Second Chindit Raid February–April 1944

After the success of the first Chindit raid, plans were drawn up for a much larger and more ambitious second raid into Burma exactly a year later. The force assigned to the second Chindit raid totalled around 10,000 men, with an initial force being deployed behind enemy lines via gliders. After landing at carefully selected sites, the initial deployment of troops would clear undergrowth and prepare landing strips, which could then be used to bring in the remaining Chindits via transport aircraft. The first phase of Operation Thursday began on 5 February 1944 with the initial deployment of troops landing in Burma to establish the main landing strips code-named Piccadilly, Broadway and Chowringhee. Problems at Piccadilly and Chowringhee meant that many landings were diverted to secondary airstrips. Fierce fighting erupted around the landing sites as Japanese troops moved in but the operation ended in success as most of the Chindit force had penetrated behind enemy lines.