Chindits ambush Japanese

24th April 1944: Operating from airfields deep inside Japanese-occupied Burma the guerrilla force takes the fight to the enemy

A railway bridge behind Japanese lines is blown up by Chindits

Brigadier "Mad" Mike Calvert (left) gives orders to Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw, while Major James Lumley stands with M1 carbine under his arm, after the capture of Mogaung in Burma during the second Chindit expedition, June 1944.

A Japanese continued their attack on Kohima in their attempt to break into India, they were also attempting to contain the Chindit operation deep inside Burma. The Chindits, a deep penetration operation behind Japanese lines, had established a number of strongpoints in the jungle. These were both operating bases and defensive positions. They contained rough airstrips by which the Chindits were resupplied and the wounded evacuated.

We met odd pockets of Japs on the way but they were no match for our force and we killed thirty or forty that day without loss to ourselves.

Through reconnaissance, the Chindits were aware that the Japanese were closing in on one of the strong points, "White City". Brigadier 'Mad' Mike Calvert¹ led a strong force out into the jungle to take the attackers by surprise: