A World War II bombardier who flew 52 missions defending China has died at the age of 96.

Maj. Richard Sherman died Wednesday at a nursing home in Monroe, Louisiana, said Marquita Mihaliak, administrator at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home.

Sherman was in the 11th Bomb Squadron of the Army’s 14th Air Force, commanded by Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault.

The group was nicknamed the Flying Tigers after the famed volunteer fighter group that Chennault created to defend nationalist China before the U.S. entered the war.

Chennault's granddaughter, Nell Calloway, says Sherman also was a founder of the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe.

Calloway says only one volunteer Flying Tiger is still alive.

Sherman’s funeral is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at First Methodist Church in Monroe, Calloway said..

This undated photo provided by the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, La., shows an exhibit of artifacts from Maj. Richard Sherman, who flew 52 missions over China during World War II. Sherman was in the 11th Bomb Squadron of the Army's 14th Air Force under Gen. Claire Chennault, who nicknamed the 14th the Flying Tigers after the volunteer fighter group he had created while acting as a civilian advisor to nationalist China to defend that nation before the U.S. entered World War II. Sherman died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Monroe. (Nell Calloway/Chennault Aviation and Military Museum via AP)

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Flying TigersWorld War II Flying TigersMaj. Richard ShermanWorld War II bombardier11th Bomb SquadronArmy's 14th Air ForceMaj. Gen. Claire Chennault
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