Humping

[GlobalHobo]

Flying "The Hump" in Libardo Guzman's beautiful C-46 Commando, available here: http://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1 ... ategoryId=
This was deadly work. As dangerous as getting shot at. The worst day on the CBI Airlift saw the loss of 42 crew-members.


Dawn departure from Assam, flying eastward into the sun.


The mountains rise quickly and you better have at least 10,000 feet by the time you see the foothills, or you won't have 15,000 feet when you need it.


15,000 feet keeps you above most of the rocks, but not by much. It would be a struggle in a loaded C-47.


For a whale, I think this is a good-looking bird.


Mile after mile of the highest heights and the lowest lows...


It's easy when the weather co-operates. That didn't happen very often.

[OldAirmail]

Love a good airplane story.

[Shadowcaster]

Excellent set of shots sir Number 3 is my favorite.

Cheers
Rich

[Flacke]

very nice photos! and scenery too.
One of the nicest Pilots I have ever known was Capt. Cedric Mah [a friend for 40 years].
Ced flew Curtiss C-46's and C-47's over the Hump run. His brother Al flew the hump also.
On one mission they were hauling huge heavy containers of CASH MONEY.
They iced up in clouds and then lost an engine. They were heavy so they lost altitude quickly. Other airplane problems appeared and they were forced to jetison cargo to stay out of the rocks.
They dropped 48 cash crates worth almost 1Billion $ into the mountains and jungle. [I forget whose dollars but probably US dollars, I think]. Ced told me what the Govt. cash was supposed to buy but I forget the details. Munitions, I would think.

He didn't get in trouble for dumping the money and he lived a great life as a northern bush Pilot after the War. When he died just a few years ago he still owned a nice 1963 Pontiac 2-door Hardtop. He told his friend "Poncho" a former aircraft mechanic, that he could have the car after Ced died. We still miss him , great man.

Your photos brought back great memories [I flew Cedricks Hump missions on FSX in a C-46 using real weather. It was tough and dangerous even in the Sim]

[Flying Trucker]

Nice set...

[yancovitch]

thanks for that flacke

[Flacke]

thanks for that flacke

You're welcome Yancovitch, I am glad you found it interesting. It was nice for me to remind myself of just one of Cedrics many many stories from the War, and from the Bush flying later.