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Wing to Wing: Air Combat in China, 1943-45
Chronicles the story of the Chinese-American Composite Wing, which battled the Japanese from one end of occupied China to another during World War II
207 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 1990
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February 22, 2017
When it comes to the air war in the China-Burma-India theatre in World War II, pretty much everyone has heard of The Flying Tigers and Claire Chennault. A unit which is much less well-known is the Chinese-American Composite Wing (CACW), a collection of bomber and fighter squadrons staffed by American and Chinese soldiers. I've read literally hundreds of books on World War II and this is the first time I've ever seen a book about this unit, much less read one.
Carl Molesworth has written many books on Chennault's Flying Tigers, so he's definitely a knowledgeable source when it comes to the aerial conflict in the CBI. The book covers the CACW's creation in 1943 through the conclusion of hostilities in 1945. Flying mostly P-40s and B-25s, the CACW fought alongside Chennault's 14th Air Force, providing aerial and ground support for the Chinese Army. It's very detailed about the Wing's combat operations and contains plenty of personal accounts from American airmen who served in the Wing. I don't recall any personal Chinese accounts, but there are personal details about several of the prominent Chinese airmen in the Wing.
There are some really good photos in the book, but unfortunately, it only has one map so you'd better brush up on your Chinese geography. Also, the narrative could be a little tighter as it bounced back and forth in time in several places.
Overall, a quick and informative read about a very unknown unit.
Carl Molesworth has written many books on Chennault's Flying Tigers, so he's definitely a knowledgeable source when it comes to the aerial conflict in the CBI. The book covers the CACW's creation in 1943 through the conclusion of hostilities in 1945. Flying mostly P-40s and B-25s, the CACW fought alongside Chennault's 14th Air Force, providing aerial and ground support for the Chinese Army. It's very detailed about the Wing's combat operations and contains plenty of personal accounts from American airmen who served in the Wing. I don't recall any personal Chinese accounts, but there are personal details about several of the prominent Chinese airmen in the Wing.
There are some really good photos in the book, but unfortunately, it only has one map so you'd better brush up on your Chinese geography. Also, the narrative could be a little tighter as it bounced back and forth in time in several places.
Overall, a quick and informative read about a very unknown unit.
Displaying 1 of 1 review