In Skies of Thunder, Caroline Alexander turns to one of the most challenging and under-explored arenas of the Second World War — the aerial supply route over the Himalayas known as “The Hump.” After the Japanese cut the Burma Road, Allied forces were forced to fly supplies into China from India through some of the most dangerous mountain and weather conditions ever attempted in war. Alexander weaves together pilot logs, ground operations, wartime diplomacy, and personal narratives to create a vivid portrait of aerial daring, geopolitical tension, and survival against overwhelming odds.
This 496-page volume offers:
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Tactical and strategic insight into the China–Burma–India theater
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Vivid storytelling grounded in archival sources and first-person accounts
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Portraits of Allied pilots, ground crews, supply planners, and commanders
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Reflections on the interplay of military operations and diplomatic maneuvering
