Original World War Two era US Army Air Forces China Burma India Theater Made Pilot Wings.
Full Size Wings, made from glass/acrylic off an aircraft.
The China-Burma-India Theater of Operations (CBI) was officially established on June 22, 1942 and is often known as the Forgotten Theater of World War II. Despite having over 12 million Americans in arms during the war, only about 250,000 (two percent) were assigned to the CBI Theater. The combat presence of Americans in the theater was relatively small due to the challenges of the 12,000 mile supply line, the longest in the war, which often received supplies last from the United States. The CBI Theater was integral to Allied war strategy, as it provided a supply line between China and the outside world. Its occupation by Japanese forces in 1942 resulted in an estimated 800,000 troops being tied down, preventing them from being used in other areas. To keep China in the war, a military airlift was initiated, but it was deemed insufficient and a land supply route was deemed necessary. Thus, the construction of the Ledo Road from Assam, India began in late 1942 and was completed by early 1945, providing a crucial link from the ports of Calcutta and Karachi to China.
The CBI theater of World War II saw the involvement of multiple Allied forces, including the British, Chinese, and Indian armies, in conflict with Japanese troops. The United States primarily played a supporting role by providing war materials and deploying manpower to transport them to the front lines. The Flying Tigers, a volunteer American air force, fought against the Japanese in China and Burma. The Services of Supply oversaw the management and delivery of supplies from the US to India, and ultimately to China. Army Air Forces also played a crucial role in transporting supplies "Over The Hump" from India to China. Meanwhile, Merrill's Marauders and the Mars Task Force bravely battled through the treacherous jungles of Burma, while Army Engineers worked tirelessly to construct the Ledo Road and establish a crucial land supply route.