Gliders in the China Burma India Theater

The 1st Air Commandos in the China Burma India Theater included gliders in their air support for Wingate's troops. The Japanese had control of Burma and Allied commanders were having great difficulty making any headway due to Japanese Air Superiority. General Wingate came up with a plan to engage in a form of guerrilla warfare with total air support for their supply line and defense. This resulted in the formation of the First Air Commandos led by two fighter pilots. Rank was a non issue in that everyone had to pull their fair share and pilots, including glider pilots maintained their own aircraft. Gliders successfully brought in equipment to build runways, delivered troops and mules as well as conducted jungle evacuation of the wounded through recently developed snatch pick ups of the gliders by transport aircraft.