<p>Chennault had based some of his strength at forward bases in eastern China. From those fields, Fourteenth AF bombers pounded coastal shipping, denying the Japanese the supplies that followed the shipping lanes along the coast of China and Indo-China. The Japanese began a major offensive to drive down through China from above Hankow to Indo-China, to establish a land route for supplies between northeastern China and the south. It would also cut off the advance base network being used by the Fourteenth.
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<p>By late autumn 1944, the drive had overrun Fourteenth AF bases in the east, and the American units pulled back to Kunming, the headquarters of the Fourteenth. The Japanese had gained 1,500 miles (2,410 km) in eight months of ground combat, had isolated the southeastern segment of China, and gained their supply routes. Hardly five months later, they began a pull-back; troops were needed desperately to defend Japan, and the gains of the offensive in China were given back.
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<p>By May 1945 there was little left for the Fourteenth to do. They had supported the Chinese ground armies, hit shipping, and defended the Hump. The war was winding down and with it the mission of Fourteenth AF. Today, it is one of the forgotten air forces, except by its loyal alumni. But it was once a tiger.
