Purdue AAE student Don-Terry Veal, Jr. has received the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers Association Scholarship for the 2024 academic year. The AVGFTA awards monetary scholarships to students who develop well-researched essays that describe a facet of the missions employed by the original Flying Tigers who served during the early days of WWII.

In his essay, Veal noted that the strategy was for the AVG to remain covert before the United States' official entry into the war. He added that the precision and tenacity of the AVG pilots were critical for their survival because of limitations on personnel and equipment. Veal attributed the success of the Flying Tigers to tactics developed by their leader, Col. Claire Lee Chennault, who recognized the strengths and limitations of the P40 aircraft that the Flying Tigers flew.

Veal said: “However, the success of the Flying Tigers was not solely due to American efforts; Chinese military personnel and local supporters who provided technical and holistic assistance were equally crucial to the AVG’s accomplishments” of halting the Japanese advance into southern China.

Veal earned his two bachelor’s degrees through the 3+2 dual-degree program at Purdue and Morgan State University and is currently in the Purdue AAE master’s program. He earned a BS in engineering physics at Morgan State University and a second BS degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue.

The AVGFTA is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and educating the public about the legendary Flying Tigers who helped the Chinese government protect southern China from Japanese invasion in World War II. The organization comprises family members related to and friends of the original 300 men and women who flew and maintained the P40 Tomahawk aircraft during WWII.