The Chinese-American Composite Wing officially entered combat on Thursday, November 4, 1943, when three 2^nd Bomb Squadron B-25s flew on a mission out of Erh Tong airfield at Kweilin (now Guilin) down to the coast. In a joint raid with Mitchells of the 11^th (“Sky Dragons”) Bomb Squadron, 341^st Bomb Group, 69^th Composite Wing, 14^th Air Force, this was a sea sweep to hit Japanese shipping at Swatow Harbor. One of the Mitchells successfully bombed and strafed an enemy cargo vessel and sank it, the second crash-landed but all aircrew members survived, and the third went down and all aboard were lost.

The ongoing combination of limited fuel and almost continuous mist or light rain with low clouds prohibited aerial operations out of Peishiyi. Airmen of the 3^rd Bomb Squadron had been accustomed to flying almost daily before their move to China, but now the pace of life slowed. Boredom brought about by inactivity soon caused an inevitable slump in morale, which seemed to be in direct proportion to the number of missions completed. Fortunately, a USO troupe that featured model/actress Jinx Falkenburg, dancer/contortionist Betty Yeaton, and singer Ruth Carrell arrived to entertain the troops, the majority of whom had not seen a white woman in six months or more. These three entertainers, with actor/comedian Pat O’Brien as emcee, singer/guitarist Jimmie Dodd (husband of Ruth Carrell), and singer/piano player Harry Brown accompanying them, appeared in USO shows at forward bases in China and later in India from October to early December 1944. The men stationed at Peishiyi enjoyed the performance of Camp Show #374 on October 30, 1944.

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

Expecting to be in the midst of the action following their move from India to China, aircrews of the CACW’s 3rd Bomb Squadron flew only four missions against the Japanese drive before their evacuation from Kweilin (now Guilin) in mid-September 1944. At Peishiyi (Baishiyi), their new base, missions were limited by “unflyable” weather and shortage of supplies of all kinds, including gas and bombs required to attack the enemy. With no missions to give them focus, squadron personnel were unprepared for the monotony that became their humdrum existence. They battled the boredom in a variety of ways that included card games, movies, reading, writing letters, and listening to music, as well as venturing into Peishiyi (now Baishiyi) village and Chungking (Chongqing) to shop and sample the local cuisine.

One of the hundreds of ships that transported veterans back home following the defeat of Japan in World War II, USS General George O. Squier departed Karachi on October 13, 1945. Passing through the Suez Canal and then heading west along the northern coast of Africa, it arrived at the Port of New York on November 2. TSgts James H. Mills and Robert N. Solyn, two of Squire's 3,343 passengers who passed through customs that day, were back home in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families.

Following lengthy preparations to ready the base for Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault's visit, Chinese and American personnel celebrated the first anniversary of the Chinese-American Composite Wing on October 8, 1944, at Peishiyi (Baishiyi) in Szechuan Province. The ceremony included recognition of several members of the 3rd and 4th Bomb Squadrons for their heroism in aerial combat..

With V-J day a reality at last, personnel of the 3rd Bomb Squadron and others of the Chinese-American Composite Wing (now disbanded), needed to be transported back to North America, but how could such a monumental task be accomplished? It was accomplished by bringing most of them home via "Magic Carpet Cruises." It proved to be the greatest mass movement of humanity ever attempted in history.

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.

Following their evacuation from Kweilin (Guilin), the 3rd Bomb Squadron moved to Peishiyi Field near Chungking (Chonqing). Previously used by the American Volunteer Group, the facilities were dilapidated, chilly, and crowded. Supplies of all kinds, including gas and food, were in short supply, and menus generally comprised such unfamiliar and unappealing choices as water buffalo meat. "We didn't get food and supplies until the war in Europe was over."

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."

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.

On August 22, 1945, Maj. Gen. Takeo Imai, Vice-Chief of the General Staff of China Expeditionary Army, and his interpreter took part in the surrender of Japanese military forces in China. It took place in Chihkiang (now Zhijiang). This was the most easterly of the 14th Air Force bases at the time the Japanese attempted to capture it, but revitalized Chinese ground troops, supported by the 3rd and 4th Bomb Squadrons and the 5th Fighter Group, stopped the advance and turned the tide of war.

As 14th Air Force planes, including bombers and fighters of the Chinese-American Composite Wing, prepared for a suicide mission, code name "Butcher," to attack the infamous Yellow Bridge in an attempt to destroy it "once and for all," a message from the tower announced, "Don't take off. The flight's been canceled." When the 3rd Bomb Squadron's B-25s turned around and taxied back in, someone ran out onto the runway shouting, "The Japs have surrendered!"

On August 14, 1944--Chinese Air Force Day--Capt. Mark T. Seacrest led a two-plane formation to skip-bomb a twin highway bridge located near Lashio, starting point of the Burma Road's south end. Hit by ground fire, both B-25s went down. Capt. Seacrest kept his A/C #714 in the air until he reached friendly territory, but it took eleven days for him and his aircrew to "walk out" and return to their 3rd Bomb Squadron.

Capt. Mark T. Seacrest led a mission from Dergaon Field to bomb and strafe rolling stock on the Burma railroad, when he unexpectedly encountered a train.. Cpl. James H. “Hank” Mills recounted his memories of strafing the length of it, blowing it into bits.

Mitchells of the 3rd Bomb Squadron provided air support to Chinese ground troops as they retook the city of Myitkyina following a 78-day siege. “They knew we were paving the way.”

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James H. Mills, at that time a staff sergeant, clearly remembered his mission to Hankow-Wuchang on July 24, 1945, when he was hit in the leg by a spent bullet that penetrated the B-25’s fuselage but caused no injury to him.

1/Lt. Robert J. Koss was the final member of the fatal 3rd Bomb Squadron mission of May 16, 1945, to be returned to his hometown for reburial.

Sgt. James A. Wadlow served as engineer-gunner and operated the waist guns on the ill-fated 3rd Bomb Squadron mission against the Japanese-held airfield at Ichang (Yichang) on May 16, 1945. Their B-25 was shot down by enemy ground fire and all six of the aircrew were lost.