Bo Ne Win was in the forefront of the Burma Independence Army (BIA) when it crossed the border from Thailand back into his homeland in January 1942. He had left a scant half year before.1 Ne Win's party, including two Japanese majors and three other members of the Thirty Comrades, were the first to cross the Thaungyin River (Sop Moei in Thai) which forms the Thai–Burma border at that point. They did this by raft, with Ne Win being ceremoniously lifted on to Burmese soil by the Japanese officers. The two Japanese then returned to Bangkok, leaving the Burmese to proceed on their own, after changing from Thai to Burmese clothing. Across the river, they passed through Kayin and Thai villages. Their presence evoked some suspicion and curiosity about who this motley group was and what they were doing.

Eventually, they took a boat down the Thanlwin (Salween) River, but this was not until after Ne Win's attempted disguise as a forest officer searching for an elephant was doubted by a village headman who threatened to disarm the group until he was told the truth about their mission. One night they stayed at the monastery of a pro-Thakin monk, U Zawkita, but were rejected by another monk when seeking refuge at his monastery in order to avoid a police patrol. The party then divided, with his three colleagues leaving for Pyinmana, Pyay and Bago, while Ne Win headed to Yangon. Each was to find and encourage members of the resistance to the British they hoped to raise from among their nationalist associates from the Dobama Asiayonand the Students Unions (Maung Maung 1969, pp. 101–3). They moved stealthily into yet British held territory and, evading arrest, and made their way towards the Ayeyawady Delta, east of Yangon. The Japanese army was then approaching the Sittaung River where the defending British would suffer a major disaster in February when the only bridge across was blown before many of the retreating Indian and British troops had crossed, thus further weakening their defence of Yangon.

Ne Win entered Yangon on 2 February, more than a month before the Japanese army.