Claire lee chennault simple english wikipedia, the free. Claire lee chennault bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Claire zorn, who won the prime ministers literary award in 2015 and the cbca book of the year for older readers in 2015 for the protected, has won in that category again for one would think the. Claire lee chennault was born in texas in 1893 and learned to fly in the army air service during world war i. On june 7, 1945, eight years to the day he first offered his services to nationalist china, claire lee chennault requested he be relieved from active duty. Claire lee chennault september 6, 1893 july 27, 1958 was an american military aviator. Anna chan on december 2, 1947, and they had two children. On a sunny october afternoon, quint matthewss red ford truck roared along the endless gray highway that stretched through the wideopen spaces of far west texas. This highly readable book traces its creation by claire chennault, a fiercely independent retired soldier appointed air adviser by chiang kaishek, and its. Famous flyers highlights aviators who influenced popular culture during t. Due to his great skill at outthinking his enemy american losses were minimal compared to the nearly 3000 japanese aircraft shot down by the flying tigers throughout china. Buy way of a fighter the memoirs of claire lee chennault.
Raised in the little community of gilbert, near waterproof, claire was the son of john and jessie lee chennault. He died on july 27, 1958 in new orleans, louisiana, usa. Way of a fighter the memoirs of claire lee chennault by. At the the time it was published communist influence rose amidst the chinese civilwar between mao zeodong and chaing kaishek. The transformation of anna chenault the washington post. Chennault was a fierce advocate of pursuit or fighterinterceptor aircraft during the 1930s when the united states army air corps was focused primarily on highaltitude bombardment. Claire chennault, legendary hero of the air war against the japanese, grew up in louisiana. Led by legendary army pilot claire chennault, these men left behind an america still at peace in the summer of 1941 using false identities to travel across the. This book will go a long way toward ensuring him his deserved. Claire lee chennault september 6, 1893 july 27, 1958 was an american military aviator best known for his leadership of the flying tigers and the republic of china air force in world war ii.
Fourteenth air force in china during the war, and won president roosevelts support for his notion that air power was the way to defeat japan. Register of the claire lee chennault papers 67002 3 united statesforeign relations. The ship was assigned to the 11th fighter squadron of the 343rd fighter group. The aviation portion highlights three historic chapters in the nations and monroes history. Claire lee chennault 6 september 1890 27 juli 1958 was een amerikaanse militaire vlieger. Claire is the french form of clara, a feminine derivation of the latin masculine name clarus. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Claire lee chennault was born on september 6, 1890, in commerce, texas. The founder of the flying tigers american volunteer group, fighter pilots who fought the japanese in china the year before the u. Claire zorns griefandsurfing story wins childrens book of. Flying tigers, american volunteer pilots recruited by claire l. As clare first started to research child bereavement she discovered that around 112 children are bereaved of a parent in the uk every day, and felt her own experience could be put to.
Claire patterson chennault was born on november 24 1920, to claire lee chennault. Flying tigers claire chennault and his american volunteers, 19411942 chapter one. Join facebook to connect with claire chennault and others you may know. Like most of the other ballantine books in this series published in the early 1970s, heifermans account of claire chennault in china is based on secondary sources and is heavily illustrated. Though his book represented a good effort to change that, chennault simply failed to rouse a warweary west. John stephen chennault of north hollywood, ca, max thompson chennault of college point, ga, col.
Claire, luminous, simple, and strong, with a barely. Claire lee chennault lieutenant general claire lee chennault september 6, 1893 july 27, 1958, was an american military aviator. Chennault, in full claire lee chennault, born september 6, 1890, commerce, texas, u. He was best known for his leadership of the flying tigers and the republic of china air force in world war ii. Colonel john chennault, son of claire chennault, in the cockpit of one of his aleutian tigers.
His children by nell thompson include john stephen chennault 191977, max thompson chennault 19142001, charles lee chennault 19181967, peggy sue chennault lee. Sep 04, 2015 claire lee chennault was born in texas in 1893 and learned to fly in the army air service during world war i. In world war i he was a pioneer in air pursuit tactics. Library journalclaire lee chennault was a fascinating man in a fascinating time in history. Claire chennault and his american volunteers, 19411942 ford. He was married to anna chennault and nell thompson. Anna chennault, the widow of general claire chennault of world war ii flying tigers fame, and a wellknown republican activist, was at a secret meeting in new york in july 1968 with nixon and the. Unlike eisenhower and macarthur, chennault was no saintly military leader. Chennault 18931977, and two by his second wife, chen xiangmei known as anna chen. Most known for founding the flying tigers, claire chennault was an american general with both combat time on the ground along with many hours of time in the air. Claire lee chennault is the author of way of a fighter 4. Chennault and his flying tigers university of california.
N store attaches a sample chapter for flying tigers that seems to come out of a bad contemporary novel. Led by legendary army pilot claire chennault, these men left behind an america still at peace in the summer of 1941 using false identities to. Retired 1937 from the army, he went to china and organized air defenses for chiang kaishek. She became interested in the flying tigers, as did her family in shanghai, with the result that. Todays deals your gift cards help whole foods registry sell disability customer support. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I knew anna and general claire lee chennault and their two children, claire ann and cynthia lou. Quite frankly, this inforamtion is a complete shock to me as it is to the reast of my family. The french word for clear, claires meaning, is clair, and was traditionally a male name. Claire lee chennault a guide to his papers in the hoover institution archives, the guide unveiled many of the precious documents associated with general chennault and his flying tigers. On a sunny october afternoon, quint matthews s red ford truck roared along the endless gray highway that stretched through the wideopen spaces of far west texas. Claire lee chennault 18931958 was america s greatest american fighter pilot and air strategist of world war ii.
His many speeches talked of training fighter pilots in a fashion way ahead of his time. Claire lee chennault, aviator and air force general, son of john stonewall. The last place of residence i have for is talahasee, mississippi. One would expect a generals postwar autobiography to. From 1947 until his death in 1958, he married chinese reporter anna chennault.
The incredible story of the daring and heroic american pilots known as the flying tigers and of the famous american general, claire lee chennault 18931958, whose genius formed these fighters into the most formidable military groups in american aviation history is told in this stirring book by his beautiful young widow. Claire chennault 18901958, was an americans military pilot and leader of the flying tigers in world war ii, an american operation that aided china. Oct 10, 2006 my father, ernest nelson chennault, was the younger brother of claire and the story you told has been around for a long time. Aug 17, 2017 claire zorn, who won the prime ministers literary award in 2015 and the cbca book of the year for older readers in 2015 for the protected, has won in that category again for one would think the. Claire lee chennault, lieutenant general, united states army. Anna chen chennault, chennaults second wife, and their two daughters, cynthia and claire anna, live in washington, d. Even though chennaults concerns were justified, strategies sound, and tactics realistic, americans just didnt care. That boast made in september 1937 by claire lee chennault turned out to be a prescription for the american volunteer group he would bring to asia in the summer of 1941, to win. During world war ii, in the skies over rangoon, burma, a handful of a. Claire lee chennault 18931958 was americas greatest american fighter pilot and air strategist of world war ii. Claire lee chennault, 18931958 boy, if the chinese only had 100 good pursuit planes and 100 fair pilots, theyd exterminate the jap air force. Jammed full of names, places, events, selfpromotion, and vitriol, chennault steps you through a life filled with conflicts against those in authority.
Anna chen chennault, chennault s second wife, and their two daughters, cynthia and claire anna, live in washington, d. Chennault then served under wedemeyer until he was forced to retire by general hap arnold. Army air forces in china 194245 and created the american volunteer group avg, best known as the flying tigers. Chennault was twice married and had a total of ten children. A contentious officer, he was a fierce advocate of pursuit or fighterinterceptor aircraft during the 1930s when the u. Claire patterson chennault of ferriday, david wallace chennault of monroe and robert kenneth chennault of lake st. The book ends with his retirement from the air force and his return to china six months later to aid the nations recovery. His children by nell thompson include john stephen chennault 191977, max thompson chennault 19142001, charles lee chennault 19181967, peggy sue chennault lee b. I am one of claire s great grand children, granddaughter of peggy chennault. My father, ernest nelson chennault, was the younger brother of claire and the story you told has been around for a long time. A chinese view of claire lee chennault a few years ago, i translated a new japanese history of the air war in burma with the help of a chinese graduate student, difei zhang. Helping children through bereavement, was written following her own experience of losing her brother when she was so young.
Clare shaw childrens books therapeutic stories for children. I am also looking for information on the chennault family history. Chennault, claire lee the handbook of texas online texas. He founded the american volunteer group, nicknamed the flying tigers, in 1941. In this definitive biography of general claire chennault, veteran reporter jack samson offers a rare and fascinating inside look at this legendary man behind the flying tigers. He was a chainsmoking, bourbondrinking, womanizing man. Now, in retirement, he joins saintex and ernie gann as a masterful spinner of books about flying and survival. Claire chennault and his american volunteers, 19411942 daniel ford. Claire chennault was born on september 6, 1893 in commerce, texas, usa as claire lee chennault. He attended the louisiana state normal school in natchitoches, completing the teachers training program in 1910. Now the spelling is used mainly for girls, along with clare, and occasionally klaire or klare. Claire chenault historical records and family trees.
Wendell willkie, special representative of the president in his capacity as commander in chief of the armed forces. Claire lee chennault 06 sep 1893 commerce, tx 27 jul 1958 managed by david robinson last edited 18 nov 2017 lois chennault wagner 1916 arkansas. Its also rather dry and will hardly satisfy readers looking for narratives with lots of combat action. Way of a fighter the memoirs of claire lee chennault. Now the spelling is used mainly for girls, along with clare, and occasionally klaire. While excellent foresight remains a common theme in revisionist histories, this book was written in 1948. Fourteenth air force in china during the war, and won president roosevelt s support for his notion that air power was the way to defeat japan.
Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. She became interested in the flying tigers, as did her family in shanghai, with the result that they produced this biography of claire chennault. Chennault was a fierce advocate of pursuit or fighterinterceptor aircraft during the 1930s when the united states army air corps was focused. Claire chennault at chennault museum, monroe img 4149. Claire lee chennault was 10 years old when the wright brothers made their first powered flight in 1903. Chennault was twice married and had a total of ten children, eight by his first wife, the former nell. Army air corps wrote this memoir in 1949 to build his case for american engagement in china to promote american interests. My grandmother was the family historian and i have never heard this part of claire s past before.
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