The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu, and the United States Ambassador, Mr. Eric Garcetti, joined together to inaugurate the "Hump WWII Museum" in Pasighat, India, on November 30, 2023. This momentous occasion marked the second museum in Asia dedicated to honoring the fallen airmen of the US forces during World War II, instilling a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by Allied forces. The tranquil landscape of Pasighat sets the ideal site for this tribute to the brave US servicemen who lost their lives during the Hump Operation.
Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to view remnants of aircraft, including rusting wreckage and machine guns, from the 650 planes that crashed or went missing in Arunachal Pradesh during World War II. This serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made in this region and the historical ties between the United States and Arunachal Pradesh.
The museum's theme beautifully reflects the history of the "Hump" air route, which was used by Allied forces to transport people from Assam to Yunnan, China. These daring flights through treacherous terrain earned the pilots the nickname "The Hump," symbolizing their incredible courage. The Hump route traverses various regions, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tibet, Yunnan, and Myanmar, and an estimated 650 aircraft crashed in these areas due to the extreme flying conditions.
The name of the museum itself is a testament to the Hump operation, which remains one of the most remarkable feats in aviation history during the Second World War. It serves as a powerful reminder of the courage and determination displayed by the Allied forces in defending democracy and freedom.
In a heartwarming development, foreign tourists have already started flocking to the newly inaugurated Hump World War II museum, just one day after its opening. This demonstrates the immense interest in and recognition of the importance of preserving history. The museum will honor the fallen heroes of World War II and ensure that their stories are forever etched in our collective memory by serving as a valuable educational tool for younger generations.
MyGov Arunachal extends an invitation to its citizens to express their views on how, in light of our common history, we should keep up our strong international ties and preserve history.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
According to a US Embassy handout in 2017, investigators from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) returned to India that year to continue the search for remains of US personnel missing since World War II.
In 2016, the DPAA deployed a team to northeast India for 30 days in search of remains of unaccounted-for US airmen. The 2017 was their fifth mission to India since 2013.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
The pilots of the Allied forces nicknamed the route “The Hump” as their aircraft had to navigate deep gorges and then quickly fly over mountains rising beyond 10,000 feet. The mountains of Arunachal often get unpredictable weather within minutes, zero visibility within seconds and sudden heavy winds, making it difficult for planes and choppers to fly.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
The museum is being set up at the initiative of Khandu and the state government is planning to invite the United States ambassador to India for its inauguration.
In 1942, after the Japanese Army blocked the 1,150 km Burma Road, a mountain highway connecting Lashio in present-day Myanmar and Kunming in China, the US-led allied forces had to undertake one of the biggest airlifts in aviation history.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
The museum’s name pays tribute to the Hump operation, one of the most remarkable feats of aviation history during the Second World War. The museum is nearing completion and will be inaugurated soon,” he added.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu took to X to inform about the progress of museum work. “During World War II, the United States flew supplies over the Himalayas, on a route known as ‘The Hump’ because of the altitude of the Eastern Himalaya. Many of their aircraft went missing here and were never found in our then remote jungles and mountains.” he wrote.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
Allied Forces aircraft traversed some 500 miles air route from airbases in Assam to Kunming in China through Arunachal and Myanmar over the Himalayan plateau which came to be known as the “Hump”. Between April 1942 and August 1945, more than 1,600 airmen and about 650 transport planes went missing in the mountains and forests on either side of the “Hump” due to extreme flying conditions, in the longest ever airlift in days of operations during WWII.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
Prabin Kalita is a journalist at The Times of India and is currently the Chief of Bureau (northeast). He has been reporting in mainstream Indian national media since 2001. He has been a field journalist reporting gamut of issues from India’s northeastern region and major developments in neighbouring countries like Myanmar, China, Bhutan and Bangladesh concerning India and northeastern region. He has been covering insurgency—internal and cross-border, politics, natural calamities, environment etc
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
In 1942, after the Japanese Army blocked the 1,150 km Burma Road, a mountain highway connecting Lashio in present-day Myanmar and Kunming in China, the US-led allied forces had to undertake one of the biggest airlifts in aviation history.
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
The museum is being set up at the initiative of Khandu and the state government is planning to invite the United States ambassador to India for its inauguration
Sakthivel 1 year 4 months ago
The museum’s name pays tribute to the Hump operation, one of the most remarkable feats of aviation history during the Second World War. The museum is nearing completion and will be inaugurated soon,” he added.