Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault
⎯⎯⎯
Three Men on a Flying Trapeze

Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 8, 2014

1. Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault Marker

Inscription. Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault Born in Commerce, Tx, on 6 Sep 1893, Chennault was commissioned in 1917 and received his wings in 1919. A graduate of and instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School, he became a leading advocate of pursuit aviation, and later formed the nationally renowned aero demonstration team called the "Flying Trapezers." Chennault retired in 1937 and went to China where he established the legendary "Flying Tigers." He was recalled to active duty in 1942 as commander of the USAF in China and later commanded the 14th Air Force. He retired from service in 1945 and died in New Orleans, LA, on July 27, 1958.

Three Men on a Flying Trapeze The Flying Trapezers, the Air Corps' first aerial demonstration team, was established under Maxwell's Air Corps Tactical School in 1932. Led by Capt Claire Chennault, members included Lt Haywood Hansell, Sgt John Williamson, and Sgt William McDonald. Chennault used P-12Cs to perform loops, rolls, and figure eights to show his fellow officers that three planes could execute with precision the violent and difficult maneuvers necessary to attack and destroy

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invading bombers. The team played a key role in developing pursuit tactics and in discrediting the "bomber invincibility" theory before being disbanded in 1936.

Erected 1994 by the Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1851.

Location. 32° 22.88′ N, 86° 21.246′ W. Marker is in Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is on Bay Street 0.1 miles north of Ash Street, on the left when traveling north. Located at the cul-de-sac end of Bay Street off Ash Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Bay Street, Montgomery AL 36112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself

Three Men on a Flying Trapeze Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 12, 2025

2. Three Men on a Flying Trapeze Marker

in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wright Brothers Flying School (a few steps from this marker); General Larry D. Welch (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lister Hill Center (approx. ¼ mile away); The Air Corps Tactical School (approx. ¼ mile away); The Thunderbirds (approx. ¼ mile away); Cessna T-41A "Mescalero" (approx. ¼ mile away); Boeing B-52D "Stratofortress" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Sikorsky MH-53M 'Pave Low IV' Helicopter (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maxwell Air Force Base.

More about this marker. Military base access is required.

Also see . . . Claire Lee Chennault Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on March 8, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Marker near Base Operations & Passenger Terminal. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 12, 2025

3. Marker near Base Operations & Passenger Terminal.

Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault

Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,397 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 8, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2, 3. submitted on March 12, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4. submitted on March 8, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault⎯⎯⎯Three Men on a Flying Trapeze

Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault
⎯⎯⎯
Three Men on a Flying Trapeze