Colonel Cochran (right) and Major General Orde Wingate (left) briefing US Air Commando air crews before Operation Thursday fly-in on 5/6 March 1944

Operation Thursday was an airlanding operation involving Wingate's six Chindit brigades. One of these, the 77th Infantry Brigade, later became the 77th Parachute Brigade in March 1945. 

Lieutenant Colonel Cochran was a co-commander of the 1st USAAF Air Commando Group, which provided the transport elements for Thursday. 

Wingate died in a plane crash in March 1944.