators inducted into the American Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame.
Congressman Wu introduced H.R. 5220 on January 29, 2008.
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