On March the 17th. 1948 the first Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was founded in the
Fontana/San Bernardino area in the United States of America. About t
he same time
other clubs were formed in various places in the state of California, but none of
these clubs were associated neither with Hells Angels nor with each other, and most
of them do not exist today. The San Bernardino charter (also called "Berdoo") still
exists, although most of its original members at one time moved northwards to Oakland.
This removal is probably the reason why many outsiders wrongly describe Oakland as
the Mother Charter of Hells Angels MC World.
During the fifties more Hells Angels Charters came into existence. In the beginning
the charters had nothing to do with each other, but after some years they united
and regular criteria of admission were laid down. From having been exclusively a
Californian phenomenon, the club developed internationally in 1961. It happened when
the first charter out
side California was adopted - strangely enough as far away as
Auckland, New Zealand. During the sixties Hells Angels spread out to the East Coast
of the USA and later to the Midwest.
It is the Beatles, that can take partial credit for the coming about of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, London.From the mid sixties onwards the Club in California started to become world famous, spawning many imitators, especially in England. Now there was a problem; as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is but one club, and not a term for bike enthusiasts in general, as the media would have people believe. With San Francisco being about 8000 miles from London, the solution was to start a chapter in London. Eventually, two people went from London to California and joined the club after "prospecting" first. Two charters were issued on July 30th, 1969. One to South London and the other to East London. In 1973 the two charters came together as one, simply called London.
In the end of the seventies Australian clubs were admitted and in 1984, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil became the first South American charter. In 1993 Hells Angels came to the African continent with a charter in Johannesburg, South Africa. Eastern Europe got its own Hells Angels charter in the new millennium and since then many more countries have been granted the now famous winged death head.
The admission of clubs all over the glo
be caused changes in the structure of Hells
Angels. The small motorcycle club from Berdoo was now mother charter of the world´s
biggest motorcycle brotherhood HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE CLUB WORLD. Today Hells Angels
MC World has charters in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bohemia (Czech Republic),
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand,
Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, South Africa,
Sweden, Turkey, United States and Wales. Clubs from new countries seeking admission
are to be found in Japan, Lithuania , Latvia and Romania
Lineage Clarification
The myth and leg
ends surrounding the military lineage of the Hells Angels
Motorcycle Club has, for decades, been cited as being from former members of the Hell's Angels Bomber B-17 Group from World War II. This myth has been aided by incorrect reporting by authors who deemed it appropriate to align the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) with ex-service members returning from a
war where excitement and adventure had become their lifestyle. Authors and newspaper correspondents, from a wide assortment of daily, weekly and other periodicals have made statements, not founded in fact. It has been stated that these former servicemen were alleged to have been drunkards, military misfits, and generally speaking substandard soldiers that would not adjust to a return to a peacetime environment. If any person, regardless of their association, considered the content of the statements and inferences made, they would find these to lack any rational thought or concern for truthful reporting.
A historical review of the exploits and accomplishments of the implied Bomber Group,
303rd Bombardment Groups (Heavy) (303rd) European Theater of Operations (ETO) show's
that this bomber unit did not tolerate malcontents, drunken pilots or aircrews. Such
individuals, had they existed, would have seriously hindered the effectiveness of
combat operations and would have been dealt with harshly and promptly. Documented
records of the 303rd can be found in "Might in Flight", Daily Diary of the Eighth
Air Force's Hell's Angels, 303rd Bombardment Group (H), by Harry D. Gobrecht, LtCol,
USAF (Ret). One of the 303rd's most famous B-17's serial number #41-24577, commanded
by then Captain Irl Baldwin, was named "Hell's Angels". This aircraft was unnamed
until it's fourth or fifth mission. The crew decided to adopt the name "Hell's Angels"
after the 1927 "Hell's Angels" WWI fictional Fighter Squadron movie by Howard Hughes.
On 13 May 1943 the 303rd's B-17F "Hell's Angels" became the first 8th Air Force B-17
to complete 25 combat missions. This feat has wrongly been credited to the"Memphis
Belle" B-17 including the 
1943 and 1990 "Memphis Belle" movies. The "Memphis Belle"
B-17 was the first to complete 25 missions and return to the USA. "Hell's Angels"
continued to fly combat missions until 13 December 1943, when she completed 48 combat
missions it was retired from combat. Shortly thereafter she was flown to the USA,
rejoined by members of the Capt Baldwin crew, went on a morale boosting tour of war
production plants. "Hell's Angels" B-17F. serial number #41-24577 was dismantled,
for scrap, in 1947. On 7 January 1944, by a vote of group and squadron commanders,
"Hell's Angels" became the name of the 303rd with "Might in Flight" being retained
as the Group motto.
Facts, which have been undeniably proven, show that the 303rd "Hell's Angels" B-17F was only flown by highly dedicated, motivated and mission oriented airmen. They were not malcontents and did not report for mission in a drunken state. Crew pilot and commander, Capt Irl Baldwin, completed a stellar military career, retired as a LtCol, and was awarded numerous valorous and meritorious citations.
Records show that the 303rd became one of the 8th Air Forces best Bomb Groups. It
operated from Station 107, Molesworth, Huntingdonshire, England from 12 September
1942 until 11 June 1945. During this time the Group flew an 8th Air Force record
364 combat missions, 10,721 sorties and dropped 26,346 tons of bombs on enemy targets.
The 303rd is credited with 664 enemy aircraft
destroyed, probably destroyed or damaged.
They sustained 1,748 personnel casualties and lost 210 B-17's on combat missions.
The 303rd was the first 8th Air Force Bomb Group to complete 25, 50, 75, 200 and
300 combat missions. With this record doesn't it seem strange that the post war media,
more than likely influenced by a law enforcement community biased against the HAMC.
Only overzealous sensationalistic reporters, would publish unreliable and malicious
comments about 303rd crewmen or any other group, to include HAMC. These tainted reports
represent a disservice to journalists that are professional in the execution of their
craft. From available historical information at HAMC Berdoo and extensive research
by the 303rd reveals that no lineage exists between the HAMC and the 303rd other
than both organizations having the same name. HAMC has copyrighted the name Hells
Angels (in any form of spelling) in the US and Internationally, along with all variations
of the "Deathshead" insignia of HAMC. These trademarks & copyrights are aggressively
protected by HAMC, Inc. The name Hell's Angels was adopted by no less that twelve
B-17?s throughout WWII, from a assortment of organizations, additionally it was adopted
by a B-26 Medium Bomber squadron, a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron and
even on a P-38 Lightning fighter.
The former Squadron Leader of the 3rd Pursuit Squadron "Hell's Angels" American Volunteer Group (AVG), Arvid Olsen, was the only known person with specific military lineage to an actual unit which bore the name Hell's Angels that was affiliated with the foundation of the HAMC, which occurred in Fontana, California in March 1948. Arvid Olsen was an associate of the founders of the HAMC, he never attempted to or became a member of HAMC.
The AVG, or more famously known "The Flying Tigers"
(the name is credited to a United
Press correspondent named McGrath for a article written on 26 December 1941) were
a secret United States military operational entity, authorized and approved by then
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on 23 December 1940, under conditions of a SECRET
Letter of Approval: refer to official file 150, FDR Library, Memoranda 1941. The
secret approval was only recently declassified in December 1991, after 50 years,
when the AVG was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Additionally the pilots
of the AVG were awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses. Ground crew personnel of the
AVG were awarded Bronze Star Medals. After all those years the AVG veterans, that
were still alive, received Veterans status from a grateful nation! This acknowledgment
seems more like an after thought to an intentional oversight, on the part of the
government.
As part of this covert operation, which had been requested by Claire Lee Chennault ( a former USAAC pilot instructor and veteran of the 94th "Hat in the Ring" squadron during WWI) on behalf of Chaing Kai-Shek and the Chinese government, who had been at war with the Empire of Japan since 1937. The AVG were to be equipped, organized and deployed, in China, against the Empire of Japan. The AVG received 100 P-40 fighter aircraft. The P-40's were diverted from a shipment to England. The personnel were recruited from active branches of the War Department: the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Pilots, maintenance, communications, clerical and medical personnel were secretly recruited from active duty units. All documentation, equipment and personnel transfers were processed through and by the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO), as approved by the US Government. Nothing could then be traced to the United States government, which was not yet in conflict with the Empire of Japan.
Chaing Kai-Shek appointed Chennault Commander of the AVG
The AVG was divided into four elements: a headquarters squadron and three (3) fighter squadrons. Each squadron selected their respective name, which was the custom of the time for military aviation units. The First Pursuit Squadron (1PS) became the Adam & Eve's. The Second Pursuit Squadron (2PS) became the Panda Bears. Chuck Older, Ken Jernstedt, Tom Haywood and Ed Overend, all former USMC pilots, selected the name "Hell's Angels" for the Third Pursuit Squadron (3PS). Of note is that Charles 'Chuck' Older, became a judge and presided over the trial of Charles Manson. Ken Jernstedt became a US Senator. After deactivation of the AVG Ed Overend returned to the USMC where he commanded VMF-321, a US Marine Corps fighter Squadron, which he named "Hell's Angels" and adopted the "Lady" insignia of the 3PS AVG. Squadron Leader Olsen was not involved in that name selection, however he immediately agreed with the recommendation. The Tiger Shark motif on the AVG P-40 aircraft was the idea of (3PS) Hell's Angels Flight Leader Erik Shilling and (1PS) Adam & Eve Vice Squadron Leader Charles Bond, when they found a British magazine with photographs of an RAAF P-40 in desert camouflage. When the two took the idea to Chennault he wanted the entire Group to adopt the motif. Even today Shilling and Bond claim first for idea and application of the Tiger Shark paint job on the P-40's of the AVG. Erik Shilling actually painted his P-40 first, as Bond had gone off base to acquire the paint, whereas Shilling got paint on the base from Chinese personnel that were painting the Chinese Air Force insignia on the P-40's.
Each of the squadrons, now with an approved name, designed their respective squadron
insignia. The Hell's Angels decided on a red colored silhouette of a very shapely
female with halo and wings outlined in white. This design originated with 3PS crew
chief Stan Regis in late November or December 1941. Each Hell´s Angels pilot had
his own "Lady" painted on his individual aircraft, subsequently each "Lady" had her
own personality. Yet the colors of red on white was the standard for the entire squadron.
This same motif and insignia is used today by active United States Army, Marine Corps
and Air Force squadrons, additionally a fighter squadron of the Israeli Air Force.
During the seven month combat operations of the AVG this unit acquired a record of
297 Japanese aircraft destroyed, as confirmed by British and Chinese Intelligence.
Other sources have placed the total Japanese aircraft destruction, caused by the
AVG, at well over 600 to 900, including aircraft destroyed on the ground during strafing
operations. AVG losses were 4 pilots killed in air combat, 7 killed by ground fire,
3 died as a result of Japanese bombing while they were on the ground and 1 missing
in action presumed dead. That reflects an AVG to Japanese kill ratio of 50 to 1,
a record that has never been equaled. Chennault reviewed official Japanese war records,
after the war. The Japanese reported the destruction of 544 AVG aircraft. Of note
was the fact that at no time did the AVG possessed more than 100 aircraft in their
unit. The AVG was disbanded on 4 July 1942, at which time few accepted returning
into the US Army Air Force, most op
tioned to return to the US where they returned
to active service or other war efforts. The reason many refused immediate return
to active service, in China, was the manner by which Brigadier General Bissell, USAAF,
presented the option to them. Bissell had been a long time adversary of Chennault
and the Flying Tigers. Chennault, who had accepted return to active military service,
prior to the deactivation of the AVG, at the rank of Brigadier General continued
to command the 14th Air Force in the China Burma Theater (CBT). The 14th Air Force
all referred to themselves as "Flying Tigers", even though the real "Flying Tigers"
had been deactivated on 4 July 1942
General Chennault was forced into retirement immediately prior to the Japanese surrender. At the official surrender ceremony, aboard the USS Missouri, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur asked, "Where's Chennault"? As a final insult General Chennault, founder and commander of the AVG, who had fought the Japanese Empire since 1937 wasn't even permitted to be present at the official end of hostilities, of which he had participated in for 8 years, unlike the 4 years of participation by other US officials at that ceremony.
To answer the question of lineage between HAMC and a military organization is that
Arvid Olsen, "Flying Tigers" Hell's Angels squadron gave the idea of the name to
the actual founders of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, in Fontana, California.
The selection of our colors, red on white, is a result of the association of Olsen
with the HAMC founders, like the insignia of the 3PS "Hell's Angels". The insignia
of the HAMC, our copyrighted Deathshead can also be traced to two variant insignia
designs, the 85th Fighter Squadron and the 552nd Medium Bomber Squadron. Frank Sadliek,
past president of the San Francisco Chapter, HAMC, designed the official "Deathshead"
insignia. Arvid Olsen died 16
May 1974 in Point Clear, Alabama.
- End -
WRITTEN BY: 'STEW' HAMC Charleston U.S.A.
GRAPHICS: 'CRAIG' .HAMC Wessex England
A special thank to Stew, HA.MC. Charleston, USA. for the great effort he showed in recovering Hells Angels lineage clarification.
The following listing is the reference material with corresponding
locations where it can be acquired:
“Tale of a Tiger", by: R.T.Smith ISBN 0-9618012-0-4
Available thru: Brad Smith 1205 Francisco Street Berkeley, CA 94702 E-mail: bsmith@dnai.com Comment: Actual diary of "Hell's Angels" ace fighter pilot who called it like he saw it
"Flying Tiger to Air Commando", by: Chuck Baisden ISBN 0-7643-06909-1 Available thru: US orders OCONUS orders Chuck Baisden Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 109 Wales Court 4880 Lower Valley Road Savannah, GA 31410 Atglen, PA 19310 E-mail: AVG VET@AOL.COM schiffer@aol.com www.schifferbooks.com Comment: Excellent reference book that is great reading for fun or research.
Flying Tiger "A Crew Chief's Story", by: Frank S. Losonsky ISBN 0-7643-0045-8 Available thru: Schiffer Publishers Ltd 4880 Lower Valley Road Atglen, PA 19310 E-mail: schifferbk@aol.com www.schifferbooks.com Comment: A wonderful view of the AVG through the eyes of the guy that kept them flying.
"A Flying Tiger's Diary", by: Charles R. Bond Jr. & Terry H. Anderson ISBN 0-89096-408-4 Available thru: www.amazon.com Comment: General information, yet filled with first hand knowledge of an AVG'r that became a Major General in the USAF.
Flying Tigers "Claire Chennault and the American Volunteer Group", by: Daniel Ford ISBN 1-56098-541-0 Available thru: www.amazon.com Comment: General information acquired from others, yet factual.
"Pictorial History of the Flying Tigers", by: Larry M. Pistole Available thru: www.amazon.com Comment: A must for the AVG researcher and historians, great photo's.
"Leo the Tiger", by Leo Schramm copyright 1992 Available thru: Leo Schramm 900 Allen Street New Cumberland, PA 17070 E-mail: Mike.Horoschal@worldnet.att.net Comment: Top notch account by an AVG crew chief. Extremely rare.
"The Story of the Flying Tigers" Fei Hu Films (Video)1998 Available thru: Fei Hu Films 2860 E. Valley Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108 E-mail: subpix@sysci.org Comment: Latest film on AVG which contains actual statements, with footage of all the players in the AVG saga, Roosevelt, Chennault, Chaing Kai-Shek, the AVG and the people.
"B-17 Nose Art Name Directory" by: Wallace R. Foreman ISBN 1-883809-14-2 Available thru: Phalanx Publishing An imprint of: Speciality Press Publishers and Wholesales 11481 Kost Dam Road North Branch, MN 55056 Tel: (800) 895-4548 Comment: Excellent reference and research data.
"Might in Flight" Daily Diary of the Eighth Air Forces "Hell's Angels" 303rd Bombardment Group (H), by: Harry D. Gobrecht ISBN 0-9636155-1-3 Available thru: The 303rd Bomb Group Assoc. Inc. 505 via Desco San Clemente, CA 92672 Comment: Historical record of missions of 303rd Bomb Group (h)
In Search of History "Hells Angels" The History Channel Cat.No. AAE-42352 Available thru: New Video Group 126 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10001 Comment: Only known report, unbiased or slanted, about the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. As shown on the History Channel in the US./1999.
The following web sites will be of interest for those
interested enough to have read this far:
HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE CLUB WORLD WEB SITE:
FLYING TIGERS ASSOCIATION WEB SITE:
www.flyingtigersavg.com/index.htm
PLANES AND PILOTS OF WORLD WAR TWO WEB SITE:
http://planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/PlanesAndPilotsOfWW2.html
Special appreciation is extended to the following people for their assistance. Additionally for permitting the use of their referenced works, documentation, publications and assistance: Chuck Baisden, Brad Smith, Erik Schilling, Dick & Lydia Rossi, LTC (USAF Ret) Irl E. Baldwin, The Flying Tigers Assoc., 303rd Bombardment Group (H) Assoc. and Steve HAMC Auckland, New Zealand
NOTICE: No extracts, reprints or web site linkage, in any form are permitted, without the expressed permission of the HAMC World Web Site Manager and the author.
