The Flying Tiger: The True Story of General Claire Chennault and the U.S. 14th Air Force in China [Paperback]

Jack Samson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

A definitive biography of the legendary leader of the Flying Tigers and the U.S. Fourteenth Air Force in China.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Samson traces the career of this early prophet of air power who fought the Japanese and became involved in a number of controversies. After the war, Chennault continued to serve the Nationalist Chinese Government and, along with his Civilian Air Transport (CAT), provided a number of clandestine and unique air services to Asia. Samson, who served under Chennault in both the 14th Air Force and CAT, writes with affection. Recommended for most collections."
--Library Journal

"Claire Lee Chennault was a fascinating man in a fascinating time in history. This book will go a long way toward ensuring him his deserved place in that history."
--Barry Goldwater, former United States senator, on Chennault (first edition of Flying Tiger)

From the Back Cover

When a sickly, half-deaf, forty-seven-year-old retired U.S. Army Air Corps Captain went to China in 1937 to survey Chiang Kai-shek's Chinese Air Force, little did the world know this would be the man to stem the Japanese tide in the Far East. Almost every military expert predicted his handful of pilots of the American Volunteer Group would not last three weeks. Yet in seven months in 1942, the AVG-fighting a rear-guard action over Burma, China, Thailand, and French Indonesia-destroyed a confirmed 199 planes, with another 153 "probables" as well. They did this losing only four pilots and twelve P-40s in air combat and sixty-one on the ground.
Now, 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.
Unlike Eisenhower and MacArthur, Chennault was no saintly military leader. He was a chain-smoking, bourbon-drinking, womanizing man. He was the kind of leader his men knew could and did fly better than they-in any kind of plane. But first and last, he was a fighter-a tough, single-minded warrior who was never confused about who the enemy was in Asia, regardless of what the State Department thought.
Following Chennault from this command of the 14th U.S. Army Air Force during World War II to the part of his life that is not well known-the intriguing postwar years in China and Formosa, where his Civilian Air Transport (CAT) became the scourge of the Red Chinese-The Flying Tiger is an extraordinary portrait of one of America's greatest military commanders.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592287115
• ISBN-13: 978-1592287116
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opportunity for people of China & US to learn great story of how brave young US pilots & their General helped save China & U.S., September 30, 2009

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English Major (The Northwest, United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Flying Tiger: The True Story of General Claire Chennault and the U.S. 14th Air Force in China (Paperback)

THE FLYING TIGER:The True Story of General Claire Chennault & the U.S. 14th Air Force in China, provides a wonderful opportunity to get to know the amazing American Pilots of WW2, who helped protect the people of China,and who delivered essential supplies to them throughout the early 1940s. Our dear cousin,Flying Tiger,Capt. Burt Rodier, who enlisted only 7 weeks after December 7,1941, proudly served with Gen Chennault & the U.S.14th Air Force throughout WW2. Burt was shot down in 1944,killed & buried in China. His father received the news of Burt's sacrifice, but Burt's body was not returned to US until after WW2. His father's broken heart was helped by the fact that he knew his son was doing what he loved--serving our country, flying with Gen.Chennault,helping the people of China and other allies of the USA. Burt was a smart,handsome UCLA student, with his life ahead of him,when he left college to enlist. He was very honored to be selected to fly with General Chennault, after he earned his wings with US Army Air Corp, that became the Air Force. Burt's family appreciates author, Jack Samsom, for telling the story of the Flying Tigers. Sadly, Burt's name has often been omitted from some books & lists about the Flying Tigers---perhaps because his body was not returned to the USA, until after WW2. For this reason we write and tell his story. He is buried a Military Cemetery in California, which his father, Burt Rodier, Sr., visited every year until his own death. Hope China passes on the story of these good men to China's children. And that Americans honor them by good works and treating each other well. Hats of to them and Jack Samsom for writing about them.