Jean Lee (aircraftwoman)
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]
Jean Lee | |
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![]() AC1 Jean Lee | |
Born | Cranbrook, British Columbia | July 26, 1924
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Years of service | 1942–1945 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
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]
![](../I/Jean_Lee_and_Mackenzie_King.jpg.webp)
References
- 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
Bibliography
- 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.