Drop Zone Burma: Adventures in Allied Air-Supply 1943-45

by Roger Annett

Air-dropped supplies were a vital part of the Allied campaign in Burma during World War II. The transportation of munitions, food and medical supplies was undertaken in the most difficult situations, both on the land where the air bases were often situated in remote tropical jungle terrain and in the air when hazardous flying conditions were met in the steamy airs above the carpet of forest treetops.

This book is based upon the memories of nine veterans of the John Hart, an air-dispatcher with 194 Squadron; Peter Bray, a Dakota pilot with 31 Squadron; Arthur Watts, a fitter with both 31 and 194 Squadrons; Colin Lynch an Observer on 31 Squadron; Norman Currell, a Dakota pilot with 31 Squadron; George Hufflett, 1st Queen’s Infantry; Ken Brown, Royal Signals; Eric Knowles, the Buffs and Dame Vera Lynn who was with ENSA during the campaign. It describes how they arrived in Burma and their previous wartime experiences and then explains there parts in the famous actions such as The Defence of Arakan, The Sieges of Imphal and Kohima, the Allied Counterattack, the Advance to Mandalay and the Race to Rangoon.

The author explains the background to this theater of war and then puts the veterans memories into context as the campaign progresses.

Genres: Royal Air Force

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Wai Zin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a native of Burma, this book is a great interest for me.

Well written book however too cursory to my liking.

But to be fair to the author and the book this was not a complete history book. It is a compilation of the stories of persons who were there and experienced firsthand harrowing events in Burma campaign.

3.5 stars.