Squadron leader Fan Yuan-yen of the Chinese Communist air force flew his MIG19 jet fighter from Fukien province to Taiwan on July 7, the 40th anniversary of the start of the War of Resistance Against the Japanese. The fifth defection of a Chinese Communist airman in the last two decades was warmly welcomed by the people of the Republic of China and millions of overseas Chinese.
七月七日是我抗戰四十周年紀念日，正當全國各界分別舉行各項紀念活動，矢志發揚抗戰精神，完成復國使命之際，反共義士范園焱駕米格十九型機，起義來歸，重獲自由。