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Chennault: Giving Wings to the Tiger Paperback – January 29, 2003

by Ms. Martha Byrd (Author)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
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A balanced, well-documented portrait of a brave and controversial airman who commanded a training air force for Nationalist China.

Born in rural Louisiana in 1893, Claire Lee Chennault worked as a teacher before joining the army and becoming a commissioned officer. Although he was initially rejected for flight school, he continued to apply and was finally accepted in 1918. He eventually became the lead pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps’ precision flying team.

During this time, Chennault developed air-to-air combat techniques that he believed should play a decisive role in warfare. However, his opinion contradicted the official Air Corps policy that military aircraft be used primarily for strategic bombing. Chennault’s frustration and dissatisfaction with this stance was so great that when Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek offered him the opportunity to lead advanced fighter pilot training in China, he quickly left the American military and accepted the position in 1937. There he played a key role in the formation of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), popularly known as "the Flying Tigers."

The aviators of the Flying Tigers fought against Japan on behalf of China before and during World War II. Early war newsreels showing them defending Burma mythologized the fighter pilots, and Chennault became a romantic hero to the American public. In 1942, the AVG was deactivated and Chennault returned to active duty with the Air Corps, but his disregard for traditional military procedure earned him many enemies among his peers and superiors and he eventually retired.

This book was originally published in hardcover in 1987 by The University of Alabama Press. It was hailed as the best of several biographies of Chennault. Reference and Research Book News stated, "This book is of far better quality than the others previously released. The research employed by the author and the depth of detail give the reader an accurate picture of this controversial and charismatic man."
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    472 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University Alabama Press
  4. Publication date
    January 29, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0817312927
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0817312923
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent book, undoubtedly the definitive biography of an important and controversial American airman and his relationship with the Chinese enigma."

—Airpower

About the Author


Martha Byrd wrote three other books, including A World in Flames: A History of World War II and Saratoga: Turning Point in the American Revolution.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University Alabama Press (January 29, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 472 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0817312927
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0817312923
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.78 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

About the author

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Martha Byrd

Martha Byrd

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Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
8 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

R. A. Martinek
5.0 out of 5 stars The best and most balanced account.
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2012
Verified Purchase
Martha Byrd's book is almost unbelievably well balanced in its portrayal not only of Chennault, but also those with whom he was involved, both professionally and personally. It is fair and honest to both him and his enemies. I have rarely encountered such excellent objectivity, even in science. The book is well and clearly written, and a thoroughly enjoyable read. It covers Chennault's life from childhood to death, and everything he did during his life. If you have any interest in China, the AVG, World War II in the Asian theater, buy and read this book.

Chennault was an American in the truest and best sense of the word. He was a direct, outspoken, independent person of the highest integrity, both compassionate and tough minded. He was also a warrior, and understood that the business of a warrior is warfare, not bureaucracy or spit and polish discipline. He was not always correct in his convictions, but held them with great tenacity and focus. Though he was not a diplomat, and one of his greatest weaknesses was a lack of diplomatic ability, he was one of very few, if not the only, American who both understood the Chinese and could work with them. He had far more trouble with his superiors than he ever had with any Chinese.

He is also a tragic figure. The European Theater had its George S. Patton; The China-Burma-India Theater had Claire Lee Chennault. Both were brilliant commanders who inspired their men and made their superiors jealous. Patton had the good luck to have superiors who nevertheless appreciated his ability. Chennault did not.
5 people found this helpful
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V-ROD
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent piece!
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2010
Verified Purchase
Having recently read a number of books on China during WWII, the Chennault name kept reappearing. I wanted to learn more about the man. I couldn't have picked a better book. Martha Byrd provides a detailed, well-balanced and interesting biography. The book details not only Chennault, but also the political and military atmosphere in China at the time. A very informative piece of work describing this period.

If you are looking for a book about dogfights between Chennault's "Flying Tigers" and the communists, this is not the book. This book describes Chennault's military command and the political situation at that time in China.

I found Claire Lee Chennault to be another great American to be found in the annals of our history. To make a choice of serving in a foreign country and taking command of a non-existent Chinese Air Force rather than taking the easy road, is fascinating to me. To take a volunteer group of misfits and turn them into a fine fighting machine is a testament to his military genius. And finally, knowing he was near death, writes a letter to his wife expressing his love for her and instructing her to raise their children to be honorable, and live upright lives. This was a time when men lived by a moral code of duty and honor. What ever happened to that?
7 people found this helpful
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bruce
5.0 out of 5 stars Important historical information
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2018
Verified Purchase
What impacted me the most was knowing how our military could have prevented the communists from taking control of China had our military leadership simply kept their promises of planes and support to Chennault. Such a pity that petty jealousy of his brilliance took precedence over American interests time and again.
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MysticFire
5.0 out of 5 stars The book came in perfect condition and he loved it
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
I bought this as a Father's Day gift. Claire Chennault is a relative of my husband's and my dad loves history. The book came in perfect condition and he loved it!
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Capt. Lou Costello
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Biography of a Remarkable Man
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2011
Martha Byrd does an excellent job here with her biography of the brilliant and charismatic Claire Chennault. The book details the early life of Chennault in the deep south and helps the reader understand how Chennault's character came to be. The military career of the man and the difficulty he had with the established military hierarchy are explained clearly. Chennault was a complex man of great determination and rare ability. The book tells the story of his early separation from the Army Air Corps all through his truly amazing years in China.  The Maverick War: Chennault and the Flying Tigers  Claire Chennault also led a very remarkable life after his military career and Byrd covers this very well. Also here is the story of the founding of CAT (China Air Transport, later to become Air America).  China Pilot  Chennault was a well loved and highly respected man and this book leads the reader to understand just why this is so. This book belongs on the bookshelf of every military historian as well as anyone who studies the history of China.
8 people found this helpful
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fastreader
5.0 out of 5 stars the definitive biography
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2001
Martha Byrd was a good historian, and she wrote a good biography of Claire Chennault--leader of the AVG Flying Tigers, commander of the 14th Air Force, and founder of the airline that became the CIA's Air America. Writing about Chennault isn't an easy job (I know, because I wrote a history of the AVG) because he was part genius, part crackpot, and all-over trouble for his superiors. Byrd did a superlative job of sorting myth from fact, and of telling the unvarnished truth about Chennault without ever losing sight of his great humanity and his tactical brilliance. Seek out this book, second-hand or in a library, and hope that it will be republished.
13 people found this helpful
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