The Maverick War: Chennault and the Flying Tigers

by Duane P. Schultz

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312006187
• ISBN13: 9780312006181
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 335 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

ONE OF THE BEST ON THE FLYING TIGERS

The story of Claire Chennault and the remarkable Flying Tigers is one of the most intriguing tales of modern war. It reads like a fictional movie script, filled with drama and adventure such as most only dream of. One thing that is seldom mentioned in popular history is that Roosevelt supported a scheme to attack Japan in 1940 using American planes and American crews who were to fly as members of the Chinese Air Force. The resources and crews were unavailable for this effort which then was reduced to become the 100 fighters supplied to China with American pilots, staff, medical, and ground crew. It was this group that became the Flying Tigers. Their memory is greatly respected in China to this day. I wish to mention here also that some remarkable women accompanied and were part of this unit and they showed amazing determination and courage. The sultry Olga Greenlaw was the group's diarist. Doreen Davis, Sharon McHenry, Emma Petach and Eloise Whitwer and others were amazing people with great stories in their own right. Many of, but not all, of the Flying Tigers, as shown here, were a wild bunch of hard drinkers and a constant problem for Chennault. They fought savagely and earned their place in history. No one else but him could have pulled this group together. They were disbanded in 1942 and the 14th Air Force under the command of Chennault took their place. Chennault was intensely disliked by Generals Stilwell (who was useless), Arnold and Marshall. Only a few weeks before the end of the war, after his mentor Roosevelt's death, Chennault, one of the greatest Aviators and air tacticians in history, was forced to resign in the most shameful manner and denied the fruits of victory. After the war Chennault returned to China to serve brilliantly under Chaing Kai-Shek. I recommend this book highly.