R. I. P. Wang, Kwang-fu, 1916-2008
Wang Kwang-fu, an Chinese ace pilot of World War Two, died in July 9th, 2008. He scored 8.5 enemy planes in his career: "6 1/2 victories flying Curtiss P-40s -- including 3 1/2 on October 27, 1944 -- and two more in a North American P-51 Mustang" -- http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/WW2/aces/aces_intro.htm
He was my maternal grandfather's cousin (they had the same grandfather). It may sounds pretty remote, but in China in that age, cousins were like brothers and sisters. When the Communists took mainland China in the late 40s', only two family members followed the losing Nationalist party to Taiwan. One was Kwang-fu and one was my maternal grandfather.
Not long after that, his sister Wang Guangmei* (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Guangmei) married Liu Shaoqi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Shaoqi), the would be President of PRC (Mainland China, ruled by the Communists till now). This was clearly to Wang Kwang-fu's disadvantage. He was ranked high in the ROC (Taiwan) military, while his sister was in the leaders of the PRC side. As a response to this situation, Wang Kwang-fu was removed from the first line. He was officially promoted, but that also marked the end of his pilot career. In the following years, he was "promoted" to even less important positions. He finally resign from the military and moved to US in 80s'.
I never had a chance to meet Wang Kwang-fu. He moved to US in the year when I was born (he officially immigrated later, around mid 80s'). After I came to US I started to get contact with him. Finally I got his home phone number earlier this year. I was planing to visit him latter this year, but it is impossible now.
Having an ace pilot in my family really makes me proud. It is not about patriotism, just unrealistic romantic fantasy regarding the life of an ace pilot, which real war is never like that. I just can't help imagining how cool, how glorious a ace pilot is. It is childish, I know.
*"Kwang" and "Guang" are the same Chinese character. They are differently spelled because of the different spelling system used by the PRC (Mainland china) and ROC (Taiwan) government.
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