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
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

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. 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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