US Flying Tiger veterans arrived in Kunming, capital city of southwestern China's Yunnan province Thursday via Beijing, kicking off their four-day nostalgia visit to their battle field during WWII.

"We are doing this mainly for the 'V60'," said the organizer of this home-coming event, Robert Lee, the president of the Flying Tigers of the 14th Air Force Association.

Eighty-three-year-old veteran Alston Bossieux said that after more than six decades of separation, the trip to Yunnan is "a dream coming true."

"I will go back to my base, a place named Yangkai (Known as Yangjie in Chinese), and contrast it with the photo I'd taken 60 years ago," said Alston.

The 15 visiting veterans, together with 45 friends and family members, will stay in the scenic city of Kunming for four days, visiting new places while reminiscing about the war.

"Back in old days, there were no lights and no skyscrapers in Kunming when seen from the air," said 80-year-old veteran John Means. "Chinese accomplishments are remarkable."

Organized by US General Chennault, the Flying Tigers are also known as the American Volunteer Group, which was listed into the 14th Air Force by US army in March 1943 after the Pearl Harbor brought America into war with imperial Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2005)