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.”

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.

After spending the summer of 1944 bombing Japanese facilities in Burma, personnel of the Chinese-American Composite Wing’s 3^rd Bomb Squadron finally began the transfer to China. Chinese and American ground crews crossed “the Hump” and moved on to Kweilin (Guilin) in late August.  No Japanese planes struck in the vicinity of Kweilin during the day but "they did keep us in the foxholes night after night," according to a service publication. Barracks boys shouted the warning jing bao! ("air raid") as they ran from room to room, turning off lights and banging on wash basins to wake anyone who may have slept through the warning siren. The threat soon became more dire. On September 8, as the squadron’s B-25s were completing the move, the Japanese 11^th Army overran Lingling, only 125 miles farther to the northeast. Then began their advance toward Kweilin.

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.

Maj. Chester M. Conrad served from March 1944 to February 1945 as commanding officer of the 3^rd Bomb Squadron, 1^st Bomb Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing. Known as "Chet" back home, he had picked up the sobriquet "Coondog" somewhere along the way (his radio call sign, according to my father). While previously serving in the 2^nd Bomb Squadron, his aircrew was credited with shooting down a Japanese bomber. Conrad, with his 3^rd Squadron, later provided air support to Chinese and American ground forces that retook Myitkyina, a Japanese stronghold used to attack Allied planes crossing the Himalayan “Hump.” He participated in many other successful missions, including a raid against storage facilities on the Hankow docks in January 1945. After his return to the US the following month, he continued to work with Chinese airmen. His military career was cut short in 1955, when then-Lt. Col. Conrad died as a result heart disease.

The 2^nd Bombardment Squadron (“Avengers") of the 1^st Bombardment Group and the 28^th and 32^nd Fighter Squadrons of the 3^rd Fighter Group received movement orders on October 17, 1943, and became the Wing's first increment to move to China. They flew their planes over “the Hump”—the name given by Allied pilots to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains—to provide air support for Chiang Kai-shek's ground forces in accordance with Chennault's plan. The 2^nd Bomb Squadron’s six B-25s, under the command of Maj. Tom Foley, became the first CACW unit to reach China, arriving at Yangkai in South China on October 25, 1943.Hazardous conditions caused some of the 2^nd Bomb Squadron's B-25s to delay crossing until conditions improved. Within a few days of the first attempt, the next contingent of three bombers led by group commander Lt. Col. Irving L. ("Twig") Branch followed, and finally the remaining three

On August 26, 1944, members of the 3rd Bomb Squadron flew "the Hump" of the treacherous Himalayas, making the move from Chabua in Assam, India, to Kweilin (Guilin) in Kwangsi (Guangxi) Province, China. Flying the Hump took planes over rugged terrain, often through violent storms, sudden down drafts, and snow and ice at higher altitudes. It was some of the most dangerous flying in the world―so dangerous, in fact, that every flight over the Hump was logged as a combat mission. The planes all made it across safely, and squadron personnel arrived at their new base on September 1.