Chennault, Claire L.

(1890-1958) Organizer-commander of the famous "Flying Tigers" of the China-Burma-India theater in World War II. An outstanding air strategist, Chennault had retired from a pioneer flying career when, in 1937, he was asked by Gen. Chaing Kai-Shek to help China develop an air force to combat threatening raids by Japan. Four years later, with World War II spreading, he received permission from the U. S. to seek a corps of American airmen to help train the Chinese. A total of 252 men-- 87 pilots and 165 ground personnel-- joined the "American volunteer group." Its popular name resulted from a misunderstanding of the sharks' teeth painted on the noses of the aircraft. The Tigers formed three squadrons-- "Adam and Eve," "Panda Bears," and "Hell's Angels"-- supported by the expert pilots of the China National Aviation Corps, a daring supply transport group. So effectively had Chennault studied Japanese air tactics that his tiny band officially destroyed 539 enemy aircraft while losing only 90 itself. During 1941-1942, they checked Japan's invasion of China, then joined regular units. Jack Cornelius, also a native of Commerce and a close friend of Chennault's, was a member of the first pursuit squadron of the Tigers.

Chennault, Claire L. is a historical marker in Commerce, Hunt County, dedicated in 1968. It is one of 70 historical markers documented in Hunt County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 92 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.2500, -95.9027 near Commerce. The nearest cataloged historic site is Commerce Churches (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include First Presbyterian Church of Commerce, First Baptist Church of Commerce, and First Christian Church of Commerce.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5231007778. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.