In the mid-`1930s Arthur Chin was on of fifteen ethnic chinese American pilots who went to China to fight the Japanese. Between 1937 ot 1939, Chin was credited with 8.5 kills. In late '39 Chin was badly burned when his plane, a Gloster Gladiator war shot down. Surviving numerous surgeries and escapes from the Japanese, Chin returned in 1944, flying transports until the end of the war. Belatedly Chin was recognised as the first American air ace of WWII and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.