In Days of the Ching Pao, journalist and U.S. Army Air Forces officer Malcolm Rosholt presents a rare and compelling visual chronicle of the American air campaign in China during World War II. Through hundreds of black-and-white photographs and firsthand accounts, this book captures the extraordinary story of the 14th Air Force—successor to the legendary Flying Tigers—and their efforts alongside Chinese allies against Japanese forces in the China-Burma-India Theater.

“Ching Pao,” meaning “air raid warning” in Chinese, reflects the ever-present danger in the skies above wartime China. Yet amid this peril, Rosholt documents not only the intensity of aerial combat and airfield operations, but also the resilience, camaraderie, and daily routines of the men who served. From the rugged airstrips of Kunming to the bombed-out hangars of Liuchow, his lens offers a candid glimpse into life at the edge of war.

Rosholt’s unique perspective—shaped by his prewar experience as a Shanghai-based journalist fluent in Chinese and his subsequent role as a liaison officer—infuses the narrative with depth and cultural insight. The book’s 23 chapters span fighter and bomber missions, reconnaissance flights, airfield construction, and personal vignettes of service members at work and play.

Days of the Ching Pao remains a vital record of one of World War II’s most overlooked theaters. It is both a tribute to the courage of the 14th Air Force and an invaluable photographic archive for historians, veterans, and readers drawn to the human side of aerial warfare.

1978, printed by Palmer Publications, Wisconsin. Black/white photos throughout, with a good dust jacket, good condition.