CLAIRE L. CHENNAULT

CLAIRE L. CHENNAULT

(1890 - 1958) American Army aviator who established the volunteer-staffed Flying Tigers to fight the Japanese invasion of China. He has also been (unofficially) credited with over 40 'kills'. 'I AM UNABLE TO SEND YOU SIX MORE P-40'S...' Superb content war-date T.L.S. as Brigadier General Commanding A.V.G. on "Headquarters First American Volunteer Group" letterhead, 1p. 4to., May 11, 1942 to Colonel CALEB VANCE HAYNES in Dinjan, India where he had established the A-B-C Ferry route over The Hump, supplying Allied forces in China. In small part: '...I regret very much that I am unable to send you six more P-40's. Our squadron strength now averages about eight P-40's and we are still conducting very active combat operations against our little brown friends. The tenth air force should provide you protection in India, and this Group will be glad to do the same here in China. As a matter of fact, I do not believe your warning service below Dinjan is sufficiently extensive and reliable to enable interceptor pursuit...I would suggest using Dinjan merely as an auxiliary field from which to pick up loads...Base most of your transports here in China behind my aircraft reporting service, flying them to Dinjan when a load is available so they could be loaded up at night...The Japs might bomb your field occasionally but would not catch any transports...The Group is planning to move North as soon as the situation in Burma is stabilized, but leave my command posts...They will continue to give you information...we will need most of our supplies delivered at Chungking...I-pin has a good field now...Our most immediate need at the present time is food...we could use food and cigarettes. Of course we will always be glad to receive new airplanes complete also....I cannot possibly get away for a flight to India..." File holes at top and some marginal tears, else very good. CALEB VANCE HAYNES (1895-1966) was a U.S. Air Force major general and one of the most important and talented military aviators and commanders of World War II. He has already organized the Assam-Burma-China Ferry Command and only a week earlier undertook a risky mission to rescue 30 members of General Joseph Stilwell's staff when they were cut off in Northern Burma. A month later, Haynes would go to China to organize and command the Bomber Command of the China Air Task Force (CATF) under Claire Chennault whose P-40s would escort Haynes's meager but very determined bomber force.