Claire Lee Chennault: Theorist and Campaign Planner

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Claire Lee Chennault: Theorist and Campaign Planner

93-31509

A Monograph by

Major John M. Kelley Aviation

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DELTECITCE

JAN 0 4 1994

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School of Advanced Military Studies United States Army Command and General Staff College

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Term AY 92-93

2Second

THIS MONOGRAPH CONTAINS COPYRIGHT MATERIAL

Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited

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Claire Lee Chennault: Theorist and Campaign Planner

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6. AUTHOR(S)

MAJ JOHN M. KELLEY, USA

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13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

This monograph examines Claire Lee Chennault as a military theorist and cam-

paign planner. It determines that Chennault's evolution of a theory of war assisted

his planning the China-Burma-India Campaign during World War II.

The monograph is divided into four sections. The first section focuses the

historical

background of Chennault and the war in Southeast Asia, emphasizing the

war in China. The second section explores Chennault's theory of war. The third sec

tion analyzes how Chennault's theory met the Chinese and American ends (desired end

state), means (application of the available resources), and ways (resource employ-

ment to achieve the ends). The fourth section concludes that Chennault's theory

of war assisted him in planning the China-Burma-Indian Campaign during the Second

World War. Chennault's theory of war clarified the past and the.present; notably the

Great War and airpower's technological evolution. Second, it assisted Chennault to

foresee the future. The future was realized because Chennault transcended the theorist role to that of an operational commander.

14. SUBJECT TERMS CHENNAULT

THEORY OF WAR

AERIAL THEORY

CHINA-BURMA-INDIA AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP

CAMPAIGNING

FLYING TIGERS

PLANNING CHINA AIR TASK FORCE

14TH AIR FORCI

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P2r9es1c1ri+b'eId02byi ANSI Sid. 139-16

SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES MONOGRAPH APPROVAL

Major John M. Kelley Title of Monograph: Claire Lee Chennault: Theorist and Campnaign Planner

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-ticueund

Monograph Director Patrick E. Donahue, M. S.

)w Canel James R. McDonough, M

Director, School of

Advanced Military Studies

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"""'?? Philip J. Brooke, Ph. D.

-. Director, Graduate Degree Program

NTIS C?A?I OTIC B, y............ .........

Accepted this

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1993

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CLAIRE TEE CHENNAULT: THEORIST AND CAMPAIGN PLANNER

by MAM John M. Kelley, USA, 57 pages.

This monograph examines Claire Lee Chennault as a military theorist and campaign planner. It inquires whether Chennault's evolution of a theory of war assisted his planning the China-Burma-India Campaign during World War IL

The monograph is divided into four sections. The first section focuses the historical background of Chennault and the war in Southeast Asia, emphasizing the war in China as this is where Chennault preponderantly fought from. In addition, it identifies the aims of the major belligerents of the Sino-Japanese War and why the Chinese actions were important to the Allied cause. The second section explores Chennault's theory of war. This section explores how he developed his theory of war and the theory itself. The third section analyzes how Chennault's theory met the Chinese and American ends (desired end state), means (application of the available resources), and ways (resource employment to achieve the ends). The fourth section concludes that Chennault's theory of war assisted him in planning the China-Burma-India campaign during the Second World War.

Two functions precipitated from Chennault's theory of war. First, his theory clarified the past and the present; notably the Great War and the airpower's technological evolution. Second, it assisted Chennault to foresee the future. The future was realized because Chennault transcended the theorist role to that of an operational commander. His theory fostered an operational concept, the war of mobility, which developed into a fighting doctrine. With these resources and the invaluable contributions of the Chinese peasants, Chennault devised a method of employment that maximized the contributions frem all the means. Chennault rationally created a campaign plan designed according to his theory.

TABLEOFQCONITENTS

Page

L INTRODUCTION .............................................

1

IL BACKGROUND ..............................................

3

Claire Lee Chennaulk ..........................................

3

The War in China and Southeast Asia .............................

6

I3L THEORY ...................................................

9

IV. CHENNAULT'S ENDS, MEANS, AND WAYS ...................

18

Analysis of the Desired End State ................................

18

Analysis of the Means .........................................

21

Analysis of the Ways ..........................................

29

Advisor ................................................

30

American Volunteer Group ................................

32

China Air Task Force .....................................

33

Fourteenth Air Force .....................................

34

V. CONCLUSION AND IMPUCATIONS ...........................

38

Conclusion ..................................................

38

Implications .................................................

38

ENDNOTES ....................................................

41

BIBUOGRAPHY .................................................

53

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