Book

An Airline at War

From CNAC

The Story of China National Aviation Corporation and its Men

Robert L. Willett
An Airline at War Cover.jpg
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Publish Date: 2008
ISBN-10: 1439200823
ISBN-13: 978-1439200827
Edition: First
Binding: Softcover
Keywords: C.N.A.C., China National Aviation Corporation, China, Pan Am, Pan American
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An Airline at War: The Story of Pan Am’s China National Aviation Corporation and Its Men, by Robert L. Willett, tells the compelling and little known story of the American and Chinese airmen who, for two decades, flew life and death missions over China during world wars, civil wars, and rare moments of peace.

An Airline at War: The Story of Pan Am’s China National Aviation Corporation and Its Men captures the high-drama of these pioneer men and women who established a dual-cultural partnership between steadfast allies. In its twenty tumultuous years the CNAC took the lives of 150 crewmembers, some American, but mostly Chinese. All except two of these years were in wartime, when China was fighting not only the Japanese, but also the Communists.

Told with heart and grit, Willett’s An Airline at War: The Story of Pan Am’s China National Aviation Corporation and Its Men will deepen anyone’s appreciation for the sacrifice, courage, and bold adventurism of the extraordinary men and women of an airline at war.


The author, Robert "Bob" Willett, was inspired to write this book by the memory of his cousin James S. Browne. His cousin James died in November, 1942 when his plane crashed in the Himalayas. James was a Co-Pliot flying for the China National Aviation Corporation (C.N.A.C.).