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.

Flight Officer (posthumously promoted to 2nd Lieutenant) Barton L. Wherritt was a member of a six-man aircrew that perished after their B-25 was shot down over the Japanese-el airfield at Ichang (Yichang).

1/Lt. Donald J. Davis was the pilot of a six-man aircrew that was lost when their 3rd Bomb Squadron B-25 was shot down over Ichang (Yichang) on May 16, 1945. His remains were recovered and returned to his home in California for reburial on July 13, 1949.

James H. “Hank” Mills, a B-25 crew chief, found his name on the roster for the next day’s mission and participated in 3rd Bomb Squadron operations as an aerial gunner until the end of the war. “They volunteered me,” he later said in an interview.

Capt. Thomas S. Simpson and a mixed Chinese and American crew of the 3rd (Spray and Pray) Squadron, Chinese-American Composite Wing, were shot down on a mission on July 4, 1944. The narrative that follows describes their miraculous escape from pursuing Japanese soldiers through the swamps and jungles of Burma.

My dad, then Corporal James H. Mills arrived in Karachi to begin training Chinese mechanics in early April 1944. I was born three weeks later in Arkansas. I met him in November 1945, when I was eighteen months old.

From the collection of James H. Mills, this wartime photo taken in Kunming shows the Green Rooster Arch in the foreground and the Golden Horse Arch in the background.