A Tribute To Erik Shilling
March 28, 1916 ~ March 18, 2002
Our Friend and Fellow Inland Empire Wing Colonel
and
A Member of the American Volunteer Group (AVG)
3rd Pursuit Squadron
known as the Flying Tigers.
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Restored P-40 from the Planes
of Fame Museum, Chino, CA. - Sept. 25, 1998
Erik reminiscing
in the cockpit - many years after having flown a P- 40.
Photos by Tom Cleaver, "The Aeronut" (see link to his website below)
Erik graduated from the U. S. Army Air Corps Flying School in 1938, and a few years later joined Claire Lee Chennault's American Volunteer Group, later to be known as the "Flying Tigers." He was among the first pilots to arrive in Rangoon, Burma in August of 1941. Erik flew photo reconnaissance missions in a P-40, which he modified by removing the guns and installing cameras. He was a flight leader in the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. After the AVG disbanded in July of 1942, Erik joined the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), an airline owned by Pan American Airways and the Chinese government. For CNAC he flew over 350 round trip missions carrying supplies over the "Hump" - the treacherous Himalayan Mountains.
In 1946, Erik went to work for Chennault's Civil Air Transport airline and flew many covert missions dropping agents and supplies over mainland Communist China during the Korean War, and later dropped supplies to the French at Dien Bien Phu, Indochina.
In the mid-50's Erik was hired by Swissair, and in 1966 went to work for the Flying Tiger Airline. In 1993 he self-published his autobiography, Destiny, A Flying Tiger's Rendezvous With Fate. Erik received several awards during his lifetime, including two Presidential Unit Citations, the the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with Clusters, the World War II Victory Ribbon, and the Chinese Cloud Banner.
Always willing to sign a hat, or a shirt, or his book, Erik was a real gentleman, full of wonderful stories (always told with a twinkle in his eyes), forever eager to share his thoughts, and even pose for pictures when asked.
Erik leaves his wife, Ilse, two children, three grandchildren, and a whole lot of friends who regarded him as their mentor and personal hero.
Erik was a true American hero of WWII...
We will miss him!
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Click on The Aeronut
button below to go to photographer
Tom Cleaver's
fabulous "vintage aircraft in flight" web site.
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