Way of a fighter: the memoirs of Claire Lee Chennault as a historical source

The article aims at reviewing ‘Way of a Fighter: The Memoirs of Claire Lee Chennault (History United States Series)’ as a source for historical research and interpretation. Drawing various documents, the authors discuss the unique point of view on China Burma India Theatre; establish the uniqueness of the author's view of the problem covered. Textual and historical-critical methods are used as the main research methods. The authors consider such important geopolitical issues in the Pacific as the struggle for political and economic influence on China from the United States; the pre-war situation and the anticipation of the "big" war; the relationship between Europe and the United States against the aggressor-Japan; the story of the famous "Flying Tigers", 23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Army, the U.S. Air Force who fought in China against the Japanese. Using a large array of facts and details obtained in the analysis of the memoirs, the authors identify the goals and objectives of the United States in the Pacific region, as well as the reasons for the failure of their implementation. The author’s opposition of the studied memoirs to the official points of view of the US government allows the researchers to look at the Pacific issue from a different angle, to expand the understanding of this issue. However, like in any memoir, the memoirs of Claire Lee Chennault there are many political references. So, when considering them, the authors take into account the ideological attitudes of the writer and the conditions of writing. The Cold War and Chennault 's anti-Communist worldview leave a mark on the content of the book; highlighting what should be subject to additional analysis. The authors come to several conclusions on the involvement of the memoirs in a wide range of sources necessary for the study of the Pacific politics, explaining the specifics and peculiarities of the memoirs of C.L. Chennault as a historical source.