Page "Mike Calvert" Paragraph 9

Wingate was enraged by Cochran's actions but admitted that the danger was real.

He and Calvert weighed the options.

The danger of executing a potentially compromised operation were substantial, but any delay threatened to push back the window of opportunity by at least a month.

Of the three planned sites only two were available ; Calvert suggested the plan be further altered and the entire brigade flown into Broadway.

He said, " I am prepared to take the whole of my brigade into Broadway and do without landing site Piccadilly.

" Calvert later wrote, " We had taken into account that landing site Chowringhee was to the east of the Irrawaddy while Broadway was west of the river.

I told Wingate, ' I don't want to split my brigade either side of the Irrawaddy.

I am prepared to take all the brigade into Broadway alone and take the consequence of a slower build-up.

'" General William Slim " asked Calvert … and found him strongly against Chowringhee.

" Further discussion with Slim and Wingate clinched the matter: " it was to be Broadway alone.

I was nervous as bales, I imagine we all were, but we all knew we had to go … In any case Broadway was clear and I could really see no reason why we should not go in there just because Piccadilly was blocked.