1. Generals Stillwell, Chennault, Hurley, Wedemeyer

2. Claire Chennault ( )

3. Claire Chennault and Chiang Kaishek

4. Claire Chennault Fighter Pilot United States Army Air Corps
Proponent of air power
United States Army Air Corps
Slated for retirement, resigned
Chinese Aeronautical Commission, 1937
Contract, $1000 Month as advisor

5. Claire Chennault: Service to China, Pre-Pearl Harbor
Offered services to Chiang Kaishek after Japanese invasion
Began Training Chinese fighter group in Nanchang, Jiangxi
October 1937, Chinese Air Force at “the end of its rope”
Nationalist retreat to Chongqing
“Guess I am Chinese.”
Air Force base in Kunming, two years trying to rebuild Chinese Air Force

6. Claire Chennault: Service to China, Pre-Pearl Harbor
“Mechanically minded Americans teaching classically educated Chinese to fly”
US Fifty Million $$ loan, April 1941
Chennault appeal on behalf of China
“Lend-Lease” Arrangement, May 1941
100 Fighter Planes
American Volunteer Group: “Flying Tigers”
101 American Officers, “inactive status”

7. Claire Chennault: Service to China, After Pearl Harbor
Flying Tigers Destroyed 300 Japanese Planes/ Lost 50 planes, first six months after Pearl Harbor
Chennault in control of Flying Tigers
Chiang Kaishek pleased no political interference
“Flying Tigers” become China Air Task Force under US Air Force

8. Flying Tigers

9. Wartime China

10. Chennault vs. Stilwell Competing US Strategies in China
Air war vs. Ground force
Chennault optimistically claim with enough planes could defeat Japan
Stilwell wanted ground force, warned of Japanese ground offensive if air war was escalated
President Roosevelt favored Chennault, April 1943

11. Chennault’s Declining Influence
Air war in China did not meet expectation
By 1944, US Chennault out of favor in Washington, US refuse billion dollar loan to China
Japanese ground offensive successful in 1944
March 1944, Bombing of Japan from Guam and Saipan

12. Joseph Stilwell ( )

13. Joseph Stilwell (1883-1946) Career Army Officer
Stationed in China ,
Spoke Chinese
Witness Chinese fighting against Japan in 1930s
Critical of Chinese military basic military strategy, tactics, practice

14. Joseph Stilwell With the Chiangs

15. Joseph Stilwell: Chongqing March, 1942
Stilwell’s orders: “increase the effectiveness of the United States assistance to the Chinese Government for the prosecution of the war and to assist in improving the combat efficiency of the Chinese Army” January, 1942
Chief of Chiang Kaishek’s Joint Staff
Commanding General of US Forces in India, Burma, and China
President Roosevelt’s military representative in China
Dispenser of Lend-lease material

16. Wartime China

17. Burma Road

18. Burma Road

19. The “Hump”

20. Stilwell: After Loss of Burma Road, 1942
Immediate counterattack to reopen Burma Road
No aid to China unless Chinese fight harder
Chinese armies completely overhauled

21. Stilwell and Chiang Kaishek: Political Battles
Military reform had political consequences
Undermine Chiang Kaishek’s power
Stilwell increasingly critical and bitter toward “Peanut”
Chiang also upset of lack of US diversion of resources to Europe
Chiang issue demands and hint at separate peace with Japan

22. Cario Summit 1943: Enhance China’s Status

23. Changing US Policy after Cairo Conference
Roosevelt sees path to Japan through Pacific
Stilwell priority conduct offensive in Burma
Roosevelt on recommendation of US Joint Chiefs want to appoint Stilwell to full general give him command of all Chinese forces, July 1944
Led to Showdown between Stilwell and Chiang
Stilwell recalled October, 1944

24. General Patrick Hurley: Chongqing September, 1944
Roosevelt’s Representative in Chongqing

25. General Hurley in Yenan 1944 Oklahoma Connection

26. Ambassador Hurley 1945

27. Albert Wedemeyer (1897-1989) Chongqing, 1944

28. Albert Wedemeyer (1897-1989) West Point Graduate
Two years study in German War College
Expert in Planning
Strong Anti-Communist
Replaced Stilwell October 1944

29. Wedemeyer’s Instructions
Primary mission advise and assist Chiang in military operations against Japan
Carry out air operations from China
Assist Chinese Air and Ground Forces in operations, training and logistical support
Not use US force to suppress civil strife

30. Last Year of the War Wedemeyer avoid confrontation with Chiang
Chiang resist committing troops to battle Japan
Wedemeyer used US advisor to remodel Chinese armies
Control aid to gain influence
Yalta Conference: Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill
Secret concessions to Soviets: Ports and rights in Manchuria

31. US Failure in Wartime China
Military Solutions
Not pay enough attention to complexities of China
Not understand politics
Wedemeyer underestimate Communists
US post war goals unrealistic

32. Wartime China: Dixie Mission to Yan’an

33. George Marshal in Yan’an, 1946

34. Coalition Government?

35. Civil War 1945-1949 Japanese Surrender August 15th
Marshall Mission
US mediation (George Marshall)
GMD dominate
Inflation and Corruption in GMD-controlled areas
CCP offensive
Chiang Kai-shek flees to Taiwan 12/49
PLA Huaihai Campaign,

36. Founding of the People’s Republic of China, (PRC) October 1, 1949