As the rest of the world celebrated V-E Day, it was business as usual in China’s war zone. The Chinese-American Composite Wing’s 2^nd and 3^rd Bomb Squadrons, with two 32^nd Fighter Squadron P-51s, bombed separate targets in the vicinity of Chenghsien, Honan (Henan) Province, in Central China’s Yellow River Valley. When they received news of the German surrender soon afterward, they did not celebrate this victory but “took it just as another day.” it would be another three months before Japan admitted defeat in China. During that time, two more 3^rd Squadron planes were lost, and the fate of a six-man aircrew reported as missing in action was not confirmed until after the war ended.

As 1945 began, military discipline and courtesy in the new China Theater came under increasingly-careful scrutiny, especially in Chungking (Chongqing). Reports that ranged from failure to salute officers and incomplete or improper uniform to public intoxication and coercing local young women to accompany GIs to the photographer’s shop had been received at Chinese-American Composite Wing headquarters. Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault issued a letter to all unit commanders of the 14^th Air Force in which he referenced a recently-received radiogram from Maj. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer: "The CO was very much displeased with lack of discipline and general sloppy appearance of all ranks and grades.” He urged all personnel under his command, both officers and enlisted men, to be properly dressed while outside their quarters in the prescribed uniform according to the type of duty to be performed or the social activity in which they were engaged and that they "avail themselves" of the facilities provided for shaving, although facial hair had previously been overlooked. "Poor discipline reflects directly on combat and operational efficiency." Chennault warned, "Such comments on the state of discipline of this command as quoted above are a source of embarrassment to me and I expect every commander to take immediate vigorous corrective action to prevent a recurrence of this criticism.”