In early October of 1943, newspapers across the US announced that the 14^th Air Force had officially adopted a new Flying Tigers emblem, with Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault's approval and endorsement. Former commander of the renowned American Volunteer Group that gained fame as the original “Flying Tigers,” as well as of the China Air Task Force that succeeded it, Chennault now served in command of the 14^th Air Force. Its effectiveness soon earned it the moniker, "the Fighting Fourteenth.” Carrying on the Flying Tigers legacy under Chennault’s leadership, the 14^th went on to win air superiority in China. In his memoirs, Chennault later praised the accomplishments of his air force and wrote, “It was a record of which every man who wore the Flying Tiger shoulder patch can be proud.”

The month of September 1945 marked the final period of existence of the CACW. “Almost two years of operations were climaxed in August by the sudden ending of the war, thus bringing about the disbanding of the Chinese-American Composite Wing,” wrote the 1^st Bomb Group’s acting historical officer. Conceived by Maj. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault, famed former commander of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), the CACW took Chennault’s plan to assist the Chinese even further than his previous efforts. Their mission to paralyze the infrastructure of the Japanese War Machine and to inhibit enemy troop movements by destroying cargo caravans, troop transports, railroads, tunnels, and bridges was unquestionably successful.

Mid-August of 1944 found Captain Mark T. Seacrest and his binational aircrew making their way through unfamiliar territory, traveling on foot and by horseback with the aid of Chinese civilians. Seacrest had led a two-plane formation on this mission to skip-bomb a twin highway bridge near Lashio, terminus of the Burma Road's south end, but damage from concealed antiaircraft weapons forced them both down. Seacrest returned with minor injuries. One of the Chinese-American Composite Wing’s most capable and congenial pilots, he eventually completed sixty-four combat missions and had 305 combat hours to his credit, and the amount of tonnage he sank while operating in the China Sea totaled among the highest of any B-25 pilot in any theater.

Major General Claire Lee Chennault, in command of the 14th Air Force and formerly of the American Volunteer Group, envisioned and implemented his grand experiment--the Chinese-American Composite Wing. His purposes were to rehabilitate the Chinese Air Force fighting under Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, head of the Republic of China, and to provide good will and understanding between the Chinese and Americans for the future. The CACW proved to be enormously successful and played a key role in defeating the Japanese invaders.

Pilot of a B-25H, A/C #719, Capt. Mark T. Seacrest led the 3rd Bomb Squadron element, along with three 4th Bomb Squadron planes, on a joint mission from Hanchung. Their objective was to bomb and strafe the Yellow River Bridge. Providing close escort were eight 3rd Fighter Group P-40s that did their job well., despite being attacked by Japanese fighters, and eight 312th Fighter Wing P-47s as top cover that "hit the deck."