The Road to Burma

The Burma Road played a key role in the Sino-Japanese war. After, the Japanese invasion, this road was one of the only supply routes left leading into China. China's seaports had fallen under Japanese control. The Flying Tigers whole mission was centered around protecting this vital supply route. The road was important to the AVG pilots for other reasons, as well. If they got lost or their plane was damaged and needed to make a landing, they would follow Burma Road and it would take them back home. (National Archives, 1944)

Courtesy of Ms. Fontaine. This map shows all the areas occupied by the Japanese 1942

"We repaired damaged planes, and supplied all of China with parts and all things necessary for the fighter and bomber groups to operate. We took a convoy of 300 trucks and equipment over the Burma Road from Calcutta to China with specialized mechanics to set up our Air Depot Group." (Interview with Mr. Hiner)

Mountain-climbing U.S. medium tanks, manned by Chinese and American crows, use the Burma Road for the first time after the combined Allied offensive had broken the two-year Jap control of the only overland supply route to China.

Courtesy of National Archives. Save Burma

Lend-Lease Act

Passed on March 11, 1941, this act set up a system that would allow the United States to lend or lease war supplies to any nation deemed "vital to the defense of the United States." The Lend-Lease was signed by President Roosevelt. It was meant to keep America out of the war by lending or leasing raw materials and supplies over seas to various countries.

Courtesy of The National Archives
(Lend-Lease Act March 1942)