Railroads and Rest Camp

After the loss of the 14^th Air Force base at Laohokow, Chihkiang (now Zhijiang) became the most easterly of the bases operated by the 14^th Air Force. On April 10, 1945, the Japanese initiated an offensive that claimed the full attention of the 3^rd and 4^th Bomb Squadrons and the 5^th Fighter Group stationed at Chihkiang. So successful was the opposition against enemy targets in the Chihkiang Campaign that it proved to be the last major offensive by the Japanese in China. Even as life-or-death operations were being conducted, the daily business of the squadron went on. “All the men who have been overseas for a rather long time, or those who seem to need a little diversion and rest, are being sent to Chengtu, several at a time, to enjoy the ‘almost stateside’ atmosphere, the good ‘American’ food, and the almost white creatures of feminine pulchritude.” Five 3^rd Bomb Squadron enlisted men were the next to be sent in late April.