Yes, the **Flying Tigers**—the American Volunteer Group (AVG) that fought alongside the Chinese against Japanese forces in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II—had a distinctive logo on their planes. The iconic emblem was a **shark mouth** painted on the nose of their aircraft, which became one of the most recognizable symbols of the unit.
The logo was a fierce-looking, toothy shark mouth, with the aircraft’s nose painted to resemble a snarling shark. The design was meant to intimidate the enemy and add a psychological edge to the combat. It became synonymous with the Flying Tigers, evoking both fear and admiration. The shark motif was chosen because of its aggressiveness and the intended psychological impact it would have on the Japanese, playing into the idea that the Flying Tigers were like sharks—swift, aggressive, and deadly in their attacks.
The shark mouth design was created by **Eric "Wongo" Erickson**, an American artist and squadron member who had previously worked as a commercial artist. Erickson was tasked with coming up with an emblem that would represent the Flying Tigers' spirit, and he based the design on the teeth of a shark. This logo was not only visually striking but also captured the audacity and daring nature of the AVG pilots. It became a symbol of their success and their unconventional, guerilla-style tactics.
The Flying Tigers were known for their distinctive P-40 Warhawk aircraft, which were often painted with the shark mouth on the nose, and the logo became a lasting symbol of the group’s legacy. Even after the AVG was officially disbanded in 1942, the shark emblem continued to be associated with the unit, and it remains an iconic symbol in aviation history today.