Retired US Army Air Corps officer Chennault was commissioned by Chinese Government to create the Flying Tiger composed of US pilots in 1941. The Flying Tiger took actions in Southwest China and Burma airspace to fill the heavy loss of Chinese pilots. Since the United States entered the war in Far East after the attack on Pearl Harbor, as a volunteer military organization, the Flying Tiger lacked the resources of a standard US Air Corps unit.
The Flying Tiger was disbanded on 4th July, 1942. Some of their personnel were absorbed into the US 10th Air Force based in India. China Air Task Force operating 50 fighters and 12 bombers was the only air unit deployed in different airfields in South China. In March of 1943, the US 14th Air Force was established in Kunming, China, commanded by reinstated Major General Chennault.
It was the largest military deployment in China never before. Besides combat missions, 14 AF also assisted in reconstruction of Chinese Air Force. Therefore, the Chinese-American Composite Wing, composed of mainly Chinese pilots, was existed as one of the 4 wings.
Most Chinese pilots of the CACW had been trained in the United States. Unlike other aircrafts of 14 AF with USAAF insignia, aircrafts assigned to the CACW marked Chinese Air Force insignia.
P40N was the primary fighter in the early time, with better cockpit vision than early type P40.
Although its air performance was inferior, it was good for close air support for ground forces. They also escorted the B25's constantly. Their P40N adopted the shark face nose art of the Flying Tiger. The Chinese pilots also learned from their US comrades to take a unique and resounding name for their own aircrafts.