Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional)

The Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional) was a joint United States Army Air Forces and a Republic of China Air Force organization. It was administratively assigned to Fourteenth Air Force in China during World War II. The operational units of the Chinese-American Composite Wing CACW were jointly commanded by both American and Chinese air force officers, and the unit's aircraft were manned by American and Chinese pilots and air crewmen. Today, the 1st, 3rd and 5th Groups of CACW are still operating in Taiwan, reorganized as 443rd, 427th and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings of the Republic of China Air Force.

Operations history

Aircraft assigned to the CACW included late-model P-40 Warhawks (with the Nationalist Chinese Air Force 12-pointed star national insignia, rudder markings and squadron/aircraft numbering) and B-25 'Mitchell' medium bombers. The Mitchells included the standard B-25D, the B-25H (equipped with a 75-millimeter cannon in the nose), and the B-25J. Like the CACW's fighters, most B-25's bore the Nationalist Chinese star insignia on the wings and fuselage. In late 1944, USAAF-marked P-51 Mustangs began to be assigned to CACW pilots – first, P-51B and C models, then, in early 1945, "D" and "K" model (sharing many of the external characteristics of the "D" model aircraft including the bubble canopy) reduced-weight versions. All U.S. pilots assigned to the CACW were listed as rated pilots in Chinese Air Force, and were authorized to wearing both nations' pilot's wings.

During its year and a half of operations, the Chinese and American airmen of the CACW could claim the destruction of 190 Japanese aircraft in air-to-air combat, and 301 more on the ground. The fighters and bombers of the CACW had destroyed at least 1500 Japanese vehicles and sunk several hundred thousand tons of Japanese merchant and naval shipping, in addition they had taken a heavy toll on Japanese ground troops, facilities, railroads and bridges. In that same time, they had lost 35 fighters and 8 bombers to enemy ground fire, and 20 fighters to Japanese aircraft. However, not a single CACW bomber had been lost to enemy fighters, a tribute to the abilities of the Wing's B-25 aircrews, and the quality of the escort protection provided by the Wing's fighter pilots.

The most successful fighter pilot of the CACW was Lt. Colonel William N. Reed, who had first fought in China as a member of the AVG. As a "Flying Tiger," Reed had destroyed 3 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat and 8 more on the ground. Then returning to China to command the CACW's 7th Fighter Squadron and eventually its 3d Fighter Group, he would destroy an additional 6 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat. According to the book "China Bombers" by Ken Daniels, Reed was killed while parachuting from a disabled P-40 on December 19, 1944.

The unit served out the remainder of its Panama tour at several airfields until April 1944, when it became a single-engine fighter Replacement Training Unit for Second Air Force at Lincoln Army Airfield, Nebraska. It was then reassigned to Muroc Army Airfield, California, where it became a testing unit for the Bell P-59 Airacomet and P-80 Shooting Star Jet Aircraft under the Fourth Air Force 412th Fighter Group where the squadron served in a training role for transitioning pilots from piston-engine to jet engine fighters. The squadron provided USAAF pilots and ground crews with valuable data about the difficulties and pitfalls involved in converting to jet aircraft. This information proved quite useful when more advanced jet fighters finally became available in quantity. Inactivated in July 1946.

Stations

Most CACW bases existed near the boundary of Japanese-Occupied China, and one 'Valley Field' existed in an area within Japanese-held territory. Specific field locations include Hanchung, Ankang, Hsian, Laohokow, Enshih, Liangshan, Peishyi, Chihkiang, Hengyang, Kweilin, Liuchow, Chanyi, Suichwan, and Lingling

Lineage

Initially formed on 31 July 1943 as the 1st Bomb Group (Provisional) and the 3rd Fighter Group (Provisional), Republic of China Air Force

Established as: Chinese American Composite Wing (Provisional), USAAF, and activated on 1 October 1943.

Inactivated on 1 August 1945

Assignments: USAAF Fourteenth Air Force, 1 October 1943 - 1 August 1945

3rd Fighter Group  -  8th Fighter Squadron  -  32nd Fighter Squadron

Components

1st Bombardment Group (Provisional)
1st Bombardment Squadron (Provisional)
2nd Bombardment Squadron (Provisional)
3d Bombardment Squadron (Provisional)
4th Bombardment Squadron (Provisional)
3d Fighter Group (Provisional)
7th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
8th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
28th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
32nd Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
5th Fighter Group (Provisional)
17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
26th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
27th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
29th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)

Aircraft

P-40 Warhawk, 1943–1945
P-51 Mustang, 1944–1945
B-25 Mitchell, 1943–1945

14th Air Force

Origins of 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) - the American Volunteer Group and the "Flying Tigers"

Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) traces its long and prestigious history back to Japan's invasion of China in 1937. The Chinese government looked to the U.S. for assistance and hired U.S. Army Air Corps veteran Claire Chennault to train its pilots. The Chinese Air Force sent Chennault to Washington, D.C., in the winter of 1940 to solicit American airplanes and pilots to try to save the country. In 1941, President Roosevelt signed a secret executive order which authorized Chennault to organize support. A group of active-duty recruits, 100 pilots and 200 support personnel, formed the American Volunteer Group (AVG). In addition, Chennault also procured 100 P-40 aircraft, rejected by the British as obsolete. The AVG shipped off to Burma in the summer of 1941, where Chennault trained them in innovative combat tactics. To enhance esprit de corps, the unit painted tiger shark teeth on the noses of the group's aircraft. They saw the same decorations in a magazine photo of English P-40s in North Africa. Subsequently, journalists used the tagline "Flying Tigers," which rapidly caught on worldwide.

Fighting against numerically superior forces, the AVG compiled one of the greatest records of the war before it was absorbed into the active-duty Army Air Corps in 1942. According to official Chinese statistics, confirmed losses to the enemy by the AVG were 268 enemy aircraft destroyed and another 40 aircraft damaged against 12 losses for the AVG. In a separate report, Chennault credits the AVG with 294 enemy aircraft shot down.

The Birth of 14th Air Force

The AVG was absorbed into the active-duty China Air Task Force in July 1942 and the "Flying Tigers" moniker went with it. Chennault was brought back on active duty as a brigadier general to command the unit. After the China Air Task Force was discontinued, the 14th Air Force was established by the special order of President Roosevelt on 10 March 1943. Chennault was appointed the commander and promoted to Major General. The "Flying Tigers" of 14th AF conducted fighter and bomber operations along a wide front that stretched from the bend of the Yellow River and Tsinan in the north to Indochina in the south, from Chengtu and the Salween River in the west to the China Sea and the island of Formosa in the east. They were also instrumental in supplying Chinese forces through the airlift of cargo across "The Hump" in the China-Burma-India theater. By the end of World War II, 14th AF had achieved air superiority over the skies of China and established a ratio of 7.7 enemy planes destroyed for every American plane lost in combat. Overall, military officials estimated that over 4,000 Japanese planes were destroyed or damaged in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. In addition, they estimated that air units in China destroyed 1,100,000 tons of shipping, 1,079 locomotives, 4,836 trucks and 580 bridges. The United States Army Air Corps credits 14th Air Force with the destruction of 2,315 Japanese aircraft, 356 bridges, 1,225 locomotives and 712 railroad cars.

Post World War II

14th Air Force moved to Orlando Army Air Base, Fla., in the spring of 1946 to administer Air Defense Command functions across the Southeastern United States. They supervised the air defense training of active duty units, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units. Under a Department of Defense restructuring in 1948, 14th Air Force was aligned under the new Continental Air Command, which expanded the unit's mission to include the equipping and combat preparation of Air Force Reserve units under its jurisdiction. 14th Air Force headquarters moved to Robins AFB, GA in October 1949.

During the Korean Conflict, 14th AF participated in the mobilization of thousands of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units and individuals from its area of responsibility. After Korea, the reserve wings of 14 AF participated in various airlift operations, such as Operation SIXTEEN TON (1956), Operation SWIFT LIFT (1957-58) and Operation READY SWAP (1958).

14th Air Force remained a key Air Force Reserve organization, expanding into search-and-rescue operations in 1957, and ultimately became responsible for all Reserve airlift functions in the eastern United States by 1958. The unit retained this mission until it was inactivated Sept. 1, 1960.

Reference: http://www.cbi-history.com/part_ib.html#301