Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958

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Claire Lee Chennault (September 6, 1893 – July 27, 1958), sometimes known as Old Leatherface, 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.

Chennault was a fierce advocate of "pursuit" or fighter-interceptor aircraft during the 1930s when the United States Army Air Corps was focused primarily on high-altitude bombardment. Chennault retired from the United States Army in 1937, and went to work as an aviation adviser and trainer in China.

Starting in early 1941, Chennault commanded the 1st American Volunteer Group (nicknamed Flying Tigers). He headed both the volunteer group and the uniformed U.S. Army Air Forces units that replaced it in 1942. He feuded constantly with General Joseph Stilwell, the U.S. Army commander in China, and helped China's Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to convince President Roosevelt to remove Stilwell in 1944. The China-Burma-India theater was strategically essential in order to fix many vital elements of the Imperial Japanese Army on the Chinese mainland to limit their use against Allied forces advancing towards Japan in the two Pacific campaigns.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. CNO FAR EAST TRIP Taipei, Taiwan National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSREEL CLIPS, WORLD WAR II National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Flying Tigers Project : oral history, 1962. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Documentary Films. 1914 - 1944. JAPAN'S WEST POINT [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [OCT. 20] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Special Film Projects Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1970. CHINA CRISIS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Thomas G. Corcoran Papers, 1792-1982, (bulk 1965-1980) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn McComas, Edward Otis, 1919-1954. Edward Otis McComas collection, 1941-1954. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 19] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. FILM HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LIFE OF GENERAL H.H. ARNOLD, U.S.A COMANDING GENERAL A.A.F National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958. Lt. General Claire Lee Chennault and family papers, 1943-1956. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
creatorOf Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance Staff Articles, 1949-1967 Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Arthur H. Vandenberg papers, 1884-1974, 1915-1951 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Chennault, Anna. Reminiscences of Anna Chennault and Thomas Corcoran : oral history, 1962. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Cooper, Merian C. Merian C. Cooper papers, 1917-1958. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Records of the Army Staff. 1903 - 2009. Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Military Personnel, Defense Department and Other Government Officials, Royalty, and Heads of State. 1964-1974. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [SEPT. 15] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Cheves, Gilbert X. (Gilbert Xavier), 1895-1985. Major General Gilbert Xavier Cheves collection, 1984.
referencedIn Lockett, Edward B. Edward B. Lockett papers, 1947-1960. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. COMBAT AREA ACTIVITIES OF THE ARMY AIR FORCES National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MARCH 5] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn James M. McHugh papers, 1930-1965. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Pennoyer, Paul G. Paul G. Pennoyer photograph collection. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn McHugh, J. M. (James Marshall), 1899-. James M. McHugh papers, 1930-1965. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. AAF REPORT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. BOMBERS RAID WAR PLANTS IN NAZI EUROPE [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958. Lt. General Claire L. Chennault/Chennault Air Force Base collection, 1950's-1960's. McNeese State University, Lether E. Frazar Memorial Library
referencedIn Smith, Sebie Biggs, 1908-. Reminiscences of Sebie Biggs Smith : oral history, 1981. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Archibald, Joe, 1898-. Joseph S. Archibald papers, 1962-1967. University of Oregon Libraries
referencedIn Rodney Gilbert Papers, 1910-1968 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Johnson, Louis Arthur, 1891-1966. Papers of Louis Arthur Johnson [manuscript] 1930-64. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958. Papers of Claire Lee Chennault, 1941-1954. Library of Congress
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Personality Index to Black and White and Color Negatives, Slides, and Transparencies of U.S. Air Force Activities, Facilities, and Personnel National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. BRITISH-U.S. AIR MISSION INSPECTS FAR EAST BASES [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [SEPT. 25] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Merian C. Cooper papers, 1917-1958 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn Haddon, Julian B., 1894-1958. General Julian B. Haddon collection, 1942-1954. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [DEC. 4] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Army - Navy Screen Magazine. 1943 - 1958. ARMY-NAVY SCREEN MAGAZINE, NO. 14 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn John Toland Papers, 1944-1965 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Economic History of Indiana in the Twentieth Century, 1976-1980 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. NEW U.S. JET PROPULSION PLANE [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State. 1763 - 2002. Moving Images Relating to U.S. Foreign Policy and Foreign Relations. 1911 - 1972. NEWS REVIEW [NO. 1] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Willauer, Whiting, 1906-1962. Whiting Willauer papers, 1916-1962 (bulk 1941-1955) Princeton University Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. USAF "GOODWILL" TOUR National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [JAN. 21] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958. Claire Lee Chennault letter and passport, 1941 Oct. 25. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
creatorOf Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958. Claire Lee Chennault papers, 1941-1967. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Merian C. Cooper papers, 1921-1977 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Walker, Frederick Frye. Frederick Frye Walker Papers, 1938-1999 1961-1975. University of Texas at Dallas. Eugene McDermott Library
creatorOf Herrington, A. W. S. (Arthur William Sidney), b. 1891. Papers of Arthur W. Herrington, 1920-1961 (bulk 1930-1942). Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [SEPT. 8] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. U.S. FLIERS BOMB TWO JAPANESE BASES [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Noe, James A. James A. Noe collection, 1933-1955 (bulk 1940-1945). Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. DEDICATION OF CHENNAULT AFB National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. U.S. PACIFIC WAR HEROES DECORATED [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Kline, Frederick J., 1918-. Oral history interview with George J. Savage, 1998 February 10. University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn Chennault, Dille Elizabeth Young. Dille Y. Chennault papers, circa 1893-1982. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Joseph Archibald papers, 1962-1967 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. quot;Pappyquot; Paxton Flying Tiger film, New York City, New York; San Francisco, California, Honolulu, Hawaii, Bombay, Calcutta, and New Delhi, India, Rangoon, Burma, and China National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Edward B. Lockett papers, 1947-1960 Hoover Institution Archives
creatorOf Chennault, Claire L., 1893-1958. Chennault - Byrd collection, 1937-1985. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library
referencedIn Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., Collection. 1922 - 1959. Motion Picture Films. 1922 - 1959. LAND OF LIBERTY National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Claire Lee Chennault papers, 1941-1967 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn Records of the Office of Civilian Defense. 1939 - 1945. Motion Picture Films. 1941 - 1943. BABIES' GUARDIANS ON THE ALERT [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn "March of Time" Collection. 1934 - 1951. March of Time Documentary/Newsreel Films Relating to U.S. History, Government, Politics, Culture, and International Affairs. 1935 - 1953. BACK DOOR TO TOKYO National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [AUG. 18] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Chennault, Claire Lee, 1893-1958. Chennault collection, 1941-1954. US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library

Filters:

Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
associatedWith Archibald, Joe, 1898- person
associatedWith Byrd, Martha, 1930-1993. person
spouseOf Chennault, Anna. person
associatedWith Chennault, David Wallace, 1923- person
associatedWith Chennault, Dille Elizabeth Young. person
associatedWith Cheves, Gilbert X. (Gilbert Xavier), 1895-1985. person
associatedWith China. Air Force. American Volunteer Group. corporateBody
associatedWith China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group. corporateBody
associatedWith China. Kʻung chün. American Volunteer Group. corporateBody
associatedWith China Kʻung shün. American Volunteer Group corporateBody
associatedWith China (Republic : 1949- ). Kʻung chün. corporateBody
associatedWith Civil Air Transport. corporateBody
associatedWith Cooper, Merian C. person
associatedWith Corcoran, Thomas G. person
associatedWith Flying Tigers (AVG), Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Freedom Cause. corporateBody
associatedWith Gilbert, Rodney, b. 1889 person
associatedWith Haddon, Julian B., 1894-1958. person
correspondedWith Herrington, A. W. S. (Arthur William Sidney), b. 1891. person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
associatedWith J. M.(James Marshall) McHugh 1899- person
associatedWith Johnson, Louis Arthur, 1891-1966. person
associatedWith Kline, Frederick J., 1918- person
associatedWith Lockett, Edward B. person
associatedWith McComas, Edward Otis, 1919-1954. person
associatedWith McHugh, J. M. (James Marshall), 1899- person
associatedWith Noe, James A. person
associatedWith Pennoyer, Paul G. person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. corporateBody
associatedWith Smith, Sebie Biggs, 1908- person
associatedWith Toland, John. person
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army Air Forces corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army Air Forces Air Force, 14th corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army Air Forces. China Air Task Force. corporateBody
associatedWith Vandenberg, Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick), 1884-1951 person
associatedWith Walker, Frederick Frye. person
associatedWith Willauer, Whiting, 1906-1962. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New Orleans LA US
Commerce TX US
Subject
Floods
Aeronautics
Generals
Military bases
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Army officers
Aviators
Activity

Person

Birth 1893-09-06

Death 1958-07-27

Male

Americans

English

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