Long Qiming, 91, the only remaining Flying Tiger pilot on the mainland, is seriously ill and on a respirator at a hospital in Chongqing. XINHUA

Chris Coonan, a US citizen who has stayed in Chongqing for five years, now runs a bar where Long often liked drinking Scotch whisky while telling war stories.

"As an old friend of Long, I am deeply influenced by him. He loves his country very much," said Coonan, adding that Long's contribution to China is huge and admired.

In 2005, Long and two other Flying Tigers pilots were invited to attend the ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).

Over the past nine years, the other two have passed away, leaving Long as the only Flying Tiger on the Chinese mainland.

Long has received another invitation to attend the 70th anniversary next year.

"He really wants to recover so that he can witness the ceremony," said Dai Qingbiao, Long's best friend.

Long's wife is also in bad physical condition.

They have nine children. Two of them have died and five are now in Chongqing taking care of their parents.

Long Jun, their seventh child, said his father has always been strict, but he admires his father as a hero.

Wang Luoyong, a film director, was quoted as saying that he had come to Chongqing three times to learn about Long's story.

He plans to tell the world the story in TV series, films or musicals. "He is a national treasure and people should know about his legend," the director said.

Zhang Yu contributed to this story

Former Flying Tigers pilot, 91, critically ill	WWII Flying Tigers want to see history respected