THE LEDO ROAD General Joseph W. Stilwell’s Highway to China

MESSAGE  URGENT  Dec. 27, 1943 - Covell from Pick - The Road trace capable of bearing a limited amount of heavy six by six truck traffic completed into Shingbwiyang at 11:21 AM Dec. 27. STOP Trace will not be extended beyond Shingbwiyang at this time although we are prepared to do so on short notice. Expect to have entire road graded and rocked by Feb. 15. - Pick  VIEW ENLARGED IMAGES

INTRODUCTION

    While researching my father's service in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of World War II, I learned that he worked for the Services Of Supply (SOS)in an air supply office which supported the building of the Ledo Road and other operations in northern Burma. A Tribute To My Dad contains the informationI was able to find about his service in CBI as well as photos, documents and other memorabilia he saved.

    Searching for information on the Ledo Road, I found various confusing statements about it and the Burma Roads. I could find no single site about the Ledo Road that provided the story and photos of the road building effort. I set about constructing this site as a single point of information about the Ledo Road.

    On this site, combined with details of the road building effort, are photos and personal accounts of the Ledo Road.  Like "The Road" in 1945, this site is subject to constant maintenance and improvement. Fenruary 4, 2020 marked the 75th Anniversary of the arrival in Kunming of the first convoy over the newly named Stilwell Road. Anniversaries continue through 2020.

    Sincere thanks to those who have contributed to this site by sharing personal accounts, printed material, photos, and much more. Additional information is always welcomed to help make this site more complete. Your comments regarding this site are also welcomed. Please contact me to comment on the site or if you have anything to add.

Copyright © 2022 Carl W. Weidenburner 

THE TOUGHEST JOB

  The Ledo Road was built by U.S. Army Engineers and native labor during World War II from the tea plantation province of Assam in India, through the mountains and jungle of northern Burma, to a junction with the Burma Road.  It went over tough mountain terrain, across monsoon fed swamps and through the thickest jungle.  General Lewis A. Pick, who commanded the road building effort, called it the toughest job ever given to U.S. Army Engineers in wartime.  Its purpose was to re-establish the land supply route to China that had been blocked by the Japanese invasion of Burma in 1942.  Construction began 16 December 1942 and the completed road was officially opened 20 May 1945.  An estimated 147,000 tons of supplies were carried over the road by the end of the war.

  The usefulness of the Ledo Road was debated both before its construction and after its completion.  Even as it progressed into Burma, military planners had their doubts about whether it could be completed in time or even at all.  As it neared completion and until well after the war ended, many pointed out that it never lived-up to the original estimates of capacity as a supply line.

  Overlooked is the fact that it was decided not to build the road to the original specification of a double-track (two-lane) road over its entire length, the fact that it was never assigned the originally planned number of truck transport companies, and the fact that it actually assisted the airlift operation over The Hump to which it was constantly compared.

  As the road was built it served as a combat highway enabling the reconquest of Burma, serviced a pipeline that paralleled it to carry fuel all the way to China, and allowed safer more southerly routes for airlift flights to China.  The accomplishment of building the Ledo Road stands as a testament to the men responsible and the American spirit that made it possible.

THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER

  Officially established June 22, 1942, the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations (CBI) is often referred to as the Forgotten Theater of World War II.  Of the 12,300,000 Americans under arms at the height of World War II mobilization, only about 250,000 (two percent) were assigned to the CBI Theater.  Relatively few Americans were in combat in the theater.  Except for a few stories, CBI did not often make headlines in the newspapers back home.  The 12,000 mile supply line, longest of the war, was often last in line for supplies from the United States.

  Not forgotten to Allied war planners, CBI was important to the overall war strategy.  Occupation of Burma in 1942 by Japanese forces cut the last supply line of communication between China and the outside world.  Keeping China in the war was important as it occupied an estimated 800,000 Japanese troops that might have been used elsewhere.  A military airlift to supply China was begun although it was generally agreed that this would not be enough and a land supply route would be needed.  A road from Ledo, Assam, India was begun in late 1942.  Ledo was chosen because it was close to the northern terminus of a rail line from the ports of Calcutta and Karachi.  Construction of the Ledo Road was completed in early 1945.

  Allied forces in CBI, mostly British, Chinese, and Indian, engaged large numbers of Japanese troops.  America's role in CBI was to support China by providing war materials and the manpower to get it to where it was needed.  The Flying Tigers fought the Japanese in the air over China and Burma.  The Services of Supply managed supplies from the U.S. to India and on to China.  Army Air Forces flew supplies Over The Hump from India to China.  Merrill's Marauders and the Mars Task Force fought through the jungles of Burma.  Army Engineers built the Ledo Road to open up the land supply route.

Symbols

CBI Theater - The left-hand symbol represents China and is the sun surrounded by 12 points for each hour in the traditional Chinese day. The star symbolizes the "Star of India". The red, white, and blue represent the United States. Worn since 1942 it was officially adopted on 13 November 1944.


Ledo Road - The winding road proceeds through Burma to China (represented by the sun). The three stars represent the three countries involved: China, Burma, and India. Approved for local wear only. Two different versions were worn, one with stars on red field and the other, more common, stars on blue field.


Southeast Asia Command - A Phoenix rising from the fire. Most likely worn by only a few officers who held positions in this command of which CBI was a part. British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten headed this mostly British command.

These symbols were rarely seen in the field. The CBI insignia was officially approved one month after the theater was split in two. Ledo Road insignia was approved for local wear only.

THREE NAMES - TWO ROADS - ONE PURPOSE

Burma Road - Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931 resulted in the Second Sino-Japanese War which continued with sporadic fighting throughout the 1930s.  In 1937 full scale war broke out and Japan occupied most of coastal China.  This forced the Chinese to seek another method of bringing in supplies and war materials.  A route from Kunming, China to a railhead at Lashio, Burma was completed in 1938.  Supplies were landed at Rangoon, Burma and brought by rail to Lashio.  Built by Chinese laborers stone by stone, this route was known as The Burma Road.

Ledo Road - Japan invaded and occupied Burma in early 1942, blocking the Burma Road supply line.  Allied war planners decided to build a new road from Ledo, Assam, India, to bypass the cut off Burma Road.  Supplies landed at Karachi and Calcutta, India could be brought by rail to Ledo and trucked over the road to China.  It proved to be an extremely difficult task but the Japanese were driven back and a new route forged through the mountains and jungles of northern Burma.  The Ledo Road was completed by U.S. Army Engineers in early 1945.  It ran 465 miles from Ledo to a junction with the Burma Road at Mongyu, Burma, near Wanting, China.  The Ledo Road did not enter China.

Stilwell Road - In addition to building the Ledo Road, Army Engineers and local workers also upgraded over 600 miles of the Burma Road.  The Ledo Road and the upgraded portion of the Burma Road from Mongyu to Kunming were later named Stilwell Road at the suggestion of Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, in honor of American General Joseph W. Stilwell, Commander of the China-Burma-India Theater and Chief of Staff to the Generalissimo.  The Stilwell Road covered 1,079 miles from Ledo, India to Kunming, China, 470 miles "as the crow flies."

THE COMMANDERS

JOSEPH W. STILWELL CBI Theater	LEWIS A. PICK Ledo Road	RAYMOND A. WHEELER Services of Supply	FRANK D. MERRILL Marauders
JOHN C. ARROWSMITH Ledo Road Engineers	DANIEL I. SULTAN India-Burma Theater	ALBERT C. WEDEMEYER China Theater	ROBERT F. SEEDLOCK Burma Road Engineers

CLICK PORTRAIT FOR BIOGRAPHY






CLICK HERE FOR FULL IMAGE

THE ROAD BUILDERS

"The Engineers have hairy ears and live in caves and ditches,
They bang their jocks against the rocks, those hardy sons of bitches."

45th Engineer General Service Regiment  71st Engineer Light Pontoon Company  75th Engineer Light Pontoon Company  77th Engineer Light Pontoon Company  93rd Engineer General Service Regiment 195th Engineer Dump Truck Company 209th Engineer Combat Battalion 236th Engineer Combat Battalion 330th Engineer General Service Regiment 352nd Engineer General Service Regiment 479th Engineer Maintenance Company 497th Engineer Heavy Shop Company 797th Engineer Forestry Company 823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion 848th Engineer Aviation Battalion 849th Engineer Aviation Battalion 858th Engineer Aviation Battalion 1327th Engineer General Service Regiment 1359th Engineer Dump Truck Company 1388th Engineer Forestry Company 1575th Engineer Heavy Shop Company 1875th Engineer Aviation Battalion 1883rd Engineer Aviation Battalion 1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion 4023rd Quartermaster Dump Truck Company 4024th Quartermaster Dump Truck Company

CLICK HERE FOR LIFE MAGAZINE PICTORIAL - “THE LEDO ROAD”

SERVICES OF SUPPLY

Victory and Liberty Ships being loaded with lend-lease supplies for overseas.





Lend-lease medical supplies for China being unloaded at Calcutta






Medical supply warehouse at Calcutta






Carefully unloading delicate cargo






Supplies await loading at rail yard for shipment to Ledo






Supplies move on the Bengal & Assam Railway while elephants cool down after hard day's work.






Construction of facilities at Ledo






Fuel storage dump in Assam






Aviation fuel being flown Over The Hump to China






Sign warning that gas is "Hot Stuff" so No Smoking






U.S. Army Air Corps. C-47, one of the planes used to air-drop supplies to forward areas.






Supplies being air-dropped






Awaiting the word to "kick" supplies out the door






Air-drop supplies are pushed out the door of a transport plane






Signal Corps. cameraman documents air drop






Low-level parachute drop






Packing supplies at the 14th Medical Supply Depot






Native labor helping to unload supplies






Wrecker hoists huge crate






Unloading a bulldozer from a transport






Part of the sprawling U.S. Army Installation at Ledo

THROUGH THE JUNGLE

Laborers cut a 100 foot wide path through the jungle





Survey party on elephants meets up with bulldozer





Clearing the trace





Around the mountains...





...and through the jungle





Engineers and equipment dwarfed by the massive jungle





General Pick, the man with the stick, consults with bulldozer operator





Graded slope along the road





Jeep moves on a "corduroy road" (bamboo laid over mud) during construction





Truck convoy at Hell Gate





The tough terrain and steep grades earned Pangsau Pass the name "Hell Pass".





Soldiers pose with Engineer's sign marking completion of road through the pass.





Jeeps follow the ruts during construction





Monsoon rains made traversing the road a constant struggle





D-8 bulldozer pulls smaller D-4 out of the mud





"That's not a river, it's the Ledo Road!"





Clearing mud from a bridge near Myitkyina





Drainage Culverts to prevent wash-outs





Rare color photograph shows cut through jungle and heavy traffic on the road





A look ahead at the mountainous terrain





When there wasn't room on the mountainside, Engineers made room.





Looking back on the low overhanging rock formation.





Construction continued around-the-clock.





Construction equipment passes former Japanese positions





Anti-aircraft battery protects the road

MERRILL’S MARAUDERS

The 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) code name Galahad became famous as Merrill's Marauders





Merrill's Marauders move along the road





Coaxing mules up a steep hill





The Marauders on a newly cut portion of the Ledo Road





The Marauders pass the half-way point on the Ledo Road





Crossing a native bridge





General Merrill (far left) observes the Marauder's along the Ledo Road

BUILDING BRIDGES

Engineers still at work as trucks cross temporary bridge over the Irrawaddy River south of Myitkyina





Before the bridge was complete supplies were ferried across the Irrawaddy





Three ways to cross the Irrawaddy





A more permanent bridge over the Irrawaddy





Floating design of the 1200 foot long bridge allowed it to adjust to the river's changing level





Bridge over the Mogaung River south of Warazup, Burma





Wooden bridge under construction





Bulldozer grades approach to bridge under construction. Temporary crossing at right.





Another bridge under construction. On average there was a bridge every three miles along the Ledo Road





A 450-foot Bailey cable bridge spans the Shweli River





Salween River Bridge. Early view shows bridge open for foot traffic only.





Suspension bridge under construction





Bridge ready for single-lane traffic





Truck crossing the bridge





Aerial view of the bridge





Another aerial view





Another view with bridge in distance





Chinese soldiers on foot and a Jeep share bridge





Crossing a pontoon bridge





Steel bridges in Burma





Trucks with bridge sections await unloading





General Pick poses with bridge builders





Bailey Bridges





Bailey Bridge





Bridges over the Tarung River in Burma

THE BURMA ROAD

In addition to building the Ledo Road, engineers also upgraded almost 600 miles of the Burma Road.





Survey party checks tough terrain





Truck rolls by laborers placing stones one-by-one





Native laborer works on shoulder of road





Cutting the road into the mountainside





Graders maintaining the Burma Road





General Seedlock at ceremonial link-up of construction parties at the Burma-China border





Famous 24-Zig near the Burma Road





Another view of the curves





Back and forth up or down the mountain





Chinese-manned American tanks on the Burma Road





Chinese tank crew





Tanks cross the Irrawaddy River in Burma





Fighter protects Chinese troops on the Burma Road





Trucks on the road...





...and trucks off the road





This truck almost went in the river





Wreck on edge of road with Salween River Bridge far below





Pause to check-out explosion





Convoys passing





Tractor-trailer trucks just get by a nearly washed-out bridge





Truck rolls along the road





Lone truck kicks up dust racing rain clouds





Chinese troops move along the Burma Road





The Burma Road in Yunnan Province, China.






Driver Award

  This truck driver award was intended to go to the better drivers of the Ledo Road. At first there were to be only 150 of them issued, hence they were lettered by hand up to 150. It was designed by Robert S. Fenn of Engineer Division 2 at the request of General Pick. Unfortunately, the same day the design was completed, the name of the road was officially changed from Ledo Road to Stilwell Road. The award was never used as by the time it was completed it was already outdated.


CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT THE AWARD AND THE LEDO ROAD

PARALLEL PIPELINES

Engineers built fuel pipelines that paralleled the road





Up to six 4" and 6" pipelines followed the supply line from Calcutta to Kunming





Pipe sections being welded





Pipeline suspended over a river





A landing craft and barges pull pipeline across river





The pipeline disappears as it crosses distant river





Pipelines take a shortcut over a hill





Pumping Station in Burma





Engineers maintain diesel pumping station





Installing support beams for the roof of a fuel storage tank near Myitkyina





Storage tanks





Pipelines carried fuel for planes and trucks. Here convoy trucks refuel at a depot.






LONGEST PIPELINE IN THE WORLD       FUEL FOR FREEDOM





Pipeline system from Assam to Kunming

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MAP FULL SCREEN

THE FIRST CONVOY

FIRST CONVOY OVER THE LEDO ROAD
PICK'S PIKE, LIFE LINE FROM INDIA TO CHINA

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SLIDE SHOW







American and Chinese soldiers place flags on a Jeep for the First Convoy over the Ledo Road







First Convoy formed and awaiting departure from Ledo







Lead vehicle is decorated with American and Chinese flags







At symbolic ceremony, General Pick (right) receives orders for first convoy from General Sultan (left).







First Convoy heads out on the Ledo Road, 12 January 1945.







6x6 Deuce 'n' a half (2½ ton truck) decorated for first convoy







More than just a pretty picture - lead truck was also armed with an anti-aircraft gun







Motorcycles lead the 113 vehicle-long convoy







Trucks pause on a narrow stretch







Lead truck continues past one of the many bridges







The First Convoy winds its way through Burma







Army ambulance passes convoy







The convoy made two extended stops as the final route was cleared







Correspondents with first convoy during 3-day layover near Namkham, Burma







MPs assigned to the convoy prepare for overnight layover







General Pick addresses drivers prior to leaving Myitkyina







General Pick in lead jeep at the junction of the Ledo and Burma Roads







Photographers follow lead vehicles







Truck passes ceremonial junction







Sign marks passing of first convoy

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A CLOSE-UP OF THE SIGN       CLICK HERE TO VIEW TEXT OF SIGN







American and Chinese soldiers view the sign, in a different location and with translation added.







Convoy traverses switchbacks on the Burma Road.







Passing Temples and ruins







Flags and fireworks greet the convoy as it passes through Saikwan, China.







Boy gives traditional Chinese good luck greeting as convoy passes.
Cover of May 4, 1945 issue of YANK The Army Weekly.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COVER







Convoy assembled for triumphant entry into Kunming







Convoy passes under sign "Welcome the First Convoy on Stilwell Road"







General Pick waves to crowd lining streets of Kunming







People crowd the convoy







First convoy arrives Kunming, China on 4 February 1945.







The long convoy in Kunming







General Pick arriving in Kunming







Lead truck navigates the crowded street







General Pick at road opening ceremony







Governor of Yunnan Province greets General Pick

STILWELL ROAD SIGNS

Another version of the sign with CBI and Ledo Road emblems added.







General Pick points out Myitkyina, 268 miles from Ledo.







Soldiers pose in front of the large Milepost sign at Ledo







Probably the first Milepost Zero sign at Ledo







Sign at Shingbwiyang shows number of miles to Kunming







Closer look at the "MP" on the sign







Ledo Area Command Headquarters







General Pick inspects Chinglo Hill sign
with Col. William J. Green and Col. Charles S. Davis

Convoy parking area south of Bhamo, Burma Mileage sign along the road

On the way back to Assam near Shingbwiyang Instructions for crossing the Irrawaddy River

Not your average speed limit sign Pin-up Girls always got a driver's attention

Another curve warning And another warning to take it slow

"Speeders Beware! Mark my words, Wait and see, You'll get caught, Just like me." "Listen cats I ain't jivin' Take it easy while you're drivin'"

Engineers were also known as "Hairy Ears"

UNCLE SAM CAUTIONS "SPEED LIMIT 25 BE SMART - BE CAREFUL" "DON'T BE A SAD SAC - BE ALERT - OBEY TRAFFIC RULES - SPEED LIMIT 25 M.P.H."

"TAKE MY ADVICE SOLDIER WHENEVER YOU DRIVE - DON'T BE FOOLISH AND YOU'LL STAY ALIVE" Soldier beside "Stay Alive" sign

"Speeders Beware" sign apparently
before it got out on the road







"I LOVE MY SOLDIER - DRIVE CAREFULLY"







"Bugs Bunny" gets into the act







Making reference to gas rationing back home, sign urges conservation







A small sign marking Milepost Zero and one featuring a Pin-Up Girl urging caution on the curves.


Signs in Pangsau Pass mark the India-Burma border and warn of steep grade and sharp curves.







Sign at Mongyu, Burma marks junction of the roads







China-bound truck passes sign at junction of Ledo and Burma roads











Signs memorialize one of the 261 engineers who lost their lives during construction.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CLOSE-UP OF SIGN       CLICK HERE TO VIEW TEXT OF SIGN

LEDO ROAD TIMELINE

1937  JAPANESE AGGRESSION   SECOND SINO-JAPANESE WAR  More    After years of Japanese aggression, full-scale war breaks out.    Many historians regard this as the start of World War II.

1938  CHINA ISOLATED   JAPAN BLOCKADES CHINESE PORTS  More    Capture of Hankow and Canton completes blockade of ocean ports.    Supplies must be brought by road through Indo-China and Burma.

1939  GUERILLA WARFARE   CHINESE FIGHT GUERILLA WAR  More    Under Japanese occupation a relentless guerrilla war is waged.    Staggering losses fail to destroy Chinese morale.

1940  CHINA IN CRISIS  17 JUL - JAPAN FORCES BRITAIN TO CLOSE BURMA ROAD  More               leaving Russia as the only land supply route to China.  05 SEP - U.S. DECLARES NEUTRALITY               while military and other aid is authorized for Britain and France  18 OCT - BRITAIN REOPENS BURMA ROAD               as no progress toward peace is made with Japan     NOV - LEND-LEASE PROPOSED  More               allowing "lending" of military equipment to U.S. allies.

1941  DRAWN TO WAR  04 MAR - AMERICAN MILITARY MISSION TO CHINA ESTABLISHED  More               to support China's war effort was the mission of AMMISCA  11 MAR - LEND-LEASE ACT SIGNED  More               authorizing lending of war supplies to China     APR - RUSSO-JAPANESE NEUTRALITY PACT           ends China's hope for supplies from Russia  10 JUL - FLYING TIGERS DEPART SAN FRANCISCO  More               The American Volunteer Group (AVG) heads to China  26 JUL - U.S. FREEZES ALL JAPANESE ASSETS           the situation becomes critical  07 SEP - JAPANESE FINALIZE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK PLAN           while diplomatic talks with the U.S. continue  16 OCT - TOJO COMES TO POWER  More               as the military gains control of the Japanese Empire  07 DEC - JAPANESE ATTACK PEARL HARBOR  More               "awake a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve"  08 DEC - UNITED STATES DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN  More               Roosevelt forever labels December 7th the "Day of Infamy"

1942  MOBILIZING FOR WAR     JAN - JAPANESE INVADE BURMA  More               Japanese "co-prosperity" sphere grows  22 FEB - WAR DEPARTMENT APPROVES ROAD PROJECT           to be supported with Lend-Lease supplies  04 MAR - HQ. AMERICAN ARMY FORCES IN CBI ESTABLISHED  More               The United States organizes in the Far East     MAR - SERVICES OF SUPPLY (SOS) ESTABLISHED           to deliver lend-lease military supplies to China  06 MAR - JAPANESE TAKE RANGOON           closing the important port  02 APR - INDIA-BURMA CAMPAIGN BEGINS  More               the defense of India and Burma begins  29 APR - JAPANESE TAKE LASHIO           thereby closing the Burma Road  04 MAY - STILWELL WALKS OUT OF BURMA  More               and reports "We took a hell of a beating"  22 JUN - CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER ESTABLISHED  More               Commanded by General Joseph W. Stilwell  04 JUL - CHINA DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGN BEGINS  More               the defense of China begins  06 JUL - FLYING TIGERS JOIN CHINA AIR TASK FORCE           ex-volunteers join the Army Air Corps.  22 OCT - BRITISH-AMERICAN PLANNING           Joint planning for the retaking of Burma in 1943  29 OCT - STILWELL ORDERS ROAD BUILT           from Ledo forward to Chinese lines  05 NOV - MERRILL PROPOSES ROUTE OF LEDO ROAD           based on British surveys and a refugee trail  26 NOV - SOS OPENS OFFICE IN KUNMING           to coordinate both ends of supply line  15 DEC - BASE SECTION 3 ESTABLISHED           Command for all Ledo Road related operations  16 DEC - CONSTRUCTION OF LEDO ROAD BEGINS           Ill-equipped engineers hack away at the jungle with machetes

1943  BUILDING THE ROAD  26 JAN - MILE POST 34.5 "HELLGATE"           beginning of the road's ascent into the Patkai Range  28 FEB - LEDO ROAD REACHES INDIA-BURMA BORDER           36 miles into the Patkai Range of the Himalayas  04 MAR - "SHIPMENT 4201" REACHES INDIA           Engineers and support personnel for the road project  17 MAR - THE MONSOONS COME           Unusual fury bogs down construction progress  24 MAR - FIRST SUBDEPOT ESTABLISHED           Rest and refueling stop at Hellgate     MAR - TROOPS ON THE LEDO ROAD           Chinese 38th Division crosses the Burma border  08 APR - CONSTRUCTION BOGS DOWN           Engineers fall back to strengthen the road against the monsoon  01 MAY - ADDITIONAL ENGINEERS ARRIVE           330th Engineers reinforce the construction effort  25 JUN - ARROWSMITH PROMOTED           Commander elevated to Brigadier General  06 JUL - ROAD HEADQUARTERS ESTABLISHED           at Hellgate  15 AUG - SOUTHEAST ASIA COMMAND (SEAC) ESTABLISHED  More               under British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten  17 AUG - QUEBEC CONFERENCE  More               Plan to regain northern Burma is agreed on     SEP - MORE RAIN HALTS WORK           14.88 inches fall late in the month, halting work on the point.  17 OCT - GENERAL PICK IN COMMAND OF ROAD BUILDING  More               injecting new life into the road building effort  22 OCT - MILE POST 60           near Tincha progress on the road reaches about a mile a day  31 OCT - MERRILL'S MARAUDERS ARRIVE  More               volunteers for a dangerous jungle mission "somewhere"  27 DEC - ROAD REACHES SHINGBWIYANG           117 miles to the first "town" in Burma

1944  ONWARD TO VICTORY  13 JAN - STILWELL'S TROOPS CROSS TARUNG           Chinese 22nd and 38th Divisions in heavy fighting  09 FEB - MARAUDERS DEPART LEDO           10 day hike to Shingbwiyang headed deeper into Burma  17 MAY - ALLIES TAKE MYITKYINA AIRFIELD           largest air field in north Burma  26 JUL - MARS TASK FORCE CREATED           remnants of the Marauders and Chinese troops  03 AUG - ALLIES TAKE MYITKYINA           the 79-day siege ends  18 OCT - STILWELL DEPARTS CBI           Chiang Kai-shek prevails and Roosevelt concedes  27 OCT - CBI THEATER REORGANIZED           China Theater of Operations (CTO) & India-Burma Theater (IBT)     OCT - ROAD WITHIN 80 MILES OF MYITKYINA           using Myitkyina's airstrip speeds progress  13 NOV - CBI THEATER INSIGNIA/PATCH APPROVED           having been worn in theater for years  15 DEC - ALLIES TAKE BHAMO           the tide has turned in Burma

1945  "INEVITABLE TRIUMPH"  12 JAN - FIRST CONVOY DEPARTS LEDO           the entire route not yet cleared of Japanese resistance  28 JAN - INDIA-BURMA CAMPAIGN ENDS  More               as the Ledo Road is completed  28 JAN - STILWELL ROAD NAMED           at the suggestion of Chiang Kai-shek  04 FEB - FIRST CONVOY ARRIVES KUNMING, CHINA           first supplies are delivered by land since 1942  07 MAR - ALLIES TAKE LASHIO           on the way to Rangoon  20 MAR - ALLIES TAKE MANDALAY           the drive to Rangoon continues  03 MAY - ALLIES TAKE RANGOON           Japanese are cleared from Burma  04 MAY - CHINA DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ENDS  More               war in the Far East winds down  20 MAY - STILWELL ROAD OFFICIALLY OPENED           General Pick formally announces completion  06 AUG - ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA  More               Enola Gay delivers "Little Boy"  09 AUG - ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED ON NAGASAKI  More               Bocks Car delivers "Fat Man"  15 AUG - VICTORY OVER JAPAN           Emperor Hirohito announces acceptance of surrender terms  28 AUG - SURRENDER IN BURMA           Japanese sign the surrender instrument in Rangoon  02 SEP - OFFICIAL SURRENDER           Japanese sign Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri

1946  WINDING DOWN & MOPPING UP  02 MAR - ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN ENDS           curtain falls on the old CBI Theater     MAR - MILITARY USE OF STILWELL ROAD ENDS           after being officially open for only 10 months     APR - CHINESE CIVIL WAR RESUMES  More               destined to bring communism to China  12 OCT - GENERAL JOSEPH W. STILWELL DIES           Cancer claims "Uncle Joe" in California  31 DEC - END OF WORLD WAR II           President Truman officially proclaims end of hostilities

START 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 World War II Timelines: Asian Mainland Pacific

ROAD MILE POSTS

Information in the table below is from various published sources. MILE POST indicates the distance from Ledo along the road. Mileage shown in RED is estimated based on maps. DATE REACHED is approximate and indicates the progress of the roadhead (the farthest point along in construction). Location names in BOLD are shown on the Mileage Sign at Ledo.

MILE  POST	DATE REACHED	LOCATION	ALONG THE LEDO ROAD IN INDIA AND BURMA
0.00	01 OCT 42	LEDO	Construction begins from small tea plantation town in northern Assam.
4	16 DEC 42	Lekhapani	Depot at the northern terminus of rail lines from Karachi and Calcutta.
15	31 DEC 42
34	26 JAN 43	Hell Gate	The road begins its ascent to Pangsau Pass through the Patkai Range of the Himalayas.
36	28 FEB 43	Pangsau Pass	The road crosses the India-Burma border near its highest point at nearly 4,600 feet.
50	01 AUG 43	Nawngyawng
55		Loglai	Sub-depot.
60	22 OCT 43	Tincha	Progress on the road reaches about a mile per day.
69		Namlip
79		Tagap Ga	Northernmost point of Japanese infiltration into Burma.
92	NOV 43	Nathkaw
95		Taga Sakan
98		Chinglow Hill	Through "seven miles of steep grades and sharp curves" the road descends to Shingbwiyang.
103	27 NOV 43	SHINGBWIYANG	First large "city" reached in Burma was a Kachin village. Here the 497th Engineer Heavy Shop Co. established "Little Peoria."
118		Ningam Sakan
128		Yupbang Ga	Tarung River
143			Tawang River
148			Lamung River
151		Nritu Ga	Tanai River
159			Magwitang River
161		Walawbum	Numhkang River
175		Tingkawk Sakan
178		Jambu Bum
183		Shadazup
189		WARAZUP	Low point in this area required the building of a causeway through the swamp, 18 inches above the highest flood level.
205	OCT 44	Nampin
222		Tumbonghka
234		Namti	Kachin village midway between Myitkyina and Mogaung.
254		Myitkyina Fork	The north fork to Myitkyina, the south fork (Ledo Road) bypassing the city, to the Irrawaddy and Nampaung.
268	AUG 44	MYITKYINA	The airfield at Myitkyina was the largest in north Burma and became an important hub for air operations supporting road construction and Hump flights.
272	06 DEC 44	Irrawaddy River	1,627-foot long bridge (853 feet of it floating) spans the Irrawaddy between Myitkyina and Waingmaw. Completed 31 MAR 45.
287		Nampaung
299		Kazu
329		Nalong
354		Myothit	Taping River
372		BHAMO
439		Namkham	Dr. Gordon Seagrave's hospital overlooked this city in the Shweli River Valley.
465	27 JAN 45	Mongyu	Last Japanese resistance is cleared and the Ledo Road joins the old Burma Road near Wanting, China.

MAPS OF THE ROAD

The China-Burma-India Theater

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENLARGED MAP




Early progress of the Ledo Road

Map from The Ledo Road by Leslie Anders, © University of Oklahoma Press. Used by permission.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENLARGED MAP




Planned route of the Ledo Road

Map from The Ledo Road by Leslie Anders, © University of Oklahoma Press. Used by permission.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENLARGED MAP




Shingbwiyang to Warazup

Map from The Ledo Road by Leslie Anders, © University of Oklahoma Press. Used by permission.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENLARGED MAP




Myitkyina to Mongyu

Map from The Ledo Road by Leslie Anders, © University of Oklahoma Press. Used by permission.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENLARGED MAP




The Stilwell Road (Ledo and Burma Roads)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENLARGED MAP




CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENLARGED TABLE

FORGOTTEN FACTS

   A primary source of information for this site was The Ledo Road by Leslie Anders, published by the University of Oklahoma Press. This book is an excellent source of information about the building of the Ledo Road.

   Below you will see some facts about the building of the Ledo Road, including the cost in dollars and more importantly, American lives.   You will see numbers supporting the fact that the Ledo Road was quite an engineering accomplishment, made even more so by the fact that it was built during wartime in the battle zone of northern Burma.


CLICK HERE TO VIEW COVER PHOTO

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The Cost

  While supplies that moved over the road were lend-lease (to be paid for or returned) the cost of building the road itself was borne mostly by the United States. The exact cost could not be determined for various reasons, including the fact that some of the costs attributed to building the road were actually incurred on other smaller projects carried out by the road engineers.
The final estimated cost:

  U.S. Troop labor.................. $ 31,766,000
  Materials and Supplies............   33,912,000
  Equipment, fuel, repairs..........   51,956,000
  Overhead..........................   19,424,000

  Sub-Total.........................  137,058,000

  Chinese Troop labor...............    2,410,000
  Indian military, civilian labor...    9,442,000

  Sub-Total.........................   11,852,000

  Grand Total....................... $148,910,000

  Present Day (2022) Dollars... $2,299,402,037.78

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The Greater Cost

  The greater cost of building the Ledo Road is measured in human lives. The entire length of the Stilwell Road was 1,079 miles. American fatalities in the area commanded from Ledo were 1,133. For this reason the human cost is often stated as "A Man A Mile."

  Overall

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT THE KOHIMA EPITAPH

  Killed in combat.................  624
  Died of Typhus...................   63
  Died of Malaria..................   11
  Died by Drowning.................   53
  Died in Road Accidents...........   44
  Died in Aircraft Accidents.......  173
  Total Ledo Road Fatalities....... 1133

  Among Engineer Units
  Killed in combat.................. 130
  Died of Typhus....................   8
  Died of Malaria...................   7
  Died of Other Causes.............. 116
  Total Engineer Fatalities......... 261

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More Than Miles...

Engineers moved 13,500,000 cubic yards of earth in building the road
Enough earth to build a wall 3 feet wide and 10 feet high from New York to San Francisco

Engineers dug 1,383,000 cubic yards of gravel from riverbeds to surface the road
If loaded on rail cars the train would be 427 miles long

The Ledo Road crossed 10 major rivers and 155 smaller streams
Seven hundred bridges over the length of the road

Construction was as much a drainage project as a road building effort
An average 13 culverts per mile were used totaling 105 miles of pipe

Foresters gathered 822,000 cubic feet of lumber for use in building the road
One million board feet of lumber and 2400 pilings were used in a causeway over the swamp

Of the 15,000 Engineers who built the road, over 60% were African-American
The "colored" or "negro" troops received the jobs nobody else wanted

The supply line from the United States to CBI was 12,000 miles long
Longest supply line in World War II






 Conversation Piece - The Ledo Road    by Sgt. Smith Dawless - Ledo, Assam, India, 1943   

Is the gateway to India at Bombay Really as beautiful as they say? Don't rightly know, Ma'am. Did my part Breakin' point in the jungle's heart; blasted the boulders, felled the trees with red muck oozin' around our knees; Carved the guts from the Patkai's side, Dozed our trace, made it clean and wide, Metalled and graded, dug and filled: We had the Ledo Road to build. Well, surely you saw a burning ghat, Fakirs, rope tricks and all of that. Reckon I didn't. But way up ahead I tended the wounded, buried the dead. For I was a Medic, and little we knew, But the smell of sickness all day through, Mosquitoes, leeches, and thick dark mud Where the Chinese spilled their blood After the enemy guns were stilled: We had the Ledo Road to build.

Of course, you found the Taj Mahal, The loveliest building of them all. Can't really say, lady I was stuck Far beyond Shing with a QM truck Monsoon was rugged there, hot and wet, Nothing to do but work and sweat And dry was the dust upon my mouth As steadily big "cats" roared on south, Over this ground where Japs lay killed: We had the Ledo Road to build. You've been gone two years this spring, Didn't you see a single thing? Never saw much but the moon shine on A Burmese temple around Maingkwan, And silver transports high in the sky, Thursday River and the swift Tanai, And Hukawng Valley coming all green, Those are the only sights I've seen. Did our job, though, like God willed: We had the Ledo Road to build.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW POEM FULL SCREEN       CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE FROM SMITH DAWLESS

LEDO ROAD STORIES

The Ledo Road - by James W. Dunn

And Along The Road, Pick - by John McDowell

First Convoy Over Ledo Road - by William B. Sinclair

I Drove the Lead Vehicle - by James M. Garvin

Driving the Ledo-Burma Road - by Godfrey C. Barnosky

The Tengchung Cut-off - by Carl W. Weidenburner

Ledo Diary - (unknown)

Truck Convoy to China - by Dave Richardson

The Ledo Road - a LIFE Pictorial

Stilwell Road - a LIFE Pictorial

LIFE Goes Over The Stilwell Road

The Jungle's Victory - by Dave Richardson

Building the Ledo Road - by Lloyd L. Kessler

World's Largest Service Station - from Roundup

330th Engineer Regiment Unit History

Of Men and Mud - 879th Engineer Battalion history

First Convoy over the Ledo Road - Story of Pick's Pike

My Trip Over the Ledo Road- by William Dawson

THE ROAD TODAY

A recent photo of the Ledo Road in Burma.





The trace is still visible in this photo from along the road.





While much of the Ledo Road has been reclaimed by the jungle,
portions are still in use by traffic as shown here.





2004 photo shows sign marking Mile Zero on the Ledo Road.
 See more at  A TRIP TO THE ZERO MILE OF THE LEDO ROAD





It's still STILWELL ROAD.





Hell Gate marked the road's entry to Pangsau Pass near the India-Burma Border.





Jungle and muddy track in the Hukaung Valley.





Much of the Hukaung Valley is now a "Tiger Reserve" as indicated by these signs near Kamaing.





The route of the road from Kamaing to Pangsau is part of the Hukaung Tiger Reserve.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MAP





Trucks would have no problem on this well-built stretch, even today.





March 2005 photo of the "24 Zig" curves near the Burma Road.

ROAD JUNCTIONS

Links to more about Ledo and Burma Roads and CBI Theater    [CHECK LINKS] The Ledo Road - information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Route of the Ledo Road through Burma to China History of the Road 1942-44 - Official Report The Road That Couldn't Be Built - from Popular Mechanics magazine Pictorial Record - of the 497th Engineer Heavy Shop Co. Mile Zero - and other recent photos from the Ledo area The Twain Meet - Pick's Pike in Water Color and Words The Ledo Road - LIFE magazine pictorial More Photos of The Ledo Road - from LIFE Photo Collection Aerial Views of the Ledo Road - The Road under construction First Convoy on Burma-Ledo Road - from LIFE Photo Collection Life-line to China Re-opened - Universal News Newsreel Video The Stilwell Road - movie narrated by Ronald Reagan Ledo Road Shoulder Sleeve Insignia - Story of the Ledo Road patch Along the Ledo Road - Almost 1,000 Signal Corps photos China-Burma-India - Remembering the Forgotten Theater More Links - to information about the CBI Theater Explore THE LEDO ROAD on the Internet using    ALL LINKS ARE OPENED IN A NEW WINDOW

Copyright © 2022 Carl W. Weidenburner