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The Hump Pilot exhibit portrays the efforts and hardships endured
by those who provided air logistics support in the China, Burma,
India theater during World War II.
The exhibit displays tribal artifacts from China and Burma, numerous
photographs, two films, and an interactive that provides information
on the aircraft flown and displays digital reproductions of the
flight maps used by pilots throughout the China, Burma, India theater.
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A brief history . . .
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By early 1942, China was completely dominated by the invading Japanese
army and isolated from the rest of the world. The Chinese Army had no
supply route to support its fighting forces.
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In support of this effort, the United States created the Air Transport
Command (ATC) and began operating cargo flights from bases in eastern
India over the Himalayan Mountains into western China. This area was
mostly unsurveyed, uncharted and unexplored.
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The weather was the worst in the world, with severe turbulence and
crosswinds of 100-150 mph commonly found on flights over the Hump. The
shortage of aircraft and parts was also a limiting factor in Hump operations,
the most critical being the lack of all-weather airfields and repair
facilities in India.
In spite of all these obstacles, the ATC airlift was successful and a
steady stream of gasoline and other supplies were sent over "The Hump".
While never in abundance, these supplies enabled Allied troops to contain
the Japanese in China rather than join the fighting against Allied units
in the Pacific theater. |
