Burma Road, the overland supply line to Nationalist China, is cut by the Japanese as Lashio is captured.
July:
General Wavell approves formation of Chindits, organization and training begins.
February 13 1943:
Operation Longcloth begins as forward columns begin to cross the Chindwin River.
March 4-6:
Initial attackes and sabotages begin in Indaw Valley lines of communication.
March 24:
Wingate's Chindit columns ordered to return to India.
March 27:
Chindit columns begin dispersion back to Allied lines.
April 15-24:
Small groups from the columns begin to reach the Chindwin.
April 25:
Wingate's command party reaches the Chindwin.
May 1:
Elements of a column reach Chinese forces in Yunnan.
August:
Allied political & military leaders agree upon new advance to re-capture northern Burma.
February 1944:
Fergusson's 16th Brigade begins crossing the Chindwin and marching into Japanese Burma for start of Operation Thursday.
February:
U.S. 5307 Composite Group (Merill's Mauraders) & Chinese units begin offense down Hukawng Valley towards Myitkyina.
March 5:
During the evening columns depart airfields in aircraft & gliders for main landing zones.
March 6-8:
Columns of 77th Brigade land & establish stronghold Broadway. 111th Brigade columns fly into Chowringhee & Broadway to begin operations.
March 7-8:
Columns detailed to operate against Bhamo-Myitkyina & Bhamo-Salween lines of communication land at Chowringee.
March 6:
Japanese army begins drive westward toward Imphal & Kohima.
March 20:
16th Brigade main columns establish stronghold Aberdeen north-west of Indaw.
March 13-31:
Stronghold Broadway repulses Japanese counter-attacks.
March 16-19:
Stronghold White City established by main columns of 77th Brigade & first Japanese counter-attacks beaten off.
March 23-April 4:
14th Brigade columns fly into strongpoint Aberdeen and begin attacks.
March 24:
Fergusson's Chindit columns begin march and attack agains Indaw area.
March 24:
General Wingate is killed in aircraft crash, General Lentaigne is promoted to command of Chindits.
March 27:
Attack on Indaw broken off.
April:
Columns of 3rd West African Brigade fly into stongpoints White City & Aberdeen.
April 6-18:
77th Brigade, later assisted by 3rd West African, beat of series of attacks by Japanese against stronghold White City.
April 23:
Under Slim's desire's, Lentaigne orders Chindits to directly assit Stilwell and come under his command. 77th Brigade columns are toward Moguang while abandoning Broadway & White City, 111th columns to move north toward Moguang and establish a block along the supply line. 14th and 3 West African ordered to take over and organize withdraw from strongholds White City & Aberdeen then to assist 111th, 16th Brigade is to be flown out.
May 8:
Main units of 111th reach newly established stronghold Blackpool. Siege begins almost immediatly.
May 17:
Merill's Mauraders take Myitkyina airfield.
May 25-6:
111th Brigade retreats from Blackpool stronghold.
June-July:
Columns of 111th, 14th and 3rd West African conduct operations west of Mogaung-Indaw road and rail line. Remnants of Japanese army that had invaded India retreats across Chindwin and from northern Burma.
June 2:
Calver's 77th Brigade begins operations against Mogaung.
June 27:
Mogaung falls to Calver's 77th Brigade. Providing assistance are the Chindit columns which were operating east of the Irrawaddy.
August 3:
Merill's Mauraders, U.S. reinforcements & Chinese units take Myitkyina town. Northern Burma cleared by Allies.
January 1945:
Land route to China re-opened
February:
Final Allied offense in Burma begins with crossing of Irrawaddy, culminating in the taking of Mandalay in March & Rangoon in May.
January 4 1948:
Burma is officially granted its Independence from Britain.
