Max Parnell, Flying Tiger Lecture Concludes WWII Speakers Series

Dr. William Marchione, author of A Brief History of Smyrna, presented the culminating program in our series marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. He spoke on the life and career of Smyrna war hero, aviator, and Japanese prisoner-of-war Max Parnell (1922-2005).

Parnell saw service in the India-Burma-China theater of war under famous general Claire Chennault. This lecture will be based upon a huge collection of papers (comprising more than 500 items), one of the finest collections of World War II memorabilia in existence, now housed in the Smyrna Library’s developing archive, deposited there through the generosity of Mayor Bacon, Parnell’s godson and namesake. Items from the Parnell collection will be on display in the library during the entire month of October.

The "First Sunday" lecture series is held in the Smyrna Public Library Meeting Room and is sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.