Post Commanders 1945 to Present

There have only been six China Post 1 Commanders since 1945. To understand the succession of Commanders in China Post 1 between World War II and today, one must understand the dynamic and the environment within which that process was advanced. What gives rise to much of the legend and mystique of China Post is firmly rooted in the nature of the exploits of its members. The vast majority of those adventures will never see the light of day due to Federal Law and iron clad nondisclosure agreements. Nevertheless, there are those courageous few authors, also members of China Post 1 who dare to walk the tightrope, writing volumes “loosely based” on our members, and giving the uninitiated some insight into the men and women who comprise China Post 1 general membership and who’ve “sacrificed it all” in defense of this nation.  One such author is W.E.B. Griffin. Christopher Robbins is another. To grasp the truly unique qualities that constitute the fabric of our leadership, you will have to wait for the Government to declassify their records. Until then, our Post History, will have to suffice.

Having said that, the succession of Commanders of China Post 1 begins in mainland China in 1940, Air Force Colonel Claire Chennault was in mainland China to organize and train the American Volunteer Group (AVG) which would gain world fame as the “Flying Tigers.”

Using tactics devised by Chennault, the AVG amassed record of more than a ten to one aerial kills against the Japanese. Disbanded in July 1942 the AVG was replaced by the China Air Task Force (CATF) still commanded by Chennault; however, by Oct 1942, he had less than 50 flyable fighters. On 10 March 1943, the 14th Air Force – with now Major General Claire Lee Chennault Commanding – was activated.

Between 20 Dec 1941 and V-J Day – the AVG, CATF, and 14th AF lost only 500 aircraft in combat while destroying 2,600 enemy planes plus 1,500 more probables. They sunk and damaged 2,230,000 tons of enemy merchant shipping vessels, 44 naval vessels, 13000 river boats or small tonnages, knocked out over 500 bridges, and killed thousands of ground troops.

As the war drew to a close, General Chennault was recalled to the States and retired from military service. He returned to China where he established a civilian flying operation using surplus C-46 and C-47 aircraft and some of his old flight and line people. What had begun on a shoestring would later be called Civil Air Transport or CAT.

September 19, 1945 the Post was reactivated and General Chennault, now a civilian, became the Chairman of the China Post 1 Executive Committee.  General Chennault continued to lead the Post through its post-war reconstitution and frequently hosted events at the American Club in Shanghai attended by world dignitaries.

Civil war erupted in China and by 1948 the situation deteriorated to the point that a meeting of China Post 1 Executive Committee was convened to develop a plan secure the Post’s survival. General Chennault, as Commander, ordered that all Post records be boxed up and forwarded to American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis. This was accomplished in November 1948 with the Post going into exile from Shanghai on 22 November 1948.

On 3 August 1949, a meeting was held at the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon and a set of guidelines were established for keeping the Post alive until it could return to China.  General Chennault  ordered that Cash Helseth was to be Commander, Adjutant, and Historian and empowered to do whatever was necessary to ensure survival of the Post.

Post Commanders

General Claire Lee Chennault       1945-1949

C.A.S. Helseth           1949 – 1986

J.C. Bond                    1987 – 2000

Alfred “Fred” Platt   2000 – 2016

Ronald  Burkett         2016 – 2019

Scott Riebel               2019 – 2021

Jeff Carson                2021-Present