Sen-Yet Young
A son of China and Hawaii
Organizer of the first Chinese Air Force
To all those who cherish the goal of enduring, peaceful relations between the people of China and America: here is the story of the life and achievements of Young Sen-Yet.
He was inspired at an early age by the first President of modern China, Sun Yat-sen, to join the Chinese revolutionary movement and strengthen the connections between Hawaii and China.
Born in 1891 in the Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii, his father, Young Ahin, emigrated from present-day Beitai Village, Zhongshan, China, and became a prosperous businessman in Hawaii. The Young family maintained close ties with Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the first Chinese revolution, who often stayed at their home during his visits to Hawaii. In honor of this friendship, Young Ahin named his son Sen-Yet Young, reversing Sun Yat-sen’s name.
At the age of 11, he pledged to support the cause of a democratic, unified China. At age 18, he became a member of the Tongmenghui, the revolutionary alliance led by Sun Yat-sen. Heeding Sun’s call to “save China through aviation,” he pursued aviation studies in California and at Curtis Aviation in New York.
More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sen_Yet_Young
He founded an aircraft manufacturing company, where he designed and took charge of assembly of the first light reconnaissance bomber. He was Hawaii’s first land and seaplane pilot, moving to China in 1918, where he organized the nation’s first air force, earning the title “Father of China’s Air Force” from Sun Yat-sen.
He first soloed as a pilot on October 2, 1916, and became the first Hawaiian American to be licensed, with sea plane and land plane ratings, receiving Aero Club of America certificates 600 and 62, respectively. He won second place in marksmanship from an airplane.
In 1921, Sen-Yet Young traveled to Japan, Mexico, and America to raise funds for the Chinese air force, securing planes and recruiting young Chinese patriots for the mission. In 1923, he was named chief of aviation and head of an airplane factory in Kwangtung, where he built China’s first airplane, named “Rosamonde,” the English name of Soong Ching Ling, the wife of Sun Yat-sen. She was on board for the plane’s first flight, with pilot Huang Guang at the controls.
Inscription: “This is the first airplane built in China.
Designed in May 1923, Flown July 1923.
The ‘Rosamonde’ (named in honor of Mme. Sun Yat-sen)”
During a rebellion against Sun Yat-sen led by warlord Chen Jiong-ming, Young Sen-Yet died at the age of 31, on September 20, 1923. Sun Yat-sen posthumously honored him with the rank of Lieutenant-General, and gave a commemorative scroll to his family.
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Museum, Zhongshan, China
producers and donors of an exhibition about Sen-Yet Young
Sun Yat-sen announced the establishment of National Aviation Day, to be on the day of his death and urged schools to be started in his name. Young is memorialized in dozens of locations in China, including the Chinese Martyrs Cemetery Park, Huanghuagang. Sun Yat-sen called Young “The Father of Chinese Aviation.”
“Aim High to Reach Heaven”
Scroll written by Sun Yat-Sen
Courtesy of Leigh-Wai Doo
Young Sen-Yet’s legacy continues through his descendants, including his son Young Tim-oy, who donated the original scroll to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Guangzhou, and his grandson Leigh-Wai Doo, (his mother’s father). He was a respected Honolulu attorney and former Honolulu City Council member, who helped establish the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation.
The Foundation for Islands of Harmony, founded by Leigh-Wai Doo with Victor Li, former President of the East-West Center, is sponsoring an exhibition about Sen-Yet-Young, which includes original objects, documents and photos.
The exhibition, titled “Hawai’i’s ‘Free Spirit’, will open with a public reception, complimentary to all, at the Hawai’i State Library, 478 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, Saturday November 23, beginning at 12 noon.
This project was researched, assembled, designed and produced by the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Museum, Zhongshan China with the assistance of Leigh-Wai Doo, and shipped to Honolulu for this special occasion.
The Hawai’i State Library is located in the heart of historic downtown Honolulu., between
‘Iolani Palace, the State Capitol and Honolulu City Hall.
Map and Directions:
https://binged.it/3V1B1i7
Screenshot
A Free Spirit Poster (PDF) may be downloaded here, for printing and sharing:
https://bit.ly/4eSaHyh
