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.