I do not own this.

From the 2000 GI Joe Convention in Irvine, CA., "GI JOE: THE FLYING TIGERS, DOGFIGHT FOR FREEDOM", very limited edition of 750.

Display Box is adorned with artwork by the late great, Sam Petrucci.

Sam was instrumental in developing the art for the original G.I. Joe line starting in 1964. He was an honored guest at many G.I. Joe Collectors' Club Conventions. Samuel W. Petrucci, 86, Born on December 22, 1926, died unexpectedly Friday, September 27, 2013, in Scranton PA, from natural causes.

The 2-figure set includes:

Japanese Pilot:

Japanese G.I. jOE® with 442 Infantry Nisei Soldier headsculpt.

Equipment List:

Tropical flight suit, flight helmet, parachute harness, scarf, boots, Type 14 1925 pistol, brown leather shoulder holster, samurai sword with scabbard, goggles and dog tags.

Flying Tiger Pilot:

Caucasian Classic Collection G.I. jOE® WW2 headsculpt.

Equipment List:

Khaki shirt with Blood Chit,  khaki pants, flight helmet, boots, flight jacket with Blood Chit, scarf with Chiang Kia- sheck's chop, 44 calibre pistol, brown leather shoulder holster, goggles and dog tags.

The set also includes: 2000 GI JOE Convention attendee 'Gung-Ho for GI Joe' pin with attendance bar, the "Flying Tigers" VHS video starring John Wayne (actual combat footage were shown in some scenes), Top Secret information folder containing the convention programme and Certificates of Authenticity (coa).

Flying Tigers (Fei Hu 飛虎) was the popular name of the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941 and 1942. In essence, the group was a private military contractor, although the volunteers have also been called mercenaries. They were former United States Army (USAAF), Navy (USN), and Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and ground crew, recruited under Presidential sanction and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. The group consisted of three fighter squadrons flying the Curtiss P-40 fighter aircraft. It trained in Burma before the American entry into World War II with the intention of defending China against Japanese forces. In 30 weeks of battle the Tigers downed over 100 Japanese planes and lost but 14 of their own.

AVG fighter aircraft were painted with a large shark face on the front of the aircraft. About the same time, the AVG was dubbed "The Flying Tigers" by their Washington support group, called China Defense Supplies. The Tigers' shark-faced fighters remain among the most recognizable of any individual combat aircraft of World War II. The “Flying Tiger” insignia was created by the Walt Disney Company.

A faithful reproduction of the “blood chit” issued to the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) pilots. The Chinese characters read: “This foreign person has come to China to help in the war effort. Soldiers and civilians, one and all, should rescue, protect and provide him medical care.”

Exclusive 2000 GI jOE Convention Flying Tiger Pin