Map of ledo gaon village in margherita tehsil, tinsukia, assam. Once the construction of the road was settled, it was decided that two 4inch lines from tinsukia, 30 air miles northwest of ledo, would follow the road. Stillwell road is a 430 km long road, built in 1944 ad, by the british general vinegar joe stillwell. The old ledo road is now the national highway 315 within the indian territory and more famous as stilwell road. Allied war planners decided to build a new road from ledo, assam, india, to bypass the cut off burma road. Soldiers of the 39th transportation battalion mc participate in knights valour in brecon training area, united kingdom on july 10, 2017.
The road was built by 15,000 american soldiers 60 percent. February 1944 until 3 august 1944 was the hardfought drive for myitkyina mitchinaw. I also know there are that much variations out there and this is what it makes so difficult to me. After the japanese cut off the burma road in 1942 an alternative was required, hence the construction of. It started from ledo, in assam, india, one of the railheads of the bengal assam railway in the valley of the upper bramaputra, to the burma road, which connected to kunming, china. Ledo name, a list of people with the surname or given name. First convoy over the ledo road, renamed the stilwell highway.
The road connected all important places between ledo and kunming numbering ten particularly beyond the border from shimbwiyang onwards. Ledo road saikhoa ghat, assam, india highway, pharmacy. It is the starting point for the ledo road, also known as the stillwell road. Make offer rare wwii 101st airborne division bullion patch 1piece patch with rocker tab rare original ww2 us army ledo road patch cbi theater chinese made. The road to the pass, also known as pan saung pass, is unpaved. Ledo is a small town in tinsukia district, assam, india. The ledo road from ledo, assam, india to kinming, yunnan, china was built during the second world war, in order to allow the western allies to supply the chinese, as an alternative to the burma road, which had been cut by the japanese in 1942. It was during this period the world witnessed the second world war a state of total war where the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. As of 2005, the ledo railway station is the easternmost broad gauge railway station in india. The multinational operation involved american, chinese, and british.
It is cbi china burma, india threater made in bullion, tinsel, and silk embroudered on gabordine wool. Duxfords ledo road runs into a burma road too just like the original one in upper assam where the ledo road met the burma road at shingbwiyang myanmar about 165 kms later. A ground campaign was necessary to secure the route of the ledo road though north burma. The ledo road was built during world war ii so that the allies could supply the chinese as an alternative to the burma road which had been cut by the japanese in 1942. The stilwell road aka the ledo road was built during world war ii by an army of 15,000 american soldiers and 35,000 locals under the expert supervision of general vinegar joe stilwell.
After the japanese cut off the burma road in 1942 an alterna. With ronald reagan, harold alexander, claude auchinleck, alan brooke. Assam state road board the website design follows an integrated approach with the entire department and its suborganisations form an integrated portal. T4 robert smith, a cartographic illustrator assigned to the 20th general hospital, had samples. The town is also the starting point of ledo road, also known as stilwell road, a highway built during world war ii for use by americans and british troops as a military supply route to china through burma myanmar. The ledo road was built from ledo in assam into the hukawng valley as an alternative to the burma road.
The patches are actual size monitor resolution 1024 x 768 but high resolution scans are linked. Graduating from the united states military academy at west point, n. The ledo road extended over 1,079 miles from assam, india, through mountains and jungle to kunming, china, to provide a lifeline to the nationalist chinese fighting against the japanese. The ledo road chinaburmaindia theater of world war ii. Prasanti tourist lodge assam tourism at golaghat, tel 03774280730, nambor guest house, hospital road, golaghat, tel 03774280900, fax. In the blazing spring of 1943 the british fought the japanese half a continent away from the headquarters hives on the dusty plain of central india and many miles below the bulldozers cutting the ledo road to shingbwiyang. Kumon bung, chowkan pass 8000 ft height of the patkai range to ledo in assam. Ledo tinsukia ledo timings, history, images, best time. Assam geography the soils of assam are very rich in content of nitrogen and organic matter. 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. Jun 09, 2014 however, the sleeping giant had awakened. This is a very nice original theater made ledo road patch. The patch was designed and adoupted by the marauders. The ledo road was built during world war ii so that the western allies could supply the chinese as an.
My grandfathers cbi and ledo road bullion patches he gave me when i was about 12. But, ltg stilwell and the ncac were short on troops. The road connected many important placesbetween ledo in assam and kunming in china. The area is connected to the rest of the country by nh. It was the newspapers that gave the 5307th the name merrills marauders after its commanding officer, gen. Assam road project blogs, comments and archive news on. This was the only source for military support to ledo. While 36 miles fall in india, 646 miles in burma and 397 miles in china respectively. The hump china is fully independent or is a subject of the united kingdom. The road ran 478 miles from ledo in indias assam state into east burma, where it linked to the original burma road. World war ii, stilwell road, margherita and the american. Dec 24, 2012 it was the winter of the year 1942, ledo, the small, beautiful and quite town of upper assam have been seeing a flurry of activity.
It is the eastern most broadgauge railway station in india. Army from ledo, assam, india to kunming, yunnan, china. It needs to be protected at all costs and expanded upon to ensure a smooth flow of supplies. Namdapha national park kaziranga national park and tiger. Constructed during the ww ii, it starts from ledo in upper assam crosses through and burmise town singbwiang and bhamo in cachin state. Army officer during world war ii who led specially trained jungle fighters called merrills marauders in successful operations against japanese positions in burma 1944.
Ledo is a small town in the tinsukia district, assam, india. Oct 11, 2016 the stilwell road was constructed under the leadership of general joseph stilwell of the us army between 194245. During this time a branch of dibru sadia railways already ran toward ledo. This option provides the details of the sub organisations and links to their respective websites. The ledo road, which ran from ledo, assam, india to kunming, yunnan, china was built during world war ii so that the western allies could supply the chinese as an alternative to the burma road which had been cut by the japanese in 1942.
The road stretches from ledo in assam across 1079 miles. Stillwell road to be resurrected in ledolam assam times. Not depending solely on railways a road parallel to the planed railway was also decided to be constructed from ledo to makum in assam. The prime aim of constructing this road was to maintain the supply line to china, from ledo railhead in assam, during the world war ii. Merrills marauders moving up along a newly constructed section of the ledo road. Once the road link is opened for trade, the entire region of upper assam and eastern arunachal pradesh will benefit. Stilwell road ledo road historic stilwells road was constructed by the allied soldiers lead by america during the second world war.
The period of 1939 to 1945 was one of the darkest moments in the history of mankind. Most items are from our own collections, or things we have picked up at garage, church, and estate sales, thrift shops, or. Ledo, tinsukia overview this place is 6 km from margherita and is known for the indoburma highway. Aug 03, 2017 the stilwell road was constructed under the leadership of general joseph stilwell of the us army between 194245. Hospital units in the chinaburmaindia theater of world war ii. A 1726 km long road link stretching upto kunming in china via myanmar is being constructed from the zero point in ledo. All other countries have not completed ledo road united kingdom.
It was renamed the stilwell road in early 1945 at the suggestion of chiang kaishek. The ledo road or stillwell road is a 1,079 miles 1736 km long road built during during the world war ii by general joseph stilwell of the u. Had to post these in latest finds as they had been missing in our house for many years and just finally resurfaced. The movie culminates with the travel of the first convoy from assam to kunming in chinas yunnan province, with the new full route named for general stilwell. Feb 27, 2011 once we get to ledo, we would spend the night in tinsukia and fly out of dibrugarh to kolkata the next day. Find great deals on ebay for ledo road and scarwaf. Elliott stoutenburgh, operating along the ledo road being built through northern burma to china. Out of the entire length of the road of 36 miles, i. Supplies landed at karachi and calcutta, india could be brought by rail to ledo and trucked over the road to china. The map is showing major roads, local train route, hotels, hospitals, schools, colleges, religious places and important landmarks.
The tour ends with a visit to zero point, the starting point of the famous ledo or stilwell road, and a walk through what remains of a longabandoned chinese cemetery nearby. The plans for the ledo road included the laying of pipe lines, designed to relieve the road and air traffic of carrying fuel from assam to china. It is the easternmost broad gauge railway station in india. Ledo airfield, a world war ii united states army air forces airfield in india. When the 5307th started out on their campaign in february of 1944, they followed the ledo road from assam, india, into burma. We have over thirty five years experience in primarily collecting. The ledo road, from ledo, assam, india to kunming, china was built during world war ii so that the western allies could supply the chinese as an alternative to the burma road which had been cut by the japanese in 1942. Conditions in burma varied from uncomfortable to downright miserable.
Ledo road or stilwell road dreamway destinations blog. The road covering a distance of 1726 kilometers starts from ledo in assam india and goes across nampong in arunachal pradesh india and shindbwiyang, bhamo and myitkyina in kachin myanmar and further links ledo burma roads junction to the city of kunming in china. Home public works roads government of assam, india. An american wwii chinaburmaindia theatre ledo road patch.
Ledo road from ledo, assam, india to kunming, yunnan, china was an overland connection between india and china, built during world war ii to enable the western allies to deliver supplies to china, to aid the war effort against japan as an alternative to the burma road. An injured chinese soldier is treated at the 25th field hospital in northern burma, 1944. The roadwork, which started in april 1942 with a length of 1079 miles, was completed by oct. This is an absolutely gorgeous us army ledo road shoulder patch. Absolutely gorgeous us army ledo road theater made. A tall hollong tree in tezu, the sole remnant of a large forest. As shown here, the marauders occasionally marched sidebyside with allied chinese troops under lieutenant general vinegar joe stilwells command. The road, called nh153 or ledo road and renamed as the stilwell road, was built by u. This was the way chaolung sukapha, the first ahom king, entered the plains of assam in 1228 ad. They moved ahead as fast as the combat troops, often working under enemy. This highway is about 430 km long and was built during the world war ii. In december 1942, engineers started to construct the ledo road starting from ledo, assam, across northern burma to an intersection with the burma road near the china border. Absolutely gorgeous us army ledo road theater made shoulder. An american wwii chinaburmaindia theatre ledo road patch upper fabricated from white, salmon, light blue and green wool embroidery, khaki cotton backer with dual snaps, the third snap having been lost to time, illustrating three stars in the upper banner above a scene depicting a road passing between two mountains, a blue sky with a white sun on the horizon representing the road.
Led by american engineers, it deployed indian workers from tea gardens, oil fields, from assam, darjeeling, even travancore. Army engineers began construction of the highway in december 1942 to link the railheads of ledo assam, now in. Further, namdapha reserve forest was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1972. He was a truck driver in an engineer battalion and is my usmf avatar. The crowning achievement in lieutenant general joseph w. Ledo road shoulder sleeve insignia cbi theater of world. Ledo road, a world war ii road connecting ledo, india, to kunming, china. The following images are from my personal collection of ledo road patches. Headquarters of the 142nd general hospital at calcutta.
In midoctober, the chinese 30th and 38th divisions, together with the american 47th infantry and 124th cavalry regiments, had begun the drive to bhamo. Knights valour is a field training exercise conducted annually to enhance the units proficiency in infantry tactics. Cullum, spread for 500 miles in the assam valley, and including the giant chabua supply complex at the foot of the himalaya hump to china. Ledo assam, ledo coal assam, ledo assam video, assam ledo. Ledo road stilwell road ledo road story ledo road slide show the twain meet wildlife sanctuary supply services flying the hump merrills marauders general merrill indiaburma 20th general hospital crossing the ocean uss monticello troop transport conte grande neptunus rex why cbi photos from assam.
But the origins of the route go back long before joseph stilwell. Assam is the gateway of northeast india, so the necessity for improved transportation in the state is essential for development in the northeast region. It is the starting point for the ledo road, also known as the stillwell road in the british era and the second world war. At that time, it was considered to be the costliest road in the world. The ledo road was well on its way through burma and would need a symbol. After the japanese cut off the burma road in 1942 an alternative was required, hence the construction of the ledo road. T4 robert smith, a cartographic illustrator assigned to the 20th general hospital, had samples made for his design entry. The triangle chaped patch has three stars on top and a road running into a sunset horizon from the bottom. The primary objective of constructing this road was to maintain the supply line to china, from ledo railhead in assam, during the world war ii. Stillwell was in charge, and donovans oss detachment 101. Assam road project latest breaking news, pictures, videos, and special reports from the economic times. It was completed in january 1945 and was renamed stilwell road by chiang kaishek.
Ledo road japan invaded and occupied burma in early 1942, blocking the burma road supply line. It would cut across north burma to lashio, south of myitkyina, to meet the original burma road. The ledo road from ledo, assam, india to kunming, yunnan, china was an overland connection between india and china, built during world war ii to enable the western allies to deliver supplies to china and aid the war effort against japan. Zayui also the tibetan name for the lohit river is the nearest town to walong and is about 40 km from the border. The abandoned route through india, myanmar and china should. It began in ledo, assam, and ended in kunming, in the southwestern province of yunnan in china, spanning 1,736 kilometres. Army engineers began construction on the ledo road from upper assam in india. Im assuming theres not a lot to see in the way of wwii relics around ledo anymore. As per the assam forest act, the area under the namdapha national park was ideally a reserve forest until 1891. Oct 12, 2016 but the origins of the route go back long before joseph stilwell. Frank dow merrill united states army officer britannica.
The abandoned route through india, myanmar and china. Hi, can anyone of you give me good infos on ledo road patches i want to buy a theater made ledo road patch and i dont know what do i have to look for on these patches to be sure its not a repro. It began in ledo, assam, and ended in kunming, in the southwestern province of. In april of 1944 a competition to design a ledo road insignia was announced by general pick and published in the april, 1944 issue of cbi roundup, theater newspaper. Documentary about the construction of the stilwell road originally called the ledo road a 478mile passage from assam, india, to ledo, burma, during world war ii. Within india, the ledo road is a two lane road in an excellent condition upto nampong. The two greatest military powers on the earth at that time, japan and germany, marveled at the speed and volume with which the united states could produce.
Us army did not give it unit colors, a shoulder patch, or any other form of identity, that the 5307th could call its own. The 159th mp bn at chabua was commanded by major earl o. In 1884, a burning torch was added to the insignia and the present design adopted on 1 july of that year. Opposite the imperial war museum and off a very noisy express way is a tree soundproofed patch of peace. The ledo road, which ran from ledo, assam, india to kunming, yunnan, china was built during world war ii so that the western allies could supply the chinese as an alternative to the burma road which. Army signal museum crossed flags have been used by the signal corps since 1864, when they were prescribed for wear on the uniform coat by enlisted men of the signal corps. Stilwell road ledo road changlang district, government. Elephants and their handlers moving slowly up the the ledo road in northern kachin state, myanmar.