The 320 men of the 69th DRS drove 90-100 vehicles from Camp Kanchaapara, Calcutta, across the Ledo/Burma Road to Kunming, China, a distance of 1,708 miles.
All of the trucks were manufactured by the General Motors Corporation (GMC)
traveled an average of 75 miles per day, taking 23 days to reach Kunming.
Those who drove heavy equipment could only average 40 miles per day
and took about 40 days to reach Kunming.
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| First, Bombay to Calcutta via narrow gauge railroad . . . |
| . . . then, Camp Kamcharapara - final prep before hitting the Burma Road . . . |
| . . . time-out for a few pictures . . . |
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| Burma Road Heavy Equipment Convoy Crew |
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| Longest flatbed in the 69th DRS - Driven by Ace Adams |
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| . . . scenic views along the Burma Road . . . |
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| A brief rest stop |
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| Scenic veiw at high-altitude bivoac site |
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| A "cut" into the Mountain so that Ace Adams' flat bed could make the bend with a winch. |
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| A group of 5-ton cargo trucks negotiating the cut. |
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| The view back towards the cut after successfully completing the turn. |
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| First goos look at the Salween River Bridge |
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| Unlike Burma Shave, Burma Road Signs must be taken seriously. |
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| When they say one vehicle at a time, they mean one vehicle. |
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| Waiting until the vehicle in front of you is COMPLETELY off the bridge. |
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| The bridge swayed constantly as each vehicle crossed. |
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| Ace courageously pushed the edge of the weight limit to cross. |
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| FLoating on water vs floating in air - both swayed a LOT. |
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| Natural rock bridge formation |
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| . . . tractor-trailer rigs and mountain roads don't mix well . . . |
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| These curves are easy . . . just watch that first step to the right. |
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| A little trickier, but still not too bad. |
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| A little too tight, lost the trailer wheels on the inside. |
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| Calculating how to make the turn, first from one side . . . |
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| . . . and then from the other side. |
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| Engineers reinforced the bridge and the rear trailer wheels still broke through. |
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| Inspite of all the planning, slide-offs happen. |
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| Far better to have missed the inside of the turn rather than the outside - a drop of several hundred feet. |
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| A gentle slide-off in the mud. |
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| One of too may spots with inches to spare. |
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| Another slide-off, but relatively easy recovery. |
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| . . . the large rigs weren't the only ones with problems . . . |
| . . . but, there were a few interesting sights along the way. |
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| Niagra it's not, but still picturesque. |
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| It's not the swim'in hole back home, but any chance for a bath is great. |
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| Destroyed enemy howitzer |
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| Destroyed enemy tank |
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| Terraced rice paddies |
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| Village on Pan Lung River outside Kunming? |
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| Ancient walls surrounding old Kunming? |
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| At last, inside the city of Kunming, as a more tradional caravan depart through the city gates. |
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