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Description

RESTRICTED - U.S. Military Mapping of China During the Final Stages of the Second World War.

Color-printed separately issued map of China, part of the "Asia Transportation Map" Restricted series. This is the "Theater Edition" (i.e., for use in China) Revised to April 1945.

The map includes seven types of road classification, and perhaps most interestingly, differentiates Overnight Stops:

  • WASC Hostel, U.S. Camp facilities
  • Missions, accommodations available or lodging
  • Overnight accommodations furnished by Chinese
  • Gas and Minor repairs available

The map shows the Ledo Road, the main overland connection between India and China built during World War II to enable the Western Allies to deliver supplies to China. Here the road is shown in detail coming out of Burma. Distance and road conditions are shown, as well as the network that fanned out across China from the main Ledo artery.

The U.S. military was clearly looking to improve upon its knowledge of China, as a large note at the bottom reads: "NOTE: Persons using this map will mark hereon corrections and additions which come to their attention and mail direct to CHIEF ENGINEER, CHINA THEATER."

Condition Description
Minor foxing.
653rd Engineer Topographic Battalion, U.S.A.F. Biography

The 653rd Engineer Topographic Battalion was a mapmaking arm of the United States Air Force, stationed in India. The battalion produced maps for a host of military situations, including the major U.S.A.F. activities in and around China. The battalion also produced "walk-out maps" for the Office of Strategic Service. One of the first Japanese targets for the XXth Bomber Command's B-29 raids from China was Nagasaki, a center of Japanese munitions production. The target chart for that raid was reproduced by the 653d in September 1944.