Famous Texans: Claire Lee Chennault (Part 2)

Claire Lee Chennault was born in Commerce, Texas Sept. 6, 1893. Chennault is a French name, but the family had been American for several generations. He was descended from French Huguenots. He was related to Sam Houston on his mother’s side and Robert E. Lee on his father’s side. He had resigned from the Army Air Corps under presser from superiors and had accepted a post with the Chinese Air Force. To organize, equip, and train the Chinese Pilots. Chennault arrived in China in June 1937, and the Japanese attacked and invaded China in August of that year. His Chinese pilots were not ready and he had an air war on his hands. He needed trained ghter pilots to take on the formidable Japanese air forces. After several secret meeting in Washington D. C. President Roosevelt gave permission to Chennault to recruit ghter pilots from the American forces. The O.S.S. set up a system for money and supplies to be furnished to the three newly formed squadrons of the Flying Tigers.

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