United States Army in World War II: China–Burma–India Theater

Stillwell’s Mission to China

by Charles F. Romanus and Riley Sunderland

. . . to Those Who Served

General Joseph W

General Joseph W. Stilwell

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Part One: The United States and China Become Allies

Chapter 1: Aid to China Involves the U.S. Army

China Seeks U.S. Aid – Origins of Lend-Lease Aid for China – Putting Air Power in China: The AVG and Currie’s Lend-Lease Program – The Indochina Crisis and Aid to China – The Thirty Division Program – Creation of the American Military Mission to China (AMMISCA) – AMMISCA Receives Its Orders – The Chinese Army, Fall 1941 – The Generalissimo Warns of Peril – AMMISCA’s Appraisal of the Thirty division Program – AMMISCA, Lend-Lease, and the Line of Communications – Summary

Chapter 2: War Creates a China Theater and a U.S. Task Force to China

The Chungking Conferences – The Tulsa Incident – The Creation of an Allied China Theater – The U.S. Role: A Second Mission or a Theater? – Selection of Stilwell and His Directive for China – Moving Toward a Larger Concept – Summary

Chapter 3: Stilwell Begins His Mission

The Command Situation, China–Burma–India, March 1942 – Early U.S. Logistical and Administrative Problems – Stilwell’s First Problems – Darkening Prospects for Burma’s Defenders – The Chinese Expeditionary Force – The Chinese Begin Their Fight – The Loss of Air Cover – The AVG Keeps Up the Fight – The Attempts To Reinforce – Summary

Chapter 4: China’s Blockade Become Complete

The Pyinmana Plan and the Irrawaddy Front – The Collapse of the Irrawaddy Front – The Japanese Drive to Lashio – Attempts to Prevent the Debacle – Plans for the Future – The Evacuation of Burma – The Chinese Withdrawal – Summary

Part Two: Plans for Breaking the Blockade of China (May 1942–March 1943)

Chapter 5: Stilwell’s Mission Interrupted by an Ultimatum

Stilwell’s Proposals To Reform the Chinese Army – Beginnings of Trouble – Air Transport Disappoints the Chinese – Soong’s Warning – The Generalissimo’s Anger – Stilwell’s Staff and Command Roles Upheld – Moving Toward a Compromise – The Generalissimo Modifies His Demands – Planning the Air War in China Theater – Summary

Chapter 6: U.S. Forces Organize and Prepare for New Tasks

Expansion of Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces, CBI, July–December 1942 – Tenth Air Force Plans and Organization – The Services of Supply: The Indian Base – First Plans and the Karachi Area – SOS Expands Across India Into China – Local Procurement – The Reciprocal Aid System at Work – Lend-Lease Responsibilities – Ramgarh Training Center – Operation of Ramgarh Training Center – Summary

Chapter 7: The Attempt to Plan a Spring Campaign

U.S. Answer to the Three Demands – The October Negotiations – The Generalissimo Will Be Ready – Japanese Plans and Dispositions in Burma – Preparations in China for the Offensive – Plans and Preparations in India – More Than JCS Support Required – The Emergence of the Chennault Plan – The Chinese Hesitate – The Generalissimo Says No – Summary

Chapter 8: ANAKIM Marks Time

Talks About Reform Continue – Administrative Changes for U.S. Forces – The Arnold-Somervell-Dill Mission – The Conferences in Chungking and Calcutta – The President Overrules Marshall and Stilwell – Moving Toward an Expanded Air Effort in China – Obstacles in Chennault’s Path – U.S. Forces Establish Training Centers for Y-Force – Marshaling the Yunnan Force – British Operations and ANAKIM – American Preparations in India–Burma – Summary

Part Three: U.S. Air Power Given the Stellar Role in China Theater

Chapter 9: Air Power Rather Than Army Reform

The Air War Begins Over Burma – Chiang Promises To Hold East China – Chennault and Stilwell Present Their Cases – The President’s Decision – TRIDENT Decision To Take North Burma – Reactions to TRIDENT – The Generalissimo Weighs TRIDENT – Expediting the ATC Airfield Program – Improving Chennault’s Position – Stilwell Shakes Up the Rear Echelon – Apathy in Yunnan – Japanese Reactions to Allied Preparations – Summary

Chapter 10: Putting Weight Behind the TRIDENT Decisions

Allied Discussions of Southeast Asia Command – The QUADRANT Conference, Quebec, 19-24 August 1943 – Planning Logistical Support – SEAC’s Organization and Directive – Stilwell Resumes His Chief of Staff Role – Soong Attempts To Have Stilwell Recalled – Stilwell Restored to Favor – Questions of Boundary and Command – Somervell’s Trip to India – “What More Can I Do?” – Summary – Appendix

Bibliographical Note

Index

Charts

1. Division of Allied Command Responsibilities in Southeast Asia, March–April 1942

2. Organization of U.S. Army Forces in China–Burma–India, December 1942

3. Organization of Chinese Infantry Regiment, 1942

4. Stilwell’s Proposed Reorganization of a Chinese Infantry Regiment, 1942

5. Lend-Lease Contribution to Reorganized Chinese Regiments, 1942

6. Hump Tonnage Carried by All Carriers in India–China, 1943

7. Organization of Chinese Yunnan Force (Y-Force), March–April 1943

8. Comparison of Fourteenth Air Force Claims and Official Assessment of Japanese Shipping Sunk by Fourteenth Air Force, August 1942–December 1943 (Cumulative)

Tables

1. Initial Programming of Lend-Lease Funds for China, April 1941

2. Essential Ordnance requirements Requested as Lend-Lease for China

3. Lend-Lease Supplies Shipped to China: May 1941-April 1942

4. Actual and Projected Deliveries of Lend-Lease Equipment Under the Chinese Emergency Air Transport Program, May–October 1942

5. Increase in Personnel and Equipment under Proposed Reorganization of Chinese Infantry Regiment, 1942

6. Chinese Personnel Requirements for Y-Force: 23 March 1943

Maps

1. Japanese Plan, December 1941

2. Burma

3. Japanese Advance in Burma, 20 January–19 March 1942

4. Japanese Conquest of Central Burma, April 1942

5. Stilwell’s Plan, July 1942

6. Transportation System, 1942-1943

Illustrations

Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell – Gen. George C. Marshall – Dr. Gordon S. Seagrave – Survivors of Japanese Air Attack – Fighter Planes, P-43’s – Conference at Maymyo, Burma – Withdrawal From Burma – Notes for the G-mo – Snow-capped Mountain Peaks of the Himalayas – Brig. Gen. Claire L. Chennault – Ramgarh Training Center, 1942 – Staff Discussion at Ramgarh Training Center, 1942 – Services of Supply Build-up – Conference at New Delhi, India – Aircraft of Tenth Air Force, 1942 – Flying Tigers – Maj. Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler – Construction Work on the Ledo Road, 1943 – Vice-Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten.

The Frontispiece is a photographic copy of an oil painting by Howard E. Smith. The painting is a part of the memorial collection at West Point.

The photographs are from the files of the Department of Defense.

United States Army in World War II

Kent Roberts Greenfield, General Editor

Advisory Committee

James P. Baxter, President, Williams College

William T Hutchinson, University of Chicago

Henry S. Commager, Columbia University

S. L. A. Marshall, Detroit News

Douglas S. Freeman, Richmond News Leader

F. Dwight Salmon, Amherst College

Pendleton Herring, Social Science Research Council

Col. Thomas D. Stamps, United States Military Academy

John D. Hicks, University of California

Charles S. Sydnor, Duke University

Charles H. Taylor, Harvard University

Office of the Chief of Military History

Maj. Gen. Orlando Ward, Chief

Chief Historian, Kent Roberts Greenfield

Chief, War Histories Division, Col. George G. O’Connor

Chief, Editorial and Publication Division, Col. Breckinridge A. Day

Chief, Editorial Branch, Joseph R. Friedman

Chief, Cartographic Branch, Wsevolod Aglaimoff

Chief, Photographic Branch, Capt. Kenneth E. Hunter