Jean Lee
AC1 Jean Lee
Born (1924-07-26) July 26, 1924
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Allegiance Canada
Service/branchRoyal Canadian Air Force
Years of service1942–1945
Battles/warsWorld 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]

Lee (right) meets with William Lyon Mackenzie King, 1943

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Chinese Canadian Military Museum. "Jean Lee, the only Chinese Canadian in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Women's Division". Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  2. ↑ Wong, pg. 52
  3. ↑ Wong, pg. 51

Bibliography

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