China Air Task Force
The China Air Task Force (CATF) was created in July 1942 under the command of Brig. Gen. Claire Chennault, whose Flying Tigers of the 1st American Volunteer Group were disbanded that month. It consisted of the 23rd Fighter Group with four squadrons, the 74th, 75th, 76th, and 16th Fighter Squadrons, plus the 11th Bombardment Squadron.
On March 19, 1943, the CATF was disbanded and replaced by the Fourteenth Air Force, with Chennault, now a major general, in command. In the nine months of its existence, the China Air Task Force had been credited with shooting down 149 Japanese planes, plus 85 probables, with a loss of only 16 P-40s. It had flown 65 bombing missions against Japanese targets in China, Burma and Indochina, dropping 311 tons of bombs and losing only one B-25 bomber.
US Aircraft
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P-40 in China with new CATF logo. -
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk. -
A Liberator bomber crosses the shark-nosed bows of U.S. P-40 fighter planes -
B-25J Bomber.
Commemorate plaque and insignia
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Plaque located at Air Force Academy Cemetery -
Plaque located in Memorial Park National Museum of the United States Air Force -
Plaque located at Air Force Academy Cemetery -
Plaque located at Air Force Academy Cemetery -
Plaque located at Air Force Academy Cemetery -
Plaque located at Air Force Academy Cemetery -
74th Fighter Squadron. -
23d Wing. -
75th Fighter Squadron. -
76thfs-emblem.
