Kao Chih-Hang
| Gao Zhihang | |
|---|---|
Gao Zhihang
|
|
| Born |
May 14, 1907 Tonghua County, Liaoning, Qing China |
| Died | November 21, 1937 (aged 30) Zhoujiakou, Henan, Republic of China |
| Allegiance |
 Republic of China
|
| Service/branch |
Northeast Army Chinese Nationalist Air Force |
| Years of service | 1920–38 |
| Rank |
Colonel Major General (Posthumous) |
| Unit | Flying Eagle Squadron 4th Air Force Group |
| Commands held | 4th Air Force Group Pursuit Air Force |
| Battles/wars | Second Sino-Japanese War |
| Awards |
Order of the Sacred Tripod Three Star Medal |
Gao Zhihang (Chinese: 高志航; Wade–Giles: Kao Chih-hang; May 14, 1907 – November 21, 1937) was a flying ace of the Republic of China in the Second Sino-Japanese War. On August 14, 1937, the 4th Air Force Group commanded by Gao shot down six Japanese planes, while suffering zero losses. Subsequently, Gao became a Chinese war hero.
Gao was born in Tonghua County of Liaoning Province into a Roman Catholic family on May 14, 1907. He was the eldest of six siblings. Gao was admitted into the Education Class of the Northeast Army Officers as an artillery cadet. He was selected to receive flight training in France in the following year. Gao returned to China in 1927 and was posted to the Flying Eagle Squadron of the Northeast Army under Marshal Zhang Zuolin and became a flight instructor in 1929.
When the Japanese invaded Manchuria on 18 September 1931, he went south to join the Central Government and became an instructor in the Central Flying School near Hangchou. After returning from Italy after an inspection tour, he was made Deputy Chief of Instruction, and commander of the 4th Pursuit Group.
On 14 August 1937, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force Kanoya Kokutai dispatched nine Mitsubishi G3M1 Model 11 long-range bombers under the command of Lieutenant Commander Nitta to attack the Jianqiao Airfield near Hangzhou and nine under the command of Lieutenant Commander Asano to attack the Kwang-teh Airfield. The Japanese planes took off from Matsuyama Airfield in Taipei at 14:50 (local Japanese time), each carrying two 250 kg bombs.
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