James E. Chaney

James Eugene Chaney (March 16, 1885 – August 21, 1967) was a senior United States Army officer. He served in both World War I and World War II.

Early life Chaney was born in Chaneyville, Maryland. He studied at public schools in Dunkirk, Maryland, and for three years at Baltimore City College. He was then appointed to United States Military Academy by Senator Louis E. McComas. Chaney entered the academy with his class on June 16, 1904. of the Battle of Britain and Blitz on London. May 1941 saw Chaney formally assigned to the United Kingdom. Based in London, he acted as Special Army Observer and Head of the Special Army Observers Group. Chaney headed the Army Observers Group from May 1941 to June 20, 1942. In addition to this role Chaney was theatre commander in Europe from January 8 to June 20, 1942.

Returning to Mitchel Field in July 1942 Chaney was appointed commanding general of the First Air Force. He led the Army Air Forces Basic Training Center at Sheppard Field, Texas from May 1942 to November 1944. He then moved to Western Technical Training Command in Denver, Colorado. There he served until he retired on July 31, 1947, at his own request. and the granddaughter of General René Edward De Russy, a former Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point New York. Chaney died on August 21, 1967, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Miriam survived her husband by six weeks, dying after a long illness in 1967.