Willows Korean Aviation School

Willows Korean Aviation School
An advertisement for the school
Active 1920–1921
Location Glenn County, California, USA

Willows Korean Aviation School was established in 1920 in Glenn County, California by Korean-Americans and backed by the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai.[1] The school's purpose was to train fighter pilots for the Korean Independence Movement,[2] many of whom were members of the Korean National Association.[3]

The choice for a Korean Aviation School to be established in California was for multiple reasons including the March 1st movement, interest and financial support from the Korean American community, the impact of World War I on aviation for combat and defensive purposes, and Japan’s inability to control or influence the school on US soil.[3] The financial support largely came from the first Korean-American millionaire Kim Chong Lim,[4] until his fortune was lost when a disastrous flood in October 1920 destroyed his rice fields.

Although the school lasted for a little over a year, it had gained a lot of attention[5] and trained many of the pioneers of Korean aviation, including Park Hee-sung, Lee Yong-keun, and Song Yi-kyun .[3] The Republic of Korea Air Force recognizes the Willows Korean Aviation School as its predecessor.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Miller, B. (2015, July 9). Willows Korean Aviation School Fueled Independence Movement.
  2. ↑ Koreans to Train Aviators here to Fight the Japs (1920, March 1) Willows Daily Journal
  3. 1 2 3 4 Chang & Han 2015, p. xl.
  4. ↑ Koreans To Have Aviation Field (1920, June 14) Willows Daily Journal
  5. ↑ Koreans Aviation School to Be Seen in Movies (n.d.). Willows Daily Journal

Bibliography

  • Chang, Edward T.; Han, Woo Sung (2015). Korean American Pioneer Aviators: The Willows Airmen. Lexington Books. ISBN 978-1-4985-0265-8.
  • Miller, B. (2015, July 9). Willows Korean Aviation School Fueled Independence Movement. Retrieved from https://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/30192
  • Koreans To Have Aviation Field (1920, June 14) Willows Daily Journal. Retrieved from http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll126/id/5716
  • Koreans To Train Aviators here to Fight the Japs (1920, March 1). Willows Daily Journal. Retrieved from http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll126/id/5716
  • Koreans Aviation School to Be Seen in Movies (n.d.). Willows Daily Journal. Retrieved from http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll126/id/5716

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