Jean Lee (aircraftwoman)
Jean Lee | |
|---|---|
 AC1 Jean Lee | |
| Born | July 26, 1924 Cranbrook, British Columbia |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Jean Suey Zee Lew (née Lee; July 26, 1924) is a Canadian veteran of World War II who was the only woman of Chinese-Canadian descent to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).[1] As a member of the RCAF Women's Division, Lee was stationed from 1942 to 1945 at the Royal Canadian Air Force Depot, Eastern Air Command, at Rockcliffe, Ontario.[1]
Lee was born on July 26, 1924, in Cranbrook, British Columbia to Lee Look (Chow Man) and Huey Shee Lee.[2] She had two brothers who also served in the military – Wilson John Lee who served with training command at Fort Macleod,[3] and William, who served in the Korean War.[1] She was awarded her Canadian Citizenship Certificate in a ceremony in February 1947, along with 6 other veterans. She was one of the first women of Chinese descent to become a Canadian citizen. From 1874, Chinese Canadians had been restricted from Canadian citizenship.[1]
As of 2023, Lee lived a "very private" life residing in Washington D.C..[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d The Chinese Canadian Military Museum. "Jean Lee, the only Chinese Canadian in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Women's Division". Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ Wong, pg. 52
- ^ Wong, pg. 51
- ^ "Go Cranberley Winter 2023/24". issuu. p. 24. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
Bibliography
[edit]- Wong, Marjorie (1994). The Dragon and the Maple Leaf: Chinese Canadians in World War II. Pirie Publishing. pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-9698086-0-7.
- 1924 births
- Living people
- Air force history
- Canadian female military personnel
- Canadian people of Chinese descent
- Canadian women in World War II
- People from Cranbrook, British Columbia
- Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of World War II
- Royal Canadian Air Force airmen
- 20th-century Canadian women
- Canadian military personnel from British Columbia