LIMITED EDITION OF WAY OF A FIGHTER, ONE OF 1500 COPIES, SIGNED ON A SPECIAL BOOKPLATE BY 17 FIGHTER PILOTS AND ACES

CHENNAULT, Claire Lee. Way of a Fighter. The Memoirs of Claire Lee Chennault Major General, U.S. Army (Ret.). Tucson, Arizona: James Thorvardson & Sons, (1991). Octavo, original green cloth, original dust jacket, cartographic endpapers. $1200.

Limited second edition of the autobiography of Major General Claire Lee Chennault, leader of "The Flying Tigers," number 315 of only 1500 copies published, this copy signed on a special bookplate by 17 members of the squadron.

These are the memoirs of the general who led "The Flying Tigers," one of the bravest flying units in history. Prior to the United States entry into World War II, approximately 15,000 Americans joined flying units already engaged in combat. At the request of Madame Chiang Kaishek, General Claire Lee Chennault recruited a squadron of fighter pilots in order to "throw a small but well-equipped air force into China. Japan, like England, floated her life blood on the sea and could be defeated more easily by slashing her salty arteries than by stabbing for her heart. Air bases in Free China could put all of the vital Japanese supply lines and advanced staging areas under attack." With the official designation "American Volunteer Group" (AVG) but popularly known as "The Flying Tigers," this celebrated group of pilots has been described as "the most colorful group of warriors in modern times" and "the world's most illustrious squadron" (History Channel). "Their outstanding gallantry and conspicuous daring," wrote President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, "is a source of tremendous pride throughout the whole of America." The scarce first edition was published in 1949. Bookplate signed by the following: Erik Shilling, P.J. Greene, Chuck Older, J.R. Rossi, Charlie Bond, Joe Rosbert, Charlie Mott, Ken Jernstedt, Bob Keeton, Bob Layher, Ed Rector, R.T. Smith, Rode Rodewald, Robert J. Raine, "Tex" Hill, Duke Hedman and Link Laughlin. The bookplate replicates the cover art.

Bookplate with crease at top, likely done when mounted. A fine, handsome signed copy.