American and Chinese pilots play Chinese checkers (xiangqi) in the fighter alert shack, c. 1943-1945American and Chinese pilots play Chinese checkers (xiangqi) in the fighter alert shack, c. 1943-1945
Location in China unknown (near Japanese-held territory)
Courtesy of the National Archives at College Park, MD, Still Picture Unit, 208-AA-159IU-8
American and Chinese pilots worked closely together on air missions during World War II. As members of the Chinese-American Composite Wing, a group commanded jointly by the United States Army Air Forces and the Republic of China Air Force, these officers trained and fought together. While awaiting orders, Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Strickland played Chinese checkers with Second Lieutenant Y. C. Huang.