P-40 Warhawk to Make Lake Charles Debut at Thunder Over Louisiana Air Show Presented by KIA of Lake Charles

As Chennault International Airport Celebrates its 40th Anniversary, Thunder Over Louisiana Features the WWII Warbird Piloted by the Airport’s Namesake, Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault

As America celebrates its semi quincentennial 250th birthday, the year 2026 is also the 40th anniversary of Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles. 

In celebration of both milestones, the Thunder Over Louisiana Air Show Presented by Kia of Lake Charles will feature a demonstration by the iconic P-40 Warhawk, its first appearance ever in Lake Charles.  The P-40’s presence in Lake Charles is particularly meaningful because it was flown by Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault, the namesake of the airport, and his Flying Tigers during World War II.

 

General Chennault grew up in Gilbert and Waterproof, Louisiana, and attended LSU between 1909 and 1910.  Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, General Chennault recruited 300 American pilots and ground crew, assembling the 1st American Volunteer Group, which later became known as the “Flying Tigers.”  The Tigers, consisting of three fighter squadrons of around 30 aircraft each, earned a reputation throughout the Pacific Theater for its ability to defeat superior enemy forces and for achieving one of the first American victories in the war, just 12 days after Pearl Harbor.

General Chennault’s P-40 Warhawks are among the most recognizable fighters of World War II and earned their place in aviation history through their rugged design, powerful performance, and unforgettable shark-mouth nose art.  Now, more than eight decades later, the P-40 Warhawk will take to the skies for the first time over the airport that carries Chennault’s name and in the state where the General spent much of his young life.