I am what is known as a "Boomer". That is, I'm a kid born after the close of World War II in 1945 to oh, about 1960. In my own case, 1946 was the year. That made me about 5 years when this series was being shown on the old DuMont Television Network, Channel 9, WGN TV here in Chicago.
Our Dad, a Navy veteran of WWII, and always a guy to point out facts to his family told us of the real FLYING TIGERS of World War II, who fought as a volunteer American Air Force in service of the Chinese Government and Generalissimo Chiag Kai Shek. They were under command of American General Clare Chennault, formerly an officer in the U.S.Army Air Corps. This is all actual history. One can find it else where.
The TV series, which we remembered as just "THE FLYING TIGERS", was set in post War contemporary times.The Flying Tigers of this story were all said to be veterans of the War, but were now a sort of uniformed para military group of crusading air men. They fought criminals and were involved in a sort of international intrigue with unnamed foreign spies and operators.
I can remember one of the group was a big guy in his military type suit and had the nickname of either "Moose" or "Caribou". What a surprise to see in the IMDb listing that Eric Fleming was one of the principal actors. Later in the decade ('58) he would co-star with Clint Eastwood in "RAWHIDE". We tragically lost him in 1966, when he drowned while filming in Peru.
In looking back, the fictional FLYING TIGERS of this short lived series from the early days of live TV bore a striking resemblance to the Quality Comic Book feature (later DC Comics), BLACKHAWK*, which started out as a aviation comic feature during World War II. To complete the circle, there are many who believe that the Blackhawks (as the battling unit was known) were inspired by the real life FLYING TIGERS.
Maybe someone else in IMDb's readership has some knowledge of this series to share.Or maybe some old kinescopes of it will come to light. Here's hoping!
*NOTE: BLACKHAWK was adapted from the comics to the screen as a Columbia Pictures 15 chapter serial for theatrical release in 1952.
