More remains of US soldiers found in “The Hump”
BBC reports that a team of folks from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) may have discovered more remains of US service members who have been missing since World War II in the area known as “The Hump” in the mountains between Myanmar and China.
Residents of Lower Dibang Valley handed over the remains to the team recently.
Last year, the team had recovered some remains from the same region, and work is being carried out to identify them.
It is thought the remains of up to 400 Americans could still be in the remote state, which borders Myanmar and China.
Many more servicemen went missing during allied operations to supply China’s Kuomintang army fighting Japan.
Thanks to chooee for the link.
Category: We Remember
I think The Hump is the route that supply planes took to ferry supplies to troops during WWII. They flew with no radio contact and maps that were barely adequate. They lost pilots and crews to those mountains, which were and still are merciless. The Flying Tigers were fighter pilots who also flew from Burma to China.
Welcome home, guys.
https://youtu.be/FiLJdgjs12s
Also known as the aluminum trail I’ve heard, because you could look down and follow the wreckage.
Isn’t it amazing, how we saved Chinas ass during WWII, otherwise they would be speaking Japanese! Yet, the spend their time badmouthing the U.S. and threatening! Ungrateful BASTARDS….those men died for nothing I am afraid!
This is another instance of private persons working hard and thanklessly to gather information about lost American Fighting men. In the Pacific, it’s History Flight. In this instance, it’s a fellow I mentioned here previously, one Clayton Kuhles of Arizona. He worked at his own expense and risk to locate crash sites of aircraft downed flying The Hump. The US was well aware that some 350-400 airmen were down and their remains unrecovered. Kuhles went to the crash sites, recorded their GPS coordinates, and sent them to the DoD. In Arunachal Pradesh alone, he located some 15 different crash sites, accounting for 84 American airmen. After pressure was put on the US from families of the airmen, the US reached out to India and negotiated access to the area (Arunachal Pradesh) that is disputed with China. The US pulled out b/c of this dispute but later returned to search for remains. The tough work had all ready been done by Kuhles, the real hero behind these finds. A job well done.
I’d read about Kuhles previously, glad you’ve pointed out his hard work to actually lay the foundation for these recoveries.
A long time coming, no doubt some families will find some peace in being able to finally, properly, inter their loved ones.
Now THAT is a true Patriot.
My hat is off to you Sir and a hearty slow hand salute for all you have done for our boys.
Thanks for bringing this up Air Cav, a story like his deserves to be told.
Quite a few aircraft and crews went missing flying the Hump. Although Army Air Forces air rescue squadrons had been executing parachute rescue operations since 1940, it was when the sun was setting on August 2, 1943 that a three man parachute rescue team jumped into Japanese Army occupied territory in Burma to the twenty survivors of a crashed C-46 (tail Number 41-12420). It is this combat jump that is credited as the beginning of the USAF Pararescue occupation.
Always good to see stories of fallen American Warriors coming home for their final rest.
Rest In Peace.
God bless you all good sirs! I will pray for your homecoming, my father served in the Burma theater, all he got out of the deal was a life long case of malayeria? Sorry about the spelling……
Welcome home, Brothers.
Wonderful news! Now how about getting Vietnam to allow the DPAA to search for our men with our equipment. Having to get permission from Vietnam and renting their equipment to search is bullshit! I have a crap load of stuff that needs to be said But… My new years resolution is to bite my tongue…see how long that lasts….