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United States Army Air Corps 2nd Lieutenant Wah Kau Kong (born ca. 1919 in Honolulu, Hawaii; killed in action over Blomberg, Germany, February 22, 1944) was the first Chinese American fighter pilot. Kong graduated from McKinley High School and the University of Hawaii and was working towards his master's degree in chemistry when he volunteered for military duty. He recorded the highest national score in his entrance examination and was subsequently assigned to the 353rd Fighter Squadron, flying a P-51B Mustang, which he named "Chinaman's Chance". Kong was shot down over Blomberg in the same month his first kill was reported in Time magazine. His childhood friend, Mun Charn Wong retrieved his remains and saw to it that they received a proper burial in Honolulu. Wong also initiated the Wah Kau Kong Memorial Award Scholarship at the University of Hawaii.
[edit] References
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "WWII pilot not forgotten", by Gregg K. Kakesako, August 20, 1999.
- Speech by United States Senator for Hawaii, Daniel Akaka, commemorating Kong, August 20, 1999
- Time, "Kong Gets a German", February 28, 1944.
