The Ledo Road: A Brief History
During World War II, The China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre of Operations was, initially, important in keeping the Japanese engaged. China was promised support through the Lend Lease program to carry this out, but supplies were slowed and/or cut off by Japan’s capture of the Burma Road. Two plans promised the continued delivery of the supplies: 1. “Flying the Hump”: airlifting supplies from India to China over the Himalayan Mountains; 2. Constructing a road from India, through Northern Burma to connect with the Chinese portion of the Burma Road at Wanting, China. The first plan was cumbersome, expensive and dangerous as such flights were plagued with altitude, weather and temperature issues. The US pursued the plan to build the road.
Again, the Road would be built from Ledo, Assam, India to Kunming, China, meeting the old Burma Road at Wanting. The first portion— through Burma—followed the footpaths of ancient traders. The Road was cut out of the mountains, through valleys, and over rivers. Most of the Road through China had to be rebuilt to withstand the weight of the supply trucks. The completed road totaled over 1079 miles and remains one of the greatest engineering feats of
World War II.
