Being there . . . with one of the greatest Major, then Brigadier Generals in U.S. military history,
Claire L. Chennault, a warrior-chief of nonpareil bravery, brilliant strategy, and impeccable
character, honesty, and integrity. Simply put, be there with a darn, darn good America officer
whose subordinates truly loved and respected him as much as this reviewer does today. Like
the brass of the Lafayette Escadrille in World War I, Claire Chennault will forever be an integral
pivot of American, nay, world, aviation folklore and reality history.
Reviewed and highly recommended as a special Yuletide gift by Don DeNevi
“CHENNAULT’S FORGOTTEN WARRIORS – – The Saga Of the 308 th Bomb Group in China” IS AN
ENTHRALLING, MASTERLY, VIVID READ OF NOT ONLY THE AMAZING FEATS OF THE P-40
FIGHTERS IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER DURING THE PACIFIC WAR, BUT ALSO THE
CRITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE 308 BOMBARDMENT GROUP AND ITS TINY FLEET OF B-24
LIBERATOR HEAVY BOMBERS – – – now, since this effort, mainly due to author Carroll V. Glines
and publisher Schiffer Military/Aviation History, Chennault and his few hundred courageous
crewmen will no longer be overlooked, unreported, underappreciated, and lost in aviation
history . . .
“CHENNAULT’S FORGOTTEN WARRIORS – – The Saga OF the 308 th Bomb Group in China”, by
Carroll V. Glines, author of “THE DOOLITTLE RAID” and “ATTACK ON YAMAMOTO”. Schiffer
MILITARY/AVIATION History: originally published in 1995, republished July 2024, 343 pages, 6
½” x 9 ¼”, hardcover, $29.95 (1995 price). Email, Info@schifferbooks.com. Or, visit the website,
www.schifferbooks.com.
Without reservation or qualification, this reviewer concludes upon reading the milestone, a
significant point in the debate of whether any American military leader during the Pacific War
really, personally, played a significant role in “keeping China in the game” – – that is, tying down
1/3 of the overall Japanese forces that could have been diverted to grabbing India. (See Chapter
25, “The Forgotten Wars: In the Jungles, Mountains and Plains of Burma and China, Men Waged
A Tough, Lonely War”, pp. 386 – 401, “The World At Arms – – The Reader’s Digest Illustrated
History of World War II”). Unequivocally, the answer is a resounding affirmative, and the guy’s
name was Claire L. Chennault. Early on, God must have ordained the man, “HERO
EXTRAORDINOR” because no single individual in World War II achieved the winning battle
status, and occasional controversial strategic arguments, that he did.
All dedicated “Lest We Forget” WWII buffs, enthusiasts, and aficionados of World War II
know what President Roosevelt’s Joint Chiefs of Staff knew on the evening of December 7,
1941- – with the Japanese failure to achieve a crushing victory, i.e., bombing the U.S. oil
reserves on the hills across the Pearl Harbor Bay, earlier that dastardly morning, Japan had lost
the Pacific War even before it had been declared. Sure, inevitability had to be patient, kneel
and touch its forehead on the enemy-invader’s jack boot. But ultimate Japanese defeat was
unavoidable, incapable of being evaded or shunned. Sooner or later the Americans would be
overhead with a weapon so destructive it was, at first, believed by the enemy to be
unimaginable ludicrous and laughable.
Meanwhile, the former Chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps Fighter Training Division during
World War I, Maj-General Chennault (1890 – 1958) was recalled to active service from semi-
retirement and promoted brig-general in April 1942. Claire, as early as November 1940 formed
the nucleus of Flying Tigers, or, the American Volunteer Group, to fight in southwest China and
the Burma Campaign – – his team, 90 American pilots in 200 outdated aircraft. Chennault, of
course, rolled up his sleeves and went to work. First, he organized the critically important air
ferry known as the “Hump” which flew supplies into China from India over the Himalayas.
Roosevelt noticed him right away and sent him 12 heavy bombers and 30 medium bombers.
The rest is a relatively happy two-year assignment.
If the genius of Brig-General Chennault fascinates you, check Amazon or E-Bay for his
endearing, “Way of A Fighter”.
