September, Thursday 19, 2024

The Catastrophic Incident: Over 600 US Planes Meet Tragic Fate in the Himalayas during World War Two


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A new museum in India is showcasing the remains of American planes that crashed in the Himalayas during World War II. The museum tells the story of an audacious and risky aerial operation that took place in India when the global war arrived. Since 2009, Indian and American teams have been searching the mountains in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh for the wreckage and remains of lost crews. It is estimated that around 600 American planes crashed in the remote region, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,500 airmen and passengers. The operation played a crucial role in supporting Chinese forces in Kunming and Chongqing by providing a vital air transport route from the Indian states of Assam and Bengal. This route became a lifeline after the Japanese advance closed the land route to China through northern Myanmar. The US military operation successfully transported 650,000 tonnes of war supplies across the route. The treacherous flight route earned the name "The Hump" due to the dangerous heights of the eastern Himalayas that pilots had to navigate. Over the past 14 years, Indo-American teams have worked tirelessly to uncover crash sites, locate planes, and find the remains of missing airmen. The expeditions have faced challenging terrain and weather conditions. The discoveries have included oxygen tanks, machine guns, fuselage sections, skulls, bones, and personal items. These artefacts are now displayed in the newly opened Hump Museum in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, inaugurated the museum and stated that it is a gift to India and the world. The museum not only highlights the dangers of flying this route but also recognizes the locals of Arunachal Pradesh who have been an integral part of the mission to respect the memory of those who lost their lives. The operation in Arunachal Pradesh was a daring feat of aerial logistics during World War II and has been described as a forgotten story.