The Shadow Tiger: Billy McDonald, Wingman to Chennault - Tapa dura

"Having read The Shadow Tiger, I stand in awe of a true warrior...a selfless leader and a perfect example of 'the greatest generation.' If you want to be inspired, this is one book you must read." General Charles C. Krulak, 31st Commandant, US Marine Corps "...one of the best history books of any kind that I've ever read." President Peggy Maher, China National Aviation Corp. Association "McDonald was a great pilot whose life was filled with incredible adventures. I guarantee this book will keep you on the edge of your seat as much as it kept me on the edge of mine." William I. Chivalette, Curator, Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute "Williamson and McDonald are outstanding pilots...If we were to go to war and I were ordered to the front, I would choose these two men to accompany me into combat, and that is the highest compliment a combat formation leader can pay." Lt. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault, Commander of 14th Air Force "Billy McDonald was a badass." Gregory Crouch, author of China's Wings

Born to Fly

China’s wide-open skies were perfect... if you didn’t mind typhoons, sand storms,  blizzards, uncharted mountains and  Japanese Zeros hunting you.

Billy McDonald of Birmingham, Alabama, had an adventurous and dangerous career as a pilot in the Golden Age of Flight, and into World War II. 

He jumped from military cadet to wingman in Chennault’s famed aerobatic flying group Three Men on a Flying Trapeze. In China, he moved from instructor for the Chinese Air Force to combat pilot flying Chennault’s legendary Hawk 75 Special against the Japanese over Nanking in 1937. He began by ferrying world-famous passengers like Hemingway and high-value cargo like gold for the China National Aviation Corporation and then flew gasoline and gunpowder over The Hump (Himalayas) for Chennault’s Flying Tigers and the Chinese Army. 
Through it all, controversial and legendary aviator Claire Lee Chennault remained his mentor, often his boss and always his friend, indelibly shaping his life. 

This is the story of a remarkable career, and a man who bore witness to some of the twentieth century’s historic events and pivotal characters. Mac tells us the tale in his own words through newly-discovered photos, correspondence and manuscripts.