Editing Civil Air Transport (section)

===Chinese Civil War and Evacuations===
From 1947 to 1949, as communist forces advanced, CAT played a critical role in sustaining KMT-held cities. It airlifted supplies to besieged areas like Weihsien in Shandong Province, often flying under fire to deliver essentials and evacuate personnel. CAT’s pilots braved shelling on runways, with some planes damaged during these missions.

After the KMT’s defeat in 1949, CAT evacuated thousands of Nationalist personnel and civilians to Taiwan, a logistical feat that solidified its reputation for high-stakes operations. These efforts were initially contracted by the KMT but set the stage for deeper U.S. involvement.