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Story of the 14th Air Force
Established on 5 March 1943 at Kunming, China, The 14th Air Force was a United States Army Air
Forces combat air force deployed to the Pacific Theater of World War II. It engaged in operations
primarily in China. The command is a descendant organization of the 1st American Volunteer
Group (AVG), also known as the "Flying Tigers", established on 20 December 1941.
The Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF) was established by the special order of President Roosevelt on
March 10, 1943. Chennault was appointed the commander and promoted to Major General. The
"Flying Tigers" of 14 AF (who adopted the "Flying Tigers" designation from the AVG) conducted
highly effective fighter and bomber operations along a wide front that stretched from the bend of the
Yellow River and Tsinan in the north to Indochina in the south, from Chengtu and the Salween
River in the west to the China Sea and the island of Formosa in the east. They were also
instrumental in supplying Chinese forces through the airlift of cargo across "The Hump" in the
China-Burma-India theater. By the end of World War II, 14 AF had achieved air superiority over the
skies of China and established a ratio of 7.7 enemy planes destroyed for every American plane
lost in combat. Overall, military officials estimated that over 4,000 Japanese planes were
destroyed or damaged in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. In addition, they
estimated that air units in China destroyed 1,100,000 tons of shipping, 1,079 locomotives, 4,836
trucks and 580 bridges. The United States Army Air Corps credits 14 AF with the destruction of
2,315 Japanese aircraft, 356 bridges, 1,225 locomotives and 712 railroad cars.
In addition to the core Fourteenth Air Force (14AF) structure, a second group: The Chinese-
American Composite Wing, existed as a combined 1st Bomber, 3rd and 5th Fighter Groups with
pilots from both the United States and the Republic of China. U.S. service personnel destined for
the CACW entered the China theater in mid-July 1943. Aircraft assigned to the CACW included late-
model P-40 Warhawks with the Nationalist Chinese Air Force 12-pointed star national insignia,
rudder markings and squadron/aircraft numbering and B-25 "Mitchell" light bombers. In late 1944,
USAAF-marked P-51 Mustangs began to be assigned to CACW pilots – first, P-51B and C models,
then, in early 1945, "D" and "K" model (sharing many of the external characteristics of the "D"
model aircraft including the bubble canopy) reduced-weight versions. All U.S. pilots assigned to
the CACW were listed as rated pilots in Chinese Air Force, and were authorized to wearing both
nations' pilot's wings.
Most CACW bases existed near the boundary of Japanese-Occupied China, and one "Valley Field"
existed in an area within Japanese-held territory. Specific field locations include Hanchung,
Ankang, Hsian, Laohokow, Enshih, Liangshan, Peishyi, Chihkiang, Hengyang, Kweilin, Liuchow,
Chanyi, Suichwan, and Lingling. Today, the 1st, 3rd and 5th Groups of CACW are still operating in
Taiwan, reorganized as 443th, 427th and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings of the Republic of China Air
Force.
Copyright Notice
This media is the work of U.S. military personnel or employees or contractors, made during the
course of their official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the media is in the public
domain.
Established on 5 March 1943 at Kunming, China, The 14th Air Force was a United States Army Air
Forces combat air force deployed to the Pacific Theater of World War II. It engaged in operations
primarily in China. The command is a descendant organization of the 1st American Volunteer
Group (AVG), also known as the "Flying Tigers", established on 20 December 1941.
The Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF) was established by the special order of President Roosevelt on
March 10, 1943. Chennault was appointed the commander and promoted to Major General. The
"Flying Tigers" of 14 AF (who adopted the "Flying Tigers" designation from the AVG) conducted
highly effective fighter and bomber operations along a wide front that stretched from the bend of the
Yellow River and Tsinan in the north to Indochina in the south, from Chengtu and the Salween
River in the west to the China Sea and the island of Formosa in the east. They were also
instrumental in supplying Chinese forces through the airlift of cargo across "The Hump" in the
China-Burma-India theater. By the end of World War II, 14 AF had achieved air superiority over the
skies of China and established a ratio of 7.7 enemy planes destroyed for every American plane
lost in combat. Overall, military officials estimated that over 4,000 Japanese planes were
destroyed or damaged in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. In addition, they
estimated that air units in China destroyed 1,100,000 tons of shipping, 1,079 locomotives, 4,836
trucks and 580 bridges. The United States Army Air Corps credits 14 AF with the destruction of
2,315 Japanese aircraft, 356 bridges, 1,225 locomotives and 712 railroad cars.
In addition to the core Fourteenth Air Force (14AF) structure, a second group: The Chinese-
American Composite Wing, existed as a combined 1st Bomber, 3rd and 5th Fighter Groups with
pilots from both the United States and the Republic of China. U.S. service personnel destined for
the CACW entered the China theater in mid-July 1943. Aircraft assigned to the CACW included late-
model P-40 Warhawks with the Nationalist Chinese Air Force 12-pointed star national insignia,
rudder markings and squadron/aircraft numbering and B-25 "Mitchell" light bombers. In late 1944,
USAAF-marked P-51 Mustangs began to be assigned to CACW pilots – first, P-51B and C models,
then, in early 1945, "D" and "K" model (sharing many of the external characteristics of the "D"
model aircraft including the bubble canopy) reduced-weight versions. All U.S. pilots assigned to
the CACW were listed as rated pilots in Chinese Air Force, and were authorized to wearing both
nations' pilot's wings.
Most CACW bases existed near the boundary of Japanese-Occupied China, and one "Valley Field"
existed in an area within Japanese-held territory. Specific field locations include Hanchung,
Ankang, Hsian, Laohokow, Enshih, Liangshan, Peishyi, Chihkiang, Hengyang, Kweilin, Liuchow,
Chanyi, Suichwan, and Lingling. Today, the 1st, 3rd and 5th Groups of CACW are still operating in
Taiwan, reorganized as 443th, 427th and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings of the Republic of China Air
Force.
Copyright Notice
This media is the work of U.S. military personnel or employees or contractors, made during the
course of their official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the media is in the public
domain.
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