American Airline's Secret War in China: Project Seven Alpha, WWII

By Leland Shanle

In late 1941, President Roosevelt agonized over the rapid advances of the Japanese forces in Asia; they seemed unstoppable. He foresaw their intentions of taking India and linking up with the two other Axis Powers, Germany and Italy, in an attempt to conquer the Eastern Hemisphere. US naval forces had been surprised and diminished in Pearl Harbor and the army was not only outnumbered but also ill-prepared to take on the invading hoards. One of Roosevelt's few options was to form a defensive line on the eastern side of the Patkai and Himalayan Ranges; there, he could look for support from the Chinese and Burmese. It was the only defense to a Japanese invasion of India.

To support and supply the troops who were fighting in hostile jungle terrain, where overland routes had been cut off, he desperately needed to set up an air supply from Eastern India. His problem was lack of aircraft and experienced pilots to fly the dangerous Hump, over the worlds highest mountains. Hence the inception of Operation Seven Alpha, a plan to enlist the aircraft - DC-3s - and the pilots - veterans of World War One - of American Airlines. This newly formed elite Squadron would fly the medium-range aircraft in a series of long-distance hops across the Pacific and Southern Asia to the Assam Valley in India. They would then create and operate the vital supply route, carrying arms, ammunition and food Eastward to the Allied bases, before returning with wounded personnel. This is the story of that little-known operation, carried out in the early days of the Burma Campaign.

The book is based on firsthand experiences of those who were involved, and it serves as a fitting tribute to the bravery and inventiveness of a band of men who answered their country's desperate call at the outset of the war against Japan in Asia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Release date: Oct 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781526711069

Leland Shanle

Leland C Shanle Jr; Lieutenant Commander, USN (Ret). An accomplished writer in both fiction and non-fiction; Leland has also written screenplays for major motion pictures as well as television. He is a member of The Society of Authors in the United Kingdom and the Military Writers Association in the United States. Historical fiction continues to be his passion and he pursues it further with, Vengeance at Midway and Guadalcanal, his latest novel set in WWII. Project 7Alpha, his first novel, was published in 2008. End Game in the Pacific, his next, is scheduled for release in early 2012. And he is hard at work finishing his fourth; A Race With Infamy. Leland has also been an aviation/military technical adviser on 5 major motion pictures (Pearl Harbor, Behind Enemy Lines, xXx, The Day After Tomorrow and Stealth) and a television series pilot (not yet announced). His production company, Broken Wing LLC, is currently working on an intense documentary for 3 major television sponsors. A rare author that has actually lived the passion he writes about; Leland is a retired Naval Aviator and continues to fly with American Airlines and as an active Test Pilot. He also flies for fun with his kids, in his 1967 Beech-Craft Musketeer. Leland received his Masters from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and also graduated from the Naval War College. Studying and writing about historical battles laid the foundation for his novels. He flew 16 different naval aircraft in 10 squadrons; including the F-4 Phantom II, EA-6B Prowler and TA-4J Skyhawk. Attached to CAG (Air Wing) 5, 11 and 1 He cruised on the USS Midway, America and Lincoln. Leland flew 80 missions over the war torn skies of Bosnia, Somalia, and Iraq. An Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor; he has flown numerous civilian types from the Cessna 150 to the Boeing 767-300. Currently he is rated in 767, 757, 727, MD-80 and Sabreliner series aircraft. Leland got into the flight test world in 1995 when he transferred to VX-30, Naval Weapons Test Center Point Mugu. He flew as a Project Officer on various test programs and was the Squadron Operations Officer. Leland also attended the Project Officer/Engineers and the Out of Control Flight (spin school) courses at National Test Pilot School. In 1998 he was inducted as a Full Member in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP). Closing out his Naval Aviation career in 1998 with 600 carrier landings (200 night) on 11 different carriers; Leland, Laura and their 4 kids moved back to St. Louis. Once settled in at American Airlines, he also concentrated on his writing. Leland was born and raised in St. Louis Missouri. He attended Chaminade College Prep Class of 1977. After High School he joined Naval ROTC at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Upon graduation in December of 1981, he was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy. A month later he married Laura L Cantrell and they set out on their Navy adventure together.