B-25s assigned to the 3^rd Bomb Squadron crossed “the Hump” and then made their way to Kweilin. The planes arrived at their new base on September 8, 1944—the same day the Japanese 11^th Army overran Lingling, both the town and the airfield, as part of their massive Operation ICHIGO offensive. Then began their advance toward Kweilin, about 125 miles farther to the southwest. The 3^rd Squadron's bombers flew only four missions before Kweilin was evacuated, all against towns in the path of the enemy drive. Final evacuation and demolition procedures began on September 14, as 3^rd Squadron personnel began their move to Peishiyi by air transport, railroad, truck convoy, and the squadron’s B-25s.

Late July of 1944 brought about significant changes the 3^rd Bomb Squadron, when they received orders to move from Moran to Dergaon. The new base was closer to the route they used to fly their B-25s over the “Low Hump” to reach Japanese targets in Burma. As they were making the move, my father, then-Sgt. James H. (“Hank”) Mills, had an encounter that he never forgot. As he was driving along a dirt road in an open weapons carrier transporting equipment, supplies, and two Chinese officers, a full-grown Bengal tiger stepped out of the bamboo thicket ahead. After discouraging the pilots from taking pot shots at the big cat, he made his way to the new base. Soon afterward, the squadron’s enlisted men were required to take “the long drill” from their tents to the flight line, twice each day, in response to the reported theft of two bottles of gin from their commanding officer’s tent. The case soon “petered out” from lack of evidence, and the squadron was declared “ready for operations.”

In mid-June 1944, personnel of the 3^rd Bomb Squadron, recently relocated to Moran Field in Upper Assam, continued to prepare for joining the fight in Burma, but bad weather prevented its B-25s from flying any combat missions for more than two weeks. "It is imperative that air support be given troops surrounding entrenched Japs at Myitkyina, but insurmountable weather always intervenes," according to the official squadron history. Every day, flight crews were up early and stood by, "hoping for a clear report to warrant flying through the Himalayan Pass down to the battle area,” but every night they returned to their tents "missionless.” With morale at a low ebb, tempers were short. Several incidents that led to conflicts arose during this period, including a disagreement that led to blows and required the attention of Gen. George E. Stratemeyer, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces' India-Burma Sector.

The Chinese-American Composite Wing’s unique composition was not always readily accepted. As the 3^rd Bomb Squadron prepared to enter combat in Burma, a serious conflict arose. Maj. R. L. Patterson, in command of the 83^rd Bomb Squadron, 12^th Bomb Group, was distrustful of the abilities of the recently-arrived and biracial 3^rd Squadron. Before allowing the mixed Chinese-American crews to "tack onto" his planes for missions, he insisted that 3^rd Squadron airmen fly a practice formation flight with the 83^rd to demonstrate their readiness for combat. The following day, Capt. Raymond L. Hodges Jr. and "his Chinese boys, Lts. Tung and Yen" flew follow element to the 83^rd Squadron's lead element. "Our boys assembled and tacked on much quicker than the 83^rd, who flew an extremely wide pattern,” according to a later report. However, a mechanical failure forced the lead plane down, leaving Patterson unsatisfied, so he demanded a second practice flight. Once again, the Chinese pilots "made a wonderful showing" and Patterson called off the flight.

When Imperial Japanese naval and air forces attacked the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor and then the city of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, Paul L. Young, an American citizen of Chinese descent, was an eye-witness to the devastation. Displaying extraordinary courage, he was wounded while moving undamaged fighters away from those that were burning, earning him the Purple Heart. After spending twenty-three months with a heavy bomb unit in the Southwest Pacific, he served as intelligence and historical officer of the 3rd Bomb Squadron of the Chinese-American Composite Wing. One of the five missions he completed against targets in Burma during that period earned him a second Purple Heart.