戈叔亚协助抗日战争纪念网寻找飞虎队的异国战友后人
来源：戈叔亚 2015-10-15 14:24:03

　　前言

　　这是一位美国飞虎队飞行员的后人希望找到父亲在70多年前在昆明的一位中国朋友的来信。抗战时期，这位CliffordB. Ellis(克莱福德·B·埃利斯)是一名飞虎队员，在昆明结识了一位叫作王文杰先生，他当时是云南省公路管理局稽征股股长。

　　信件中提到了王文杰的住址是昆明市黄公东街3号。

　　这条街道如今还在：

　　黄公东街，南起五一路,北至翠湖南路。为纪念重九起义战斗中作出贡献的新军七十三排排长黄毓英，原街西尽忠寺(现武成小学毓英校区内)改置黄公祠，以街居祠之东得名黄公东街。

　　这是抗日战争纪念网的唐智轩转过来的资料。

　　唐先生说，这个资料又是北京唐安营养保健品有限公司副总经理罗龙转给他们的。

　　随后抗战纪念网把资料翻译为中文，并在该网站公布，然后在国庆节前夕又转给了我。

　　如果那位朋友知道一些线索，请和我或者上述网站联系。谢谢

　　戈叔亚

　　一：信件原文(译文)

　　飞虎队员克利福德·埃利斯与王文杰的中美情谊

　　二战时期，空军中士克利福德·埃利斯在美空军少将克莱尔·李·陈纳德领导的位于中国云南昆明的第21摄影侦察中队担任飞虎队员。他的职务是根据航空照片绘制地图，亦称照相测量学或摄影学。克利福德于1942年10月7日应征参加美国陆军部队，在此之前，他曾在美国邦纳维方电力局从事测量工作，并从他父亲那里知悉摄影技术。他的父亲吉·伯益德·埃利斯在华盛顿州拥有一家明信片公司。克利福德在科罗拉多斯普林斯市空军基地进行了军事训练。

　　1943年3月8日的那个星期，克利福德得知自己将会被派遣到国外。1943年3月20日，他迎娶了他的新娘玛莉。而4月24日至26日的那个周末成了那段漫长的日子里他和玛莉最后共度的时光。战争期间，在昆明旅馆里，克利福德始终保留着妻子的相片。在他在中国期间，双方频繁通信，信多得可以装满两个食品杂货袋。接下来的数年，他们一直保留着这些信，直到1989年玛莉去世。

　　1943年4月27日，克利福德·埃利斯登上了一辆横越美国和加拿大部分地区的火车。在1943年5月9日母亲节那天，他登上了一艘运兵船。他在日记里写道：“5月10日上午10点，我们的船只驶出港口，透过舷窗我仔细看清了纽约的空中轮廓线，并远远地看了一眼自由女神像。”为了避开敌军潜艇的侦察，部队乘一艘从毛里塔尼亚驶往印度孟买的英国大客轮环球曲折前进。在印度，飞虎队员们轮流待命，等待着完成最困难的任务——飞越世界上最高的山脉——喜马拉雅山。6月24日，轮船到达印度。1943年8月23日星期天，这天轮到克利福德开始他的征程。但由于飞机缺少，他不得不等到1943年10月4日乘坐C87飞机飞赴中国。C87运输机飞机是由B-24四发远程轰炸机改装的，机上装载有4个1000磅的炸弹和2100磅的炸弹共5吨T.N.T烈性炸药。而在飞越喜马拉雅山时，有三架飞机不知去向。在那时，这条航线是进入中国空军基地唯一的方式，因为原先的滇缅公路被日军占领了。

　　空军中士克利福德·埃利斯渐渐爱上了中国。他觉得昆明降水适度，气温舒适，气候宜人。在小山环绕的美丽溪谷里，他的窗外就是稻田和蔬菜。关于三餐他写道：“食物比我去过的国外任何地方(的食物)都好得多。没有午餐肉和咸牛肉，我们只有新鲜肉和蔬菜。中国人是很棒的厨师，我们只要重复菜单就可以吃到我们想吃的。”

　　当这位军人被邀请至王先生家吃饭时，是食物首先将王先生和空军中士克利福德·埃利斯聚到了一起。1943年1月16日的那一餐饭是为了庆祝中国新年，并由来自北京的Chi先生准备的。王先生、Chi先生，Lee先生英语都讲得很好，同这位美国军人一起用英语交流中美习俗与要闻。就餐的其他人有：摄影师Wu先生，王先生的儿子和小女儿，王夫人及Cheng夫人。克利福德·埃利斯描述吃的食物有：肉包、长寿蛋、汤圆、饺子、绿叶蔬菜，且茶也一同奉上了。克利福德试着用筷子就餐，但是大家说他的用筷水平“mama foofoo”，字面意思“马马虎虎”或者就像美国人常说的“SoSo” 。王先生经常带空军中士克利福德·埃利斯外出吃糖醋肉，(因而)糖醋肉成了克利福德最喜欢的菜肴之一。

　　中国朋友们总是带克利福德，有的时候也带其他美国空军人员参观乡村的名胜。在那里有许多道士、佛教徒和孔庙。克利福德用莱卡35毫米相机照了许多中国寺庙、中国人们及中国大小城市的照片。王先生和克利福德有着共同的摄影爱好，克利福德总会教王先生如何更好照相的技巧。在一次外出期间，一个朋友拍下了克利福德和一位和尚的照片。

　　1945年春天，在美国对日本投掷原子弹之前，也就是在美国的第二次世界大战对日战争胜利纪念日之前，克利福德飞回了家，从此再也没有见过他亲爱的朋友——王先生。克利福德总想再回来看一看，但是最终也未能达成所愿。两人之间的情谊可以从王先生写给克利福德的的第一封信里感受到。

　　亲爱的，埃利斯先生：

　　自从4月11日在我的办公室分开后，你没有在下周履约来到我家。我以为你不久就离开昆明去美国了。在大多数情况下，你通常在一年内会守约。上个星期六，也就是4月21日，我去了一趟你的办公室。你的一位同事告诉我，星期五早上，你已乘10点的飞机离开了。这个消息非常的惊愕。没能见到你，我感到非常的遗憾。我有可能再没有机会见到你了，因为我曾告诉过你，即使战后我也没有机会来你的国家了。中国有句俗语说：“恨相见得迟，怨归去得疾”。但是，另一方面，能成为你朋友，我感到很荣幸。你的前途无量，在不久的将来，会成为一位官员。你还是一个诚实的人，并且教会了我许多英语。

　　现代通信拉进了世界各地的距离。在你收到这封信时，你可能已经平安归乡，与你的妻子甜蜜相拥相吻多次。我希望在你下次回家时，你的妻子已孕育出一个小生命。

　　两个人在接下来的几年里仍保持通信。王先生寄去许多礼物，克利福德和玛莉非常喜欢。1953年克利福德和玛莉的双胞胎女儿林迪·乔伊斯·埃利斯和苏珊·简·埃利斯出生了。克利福德·埃利斯在他父亲吉·伯益德·埃利斯退休后接管了埃利斯明信片公司。由于发展了捕捉，别人可以看到却容易错过的美丽瞬间，克利福德的明信片赢了许多国家级奖项。那些明信片现在成了收藏家收集的对象。坐落在美国华盛顿阿灵顿市第67东北大道20722号的史提拉瓜米什谷地拓荒者博物馆举行了一场展览，用来纪念克利福德·埃利斯和他的父亲吉·伯益德·埃利斯。位于塔科马的华盛顿州历史学会开始了收集埃利斯明信片(的活动)。

　　1992年8月29日，克利福德患癌症逝世。就在他去世之前，他的女儿苏珊守在他身边，他抬了抬手。当苏珊问他要做什么时，他说：“中国朋友们要来了。”并问她们是否可以邀请中国朋友们进餐。下一段生活的大门打开之时，他深爱的朋友们就在那里迎接着他，正如当初二战期间他们对一个来到遥远国度、思念自己新娘的孤独军人所做的那样。深厚的情谊持续了下去，距离或死亡都不能将它切断。

　　正如我们缅怀我们的祖先一样，克利福德·埃利斯的后代子孙们会找到王先生的家属并与他们一同分享这些年保存下来的照片和信件，来共同缅怀这两位父亲之间的松柏情义。我们所知的王先生的最后地址如下：

　　王文杰

　　云南省公路管理税务局局长

　　中国云南昆明黄公东街3号

　　(英文原文)

　　A Chinese/American Friendship between a FlyingTiger and Mr. Wong

　　Staff Sargent Clifford B.Ellis served as a Flying Tiger during World War II under MajorGeneral Claire Lee Chennault in the 21st PhotoReconnaissance Squadron in Kunming China in the YunnanProvince. His job was makingmaps from aerial photographs known as photogrammetry orphotopography. He enlisted inthe U.S. Army on the 7th of October1942 having a background working for Bonneville PowerAdministration surveying and a knowledge of photography from hisFather, J. Boyd Ellis, who owned a postcard business in WashingtonState. His military training was in ColoradoSprings, Colorado at the airbase.

　　During the week of March8th, 1943, Clifford learned of his orders to be shippedoverseas. He married his bride, Mary, on the20th of March 1943. The weekend of the24th to the 26th of April was the last timehe would spend with Mary for a long time. He kepta pin-up picture of her in his hostel in Kunming during thewar. During his time in China they would writeenough letters to each other to fill two large grocery bagsfull. Over the years they kept these lettersuntil Mary passed away in 1989.

　　April 27, 1943, CliffordEllis boarded a train traveling across the United States and partof Canada. On Mother’s Day, May 9, 1943, heboarded a troopship. His diary states, “May10th at about 10:00 am we pulled out and from theporthole I got a good look at the New York City skyline and a fardistant look at the Statue of Liberty”. Thetroops traveled on a large British passenger liner known asMauretania bound for Bombay, India zig-zagging around the world inorder to escape detection by the enemysubmarines. In India the Flying Tigers eachwaited their turn to fly “over the hump” another name for flyingover the highest mountains in the world, theHimalayans. June 24th the ship arrivedin India and on Sunday August 23, 1943 it was Clifford’s turn tostart the journey. Due to a shortage of planes hehad to wait until October 4, 1943 to fly to China on a C87 planewhich was converted to a B24 4 engine bomber. Itwas carrying 5 tons of T.N.T. in the form of four 1000 lb. bombsand 2 100 lb. bombs. During that time threeplanes were lost going over the Himalayans. Flying into China was the only way during that time to get into theairbase because the original Burma Road was occupied by theJapanese.

　　Staff Sargent Clifford B.Ellis grew to love China. He found the climate inKunming pleasant with moderate rain and comfortabletemperature. Just outside hiswindow were rice fields and vegetables in the beautiful valleybordered by hills. He wrote about the his meals,“The food is 100% improvement over any place else I have beenoverseas. No more spam and cornedbeef. We have only fresh meats andvegetables. The Chinese are very good cooks andalso we get all we want by just repeating theorder”.

　　It was food that firstbrought Mr. Wong and Staff Sargent Clifford B. Ellis together whenthe service member was invited for dinner at Mr. Wong’shome. One of those meals was a celebration of theChinese New Year on January 16, 1943 that was prepared by Mr. Chifrom Peking. Mr. Wong, Mr. Chi, and Mr. Lee spokevery good English and the three men were able to converse aboutChinese and American customs and news with the American servicemember. Others at the table were Mr. Wu, a photographer, Mr. Wong’sson and small daughter, Mrs. Wong and Mrs. Cheng. Clifford Ellis describes the food as being a steamed bun filledwith meat. Thousand year old eggs, candied riceballs, powered rice formed like lace, vegetable greens, and teawere served as well. Clifford tried learning howto eat with chop sticks, but was told his skill level was “ma mafoo foo” literally meaning “horse horse tiger tiger” or only “soso” as Americans would say. Often Mr. Wong wouldtake Staff Sargent Clifford B. Ellis out for sweet and sour porkwhich would become one of Clifford’s favoritemeals.

　　The Chinese friends wouldtake Clifford and sometimes other American airmen to see the sightsaround the country side. There were Taoist,Buddhist, and Confucian temples in the area. Using a Leica 35 mm camera, Staff Sargent Clifford B. Ellis tookpictures of the temples, the people, and the cities inChina. Mr. Wong and Clifford shared the interestin photography and Clifford was able to teach Mr. Wong skills hehad learned in taking better pictures. During oneof these outings, one of his friends took a picture of StaffSargent Clifford B. Ellis with a Buddhist monk.

　　In the spring of 1945shortly before the atom bomb was dropped on Japan and what is knownas V-J Day in America, Staff Sargent Clifford B. Ellis flew homenever to see his beloved friend, Mr. Wong again. Clifford always wanted to go back for a visit, but neverdid. The sentiments shared by each of these mencan be felt in first letter to Mr. Ellis written by Mr.Wong:

　　Dear Mr. Ellis:

　　Ever since we parted at my office on April 11,you did not come to my home in

　　accordancewith our appointments for in the following week. I realized thatyou

　　would leaveKunming for U.S.A. soon. As in most cases, you used to keepyour

　　word in thepast for more than one year. Last Saturday, April 21, I went toyour

　　room, one ofyour colleagues told me that you had gone by aeroplane at10:00

　　Fridaymorning. To me, this news was cold water pouring on my head tomy

　　feet. I wasvery sorry to have missed meeting you. Perhaps I will haveno

　　chance tosee you again, as I have told you that I have no opportunity to goto

　　yourcountry, even after the war. Oh! indeed, as the Chinese proverbsays: “It is

　　veryhateful, we make acquaintance with each other so late, but wedepart so

　　quick." But,on the another side of the picture, I have the honour to be proudto

　　be yourfriend. Not only is your future so bright, but in the near future,you will

　　become anofficer. Also you are honest man and have taught me Englishvery

　　much.

　　The moderncommunication shrinks the world smaller and smaller, maybeafter

　　you receivethis letter, you will have arrived to your home safe and sound,and

　　embraced andkissed your sweet wife thousands, thousands times. I hopeyour

　　wife willpresent you with a wonderful "Dragon Seed" when you come backto

　　your homenext time.

　　The two men continued tocorrespond over the next several years. Mr. Wongsent presents which Clifford and Mary cherished. In 1953 the twin daughters, Lindi Joyce Ellis and Susan JaneEllis were born. Clifford Elliseventually took over the Ellis Post Card Company after his FatherJ. Boyd Ellis retired. Clifford’s postcards wonnational awards as he had developed the skill of capturing themagnificence in scenes others see, but miss the vision of thesplendor of it. The postcards are now collector’sitems. Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum located at 20722 67th Avenue North East,Arlington, Washington, USA 98223 has a display honoring CliffordEllis and his Father, J. Boyd Ellis. TheWashington State Historical Society in Tacoma, Washington hasstarted a collection of Ellis postcards.

　　On August 29, 1992, CliffordB. Ellis died from cancer. Just before his deathas his daughter Susan was at his side, he started reaching abovehis head. When Susan asked him what he wasreaching for he said, “The Chinese people are coming” and asked ifthey could invite the Chinese people to dinner. The people he loved so much were there to greet him as the doorinto the next life opened just as they had done when a lonelyserviceman missing his new bride came to a far off land duringWorld War II. The strong bond of friendshipendured, neither distance nor death could severit.

　　Just as we honor ourancestors, so would the descendants of Clifford B. Ellis like tohonor the forever friendship of these two Fathers by finding thefamily of Mr. Wong and sharing the pictures and letters that havesurvived all these years. The last known addressof Mr. Wong is:

　　Mr. WongWang Chieh

　　Chief ofRevenue Department

　　YunnanProvincial Highway

　　Administration,

　　3, HwangGong Tung Street

　　Kunming,Yunnan Province, China

　　二、王文杰给美国朋友的信件原件(内容上面已经有了)