Nanjing Memorial Unveils List of 2,590 American Airmen WhoDied Fighting in China During WWII
Nanjing, China – TheNanjing Anti-Japanese Air Force Martyrs Memorial Hall has publicly released a list of 2,590 American airmen who died fighting in China during World WarII. The list, containing names, ranks, and dates of death, was previously inscribed on the memorial’s monument in 1995 and2015. However, due to the passage of time and the lack of original records, much of the information was incomplete or difficult to verify.
The memorial hall hopes that the public release of the list will encourage international collaboration inresearching and collecting information about these fallen heroes. They aim to complete the biographies of these airmen, correct any errors on the monument, and uncover the names of any missing heroes, making the list as comprehensive as possible.
The initiativewas sparked by the request of Jack W. Hammel’s family. In 2017, they visited the memorial and noticed his name was missing from the monument. With the assistance of the Chinese embassy in the United States and the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, they were able to gather sufficient evidence tohave Hammel’s name added to the memorial.
JACK W. HAMMEL now stands as the latest name inscribed on the monument. Hammel was killed in action in Jiangxi province in 1945 when his fighter plane was hit by Japanese ground fire.
The memorial hall highlightsthe crucial role of international airmen in supporting the Chinese air force during the war. Thousands of foreign pilots, including Americans, sacrificed their lives for the cause of defeating Japanese fascism. The shared struggle forged a deep bond of friendship between the Chinese and American people.
In April 2024, the memorial hallreleased information about 1,468 Chinese airmen who died in the war. This led to contact from over 100 relatives of these heroes, with nearly 40 visiting the memorial to pay their respects. Through rigorous verification, 18 entries on the monument have been corrected.
Located at the foot of Purple Mountain in Nanjing, the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Air Force Martyrs Memorial Hall is the first international memorial dedicated to airmen who fought against Japanese aggression. It houses a wealth of historical materials from the joint efforts of the Chinese, Soviet, and American air forces during World War II. The monument withinthe memorial bears the names of nearly 4,300 Chinese and foreign airmen who gave their lives in the fight for freedom.
The release of the list of American airmen is a testament to the enduring legacy of the shared struggle against Japanese aggression. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by individualsfrom different nations who fought together for a common cause, and the lasting bond of friendship forged through their shared sacrifice. The memorial hall’s efforts to complete and verify the list are a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring the memory of these heroes and ensuring their stories are passed down to future generations.
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