Hi guys,
can you provide me the composition of Chinese-American Composite Wing that wa part of 14th Air force?
Thanks
Max
 

Max - I have some of that information on my web site in the 14th AF page.  I'm still searching for written history info on the individual units, but the organization of the wing is there.  Hope that helps some.
 
Gary
 

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

I have some of that information on my web site in the 14th AF page

 
Great! Thank you very much!
Max
 

Gary,
Do you have any info about the plane flown by the chinese-american CW?
P-40 Warhawk and B-25 Mitchell?
 
Thanks in advance
Max
 

Max,
 
From what I know, the CACW flew P-40N's, B-25's (not sure which model), and P-51K's (5th FG (Prov), 17th FS at least - maybe other squadrons in the 5th also flew -51's).  That's all I have so far.
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Thanks.
I guess that the P-51 arrived end 1944 or maybe 1945, like some usaaf units.
 
And do you have some info regarding the units of Chinese air Force?
 
Regards
Max
 

Sorry, Max, I haven't gone that far yet.  I've been focusing strictly on US units.  I'm sure there's lots available on the good ol' internet.
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

1st, BG CACW----B-25D / H / J.
                = 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th BS
3rd. FG CACW-----P-40N.    P-51C / D /K from early 1945.
               =  7th, 8th, 28th, 32nd FS.
5th FG CACW-----   as above.
               =  17th, 26th, 27th, 29th FS.
The Chinese Nationalist AF also had P-40 s.      See Carl Molesworth's great book "Wing to wing" (CACW history).
                Nick

Thanx, Nick!!!  There's another book I need to add to my "want list".  
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Gary...........Carl's book was published by Orion in 1990. He did one on P-40 aces of the CBI in the Osprey "Aircraft of the aces " series ( no.35 ), it includes the CACW and some very nice colour profiles by Jim Laurier (my favourite).
The attachment isn't CACW but I think a terrific photo; I'm sure it's original , looks like a P-40K with bomb racks and 1942--43 insignia , maybe taken in Assam before moving to China. If nothing else it shows the colours of the mouth in the 25th FS .....sometimes shown as red mouth and blue lips.                Nick
    
 BTW......have you come across a P-40 pilot called Ben Thompson ..........from the white spinner on his plane, either the 75th FS/ 23rd FG or 16th FS / 51st FG. ?

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Hi Nick.  I'll be on the look-out for these books - thanx!  I haven't looked around yet, but if they're out of print I'll check Amazon, eBay, etc.  I found an article in the Oct '93 issue of Ex-CBI Roundup on the CACW that I'll add to my site shortly.
 
Nice photo - thanx!!  I may make use of that as well. 
 
I've seen references to Ben Thompson, but I'll have to go back and see where I saw his name.  I'll let you know what I find.
 
Cheers!
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Nick,
 
Ah, now I know why the name Ben Thompson sounded familiar - a transport pilot in CBI (http://users3.ev1.net/~wbthomp/ben.html).  I don't have anything on a fighter pilot by that name, but will look around and see what I can dig up.
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Hi Gary---------this is obviously not the same bloke as yours; the caption just says "Ben Thompson 14th AF 1944 ".  The white spinner front would indicate the 16th or 75th FS , they had a similar sharkmouth. The P-51 in the background may be a clue, it's got the mouth and eye of the 26th / 51st FG.
It's a P-40M or very early N with 4 wing guns; if the chalked " 475 " in the sharkmouth relates to the serial it could be a P-40M--5  43-5475 or an N-1  42-104475 tho some of these had 6 guns I believe.
The back-to-front drop tanks can be seen on some 80th FG P-40s , can't think of any reason unless they were non-standard tanks with different plumbing ?
Whoever or whatever, it's a nice photo.                                   Regards       Nick

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Hi Nick.  Yeah, obviously not the same guy.  I'm not up on a/c serial #'s, but will check photos to see if I can find a close match.
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

1st, BG CACW----B-25D / H / J.
= 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th BS
3rd. FG CACW-----P-40N. P-51C / D /K from early 1945.
= 7th, 8th, 28th, 32nd FS.
5th FG CACW----- as above.
= 17th, 26th, 27th, 29th FS.
The Chinese Nationalist AF also had P-40 s. See Carl Molesworth's great book "Wing to wing" (CACW history).

 
Are those B-25, P-40 and P-51 taken into account in the totals of lend-lease to China, or were they still porperty of USAAF?
 
Max
 

My first cousin Maj. Howard Cords was a P-40 pilot killed April 20, 1944 in Lingling, China in a flying accident while approaching the field. He was squadron commander of the 8th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Fighter Group, Chinese American Composite Wing.  He is mentioned several times in Carl Molesworth's great book "Wing to Wing" including his 2 1/2 ground kills and his untimely death

The CACW is a long way from my usual area of interest, but my wife's first husband was in the outfit and is pictured in the attached photo of the 1st Group, 4th Squadron.
 
Al Blue

[image]local://upfiles/26/D57E3794A9184C749DD70934655E934A.jpg[/image]

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Hi Al.  Would you mind if I used that photo on my website?  Does your wife have any more photos/papers/orders, etc on that unit?  I'd definitely be interested.  Thanx...
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Max.......just noticed your query from earlier in the year.
The CACW was officially part of the Chinese Air Force ( hence the numbering system ) and their planes were supplied under a lend-lease system  though they carried both CAF and US insignia. They did however have 3-digit ID numbers like the 14th AF.
After the war the remaining serviceable planes were taken on by the Nationalists and US insigniae painted out.They included some P-51Ds and Ks.                                   Nick

Gary - Feel free to use the photo. I asked my wife about other materials and she produced a box full. I'm off tomorrow for a week of travel but will go through the stuff upon my return.
 
Al Blue