Skies of Thunder; The Deadly World War II Mission Over the Roof of the World

Skies of Thunder: A Harrowing Tale of Combat, Survival, and the Forgotten Front of WWII

*"Riveting." —The New York Times

From the New York Times bestselling author comes a gripping and immersive account of one of World War II’s most perilous and overlooked campaigns—the battle for Burma and the treacherous aerial supply route known as "the Hump."

In April 1942, Japan’s rapid conquest of Burma severed the only land supply route from India to China, forcing Allied forces to rely on an alternative: an airlift across the Himalayas, the most hazardous flight path in the world. Operating from makeshift airstrips carved out of the jungle, pilots faced relentless enemy attacks, brutal monsoons, and primitive navigation technology as they attempted to deliver vital supplies. The result was a deadly gauntlet of crashes, daring rescues, and extraordinary feats of survival.

In Skies of Thunder, Caroline Alexander—renowned for her masterful works on Shackleton’s Endurance and Bligh’s Bounty—delves deep into the overlooked China-Burma-India theater. Drawing from obscure memoirs and long-buried records, she brings to life the personal experiences of the soldiers and pilots who braved this unforgiving front. She also examines the tensions among Allied leaders—Roosevelt, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek—revealing the fractures that shaped the war’s strategy and ultimately foreshadowed the postwar geopolitical landscape.

From the legendary Flying Tigers and Merrill’s Marauders to the British Chindits, Skies of Thunder offers a compelling portrait of unconventional warfare, extraordinary courage, and the relentless human will to survive. A masterpiece of modern war history.