Efforts by generations of Chinese people to preserve a historical site dating back to World War II (WWII) in east China's Quzhou City showcase crucial cooperation and friendship between Chinese civilians and U.S. soldiers at that time.
China and the U.S. joined hands to fight Fascism during WWII, and Chinese people's heroic rescue of U.S. airmen after the Doolittle Raid on Japan is one of the numerous stories that united people from the two countries.
On April 18, 1942, a group of 16 U.S. bombers, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, air-raided Japanese cities, including Tokyo, in retaliation for Japan's attack on the Pearl Harbor four months earlier.
After the raid, 15 bombers headed for an airport in Quzhou as previously planned, as the airport was considered a friendly territory for the Americans, and was geographically close to mainland Japan.
However, due to an unexpected flight range increase, the 15 planes had run out of fuel before reaching their destinations. With conditions exacerbated by bad weather and poor communication, they crashed or were ditched in various parts in or near Quzhou.
Of the 75 airmen aboard the planes, 64 were rescued by the Chinese people, most of whom were villagers who had received no official notice.
With the help of the villagers, these U.S. soldiers made contact with local authorities and were transferred to safe zones.
Facing Japanese soldiers searching for the Americans on the coast, the locals refused to tell the whereabouts of the airmen.
Their rescue, however, came at a tremendous cost. Many villagers were suspected of sheltering the Americans, and some were even tortured or slaughtered by the Japanese.
Over the decades, the rescue of the American airmen has stood as a testament to the friendship between people from the two countries forged in the war against Fascism.
However, as urban development accelerated in Quzhou in the 1990s, the historic site of the 13th Air Station -- an enduring symbol of Chinese civilians' epic rescue -- faced growing risk of decay and disappearance.
Zhuang Yuejiang, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Quzhou Daily newspaper, uncovered the historical connection between Quzhou and the Doolittle Raid in 1985 after hearing stories from local elders.
He began a long journey of research and interviews, tracking down eyewitnesses and those with firsthand knowledge of the rescue efforts, aiming to bring this forgotten history back into public consciousness.
"When I discovered the story of the Doolittle Raid, I thought that, having worked in Quzhou my entire life, it was my duty to uncover and preserve this part of history for future research," he said.
Jiang Ningxin, then Deputy Mayor of Quzhou, began advocating the site's preservation and coordinating efforts across departments when he learned of Zhuang's feat.
With decades of unwavering dedication to raising public awareness, and the collective efforts of individuals like Zhuang Yuejiang, Liu Guoqing, and Wang Quanxin, the site was eventually preserved in its entirety and designated a protected cultural heritage site.
"This is a valuable chapter in Quzhou's history. We must protect it and pass it on to future generations," Jiang said.
Preservation of historical site showcases crucial China-U.S. wartime cooperation in fight against Japanese aggression
