Chennault, Claire Lee (1890-1958)

US pilot. He became famous during World War II as the leader of the ‘Flying Tigers’, a volunteer force of 200 US pilots and engineers fighting alongside Chinese Nationalist forces.

Originally a pilot in the US Army Air Corps, Chennault was retired on medical grounds 1937 and then became an adviser and trainer on aviation for the Chinese Nationalist forces. He returned to duty with the US Army Air Force 1942 when the Flying Tigers were absorbed with the regular US air forces. An offensive against the Japanese 1943 was met with a strong counterattack which destroyed much of his force both in the air and on the ground. He resigned July 1945 after his advice on the future reorganization of the Chinese air force was rejected.