The Flying Tiger Heritage Park, Guilin, China -- The Flying Tiger Historical Organization

Chennault comes to China:.

The CATF as interim gave way in March of 1943 to combining of elements of the 10th. and 14th. Air force - working as one. Chennault received additional newer P-40 fighters, more B-25s and now had the long-range heavy B-24 bombers under his command. Several airfields in the eastern sector were enlarged and made to accommodate them, chiefly Lunincow, Kweilin and Henyang. From here they could carry out raids as far north as the Yangtze, as far E. as the coastal cities south of Shanghai, Canton, Hong-Kong, and into Indo-China. This allowed him to directly and effectively render Japanese shipping substantial losses.

1943 also began the greatest airlift in history to that time as C-46s were added to the smaller C-47/DC-3s which had been combined with those of CNAC under the auspices of the US “Air Transport Command” (ATC). It would still be many months until all necessary war supplies could be brought in by air, but China was beginning to benefit by movement of troops and equipment.

During this time Gen. Stillwell had made one unsuccessful campaign into Burma, and begun another. However, the Japanese were moving rapidly toward India and holding most of Burma.

Chennault expanded his command to a second one, first in a C-47 and later in a cave at Kweilin’s Yang Tong airbase. A former fighter-pilot, became a Lt. General – “Casey” Vincent was placed in charge of the B-25 group and Major Robert Scott continued to command the 23rd. Fighter group – both worked from the Kweilin airfield.

Yang Tong was slowly expanded to include a P-38 Recon Sqd., complete facilities for repair & maintenance of all types of aircraft and able to handle the B-24's on its l.25-mile runway. A hospital-dispensary was built, rail-lines built & maintained by the US from Kweilin to both Yang Tong and the fighter airstrip Ehr Tong – just E. over the “Dragons Teeth” peaks – In total the base had 550-buildings; caves used for food-preparation storage and as air-raid shelters during Japanese bomber visitations.

Chennault was to divide his time between the Kunming office and Kweilin. From both areas he mapped-out raids on Japanese shipping, airfields and troop concentrations. Bridges were destroyed to hamper advancing Japanese ground forces; supply the Chinese Army in the field; conduct search and rescue operations.

The 14th Air force had now grown into a gigantic, multi-based operation and effectively controlled most of the air-space above Free China. The Japanese realized this was of great detriment to their advancing further, or even supplying existing armies in the field, so they decided on an all-out effort to eliminate the 14th Air force while also connecting their N. supply rail-lines through to those from Indo-China. Project “Itchigo” commenced at the beginning of 1944 with 800,000 fresh Japanese troops moving south and in a pincer movement from the E. the Japanese moved slowly thru Hunan toward Changsha. Here the Chinese army held them at bay for more than a month in two separate battles.

The 14th Air force was trying to defend its very existence on the eastern airfields, while still hammering-away at coastal-shipping, and deploying troops to the Burma war-front. Stillwell was building an alternate overland supply route from Ledo in India, through Burma to join Kunming and Chunking. This placed much of the Chinese army MOL at his command, and Chiang Kai-Shek had reservations about using his best and loyal troops as further support, since he feared their loss would jeopardize the possibility of defending against Mao’s communist armies once the war ended.

Finally in mid-summer the Japanese pushed through and began capturing cities and eastern airfields, as Chinese ground resistance waned. Henyang, Luliang, fell despite heavy bombing and strafing of troops & supplies by Chennault’s air warriors. By October the citizens of Kweilin began to fear the worst; evacuating by rail, road and sampan. Even with the Ledo Road completed; supplies flowing still by air as well, Chennault threw everything he could get, into the battle… but the momentum of the Japanese assault carried it closer & closer to Yang Tong. Kwelin was destroyed, burnt; bridges blown. It’s million inhabitants now fleeing S.& W., clogging roads and rail-lines.

Stillwell, who’d been recalled to the US met with Chennault and Gen. Chow of the Chinese army for the last time. The order to abandon (after all possible demolition & destruction) was given to the Kwelin airbases. Gen. Casey continued to bomb the enemy 24/7, and the last fighters strafed their forward positions… but on Nov. 4, 1944 demolition and burning began. Kweilin was occupied by the Japanese on Nov. 10th, however a spearhead force had moved onto Luinchow and captured its airbase on the 7th. The “scorched-earth” policy carried out at these bases rendered them essentially useless and resulted in the worst defeat US air forces had suffered since 1941.

Only a few dozen of the 1,500+ base personnel remained with the demolition crews, and B-25 / P-40 & P-51 pilots continued to bomb & strafe enemy from the bases as long as service personnel could arm their aircraft. Last to leave were D.L.“Tex” Hill and General “Casey” Vincent, a reporter, cameraman and those who refueled & armed the last flights out. Runway demolition took place as the last two aircraft were taking off!

Demolition & evacuation crews left almost immediately by Jeep for Kunming. Pilots landed their aircraft at other airbases in Sichuan & Yunnan, many continuing to attack the advancing Japanese forces, and support Chinese army positions…

With the recall of Gen. Stillwell, Chennault received a new commander – Gen. Wedemeyer. The Ledo-Burma Roads; continued airlift capabilities were supplying volumes of war materials. 10th Air Force units incorporated into the 14th aided the Chinese Army with air-drops of food, munitions, men and equipment. US armored forces aided them on the ground. Wedemeyer installed a system by which Chinese received improved nutritional rations, up-dated arms and better training. By June of 1945 the Japanese had been driven back; their coastal shipping almost stopped by constant bombing; their aircraft losses amounted to more than 45% of all the operational fighters & bombers within the China theater; their troop supply-lines decimated. US-trained Chinese pilots were integrated in to joint squadrons as a part of the Chinese American Composite Wings and showed winning ways. China again had a viable air force!

The airfields near Kweilin were not rebuilt; Yang Tong was left in total destruction; some use was made of Ehr Tong & Li Chia Chen airstrips only, but Luinchow was rebuilt… just before war’s end and some missions flown from there.

Chennault was retired from the Army Air Force a second time, just before the war’s end. He was given two farewell banquets

By the 14th. Air force and the Chinese government, but sadly he was not invited to the Surrender Ceremonies aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo bay.

He left China for civilian life, but China had become a part of him, and he was to return. marry his second wife and found an airline which flew cargo, supplies and supported the withdrawal of Nationalists to Taiwan.

Chennault was a stern task-master, but no one was more loved than by the men of the original “Flying Tigers”, nor respected as an American airman and leader by those of the 14th Air force and the Chinese who served under him. He was a true friend of China and a tireless advocate for freedom from aggression & repression. Most believe that China was both a Calling and his chance to demonstrate the airman’s skills outlined in his book.

But, many of the developed skills he taught the AVG, were learned first-hand during those 4-years of interaction with the CAF and, no doubt, the occasional discharged wing-guns he’d return with after “observation” of Japan’s aircraft & tactics with China’s early airmen. A practical man who did so much for so many with so little!

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