Member of an Indian division of the British army in World War II that carried out guerrilla operations against the Japanese in Burma (now Myanmar) under the command of Brigadier General Orde Wingate (1903–44) as part of the Burma War. The name derived from the mythical Chinthe—half lion, half eagle—placed at the entrance of Burmese pagodas to scare away evil spirits.
The Chindits undertook two main operations; the first was carried out by troops of 77th Brigade 1943, and the second by a specially assembled six-brigade force 1944. Wingate was killed in an airplane crash during the opening phase of the second operation.