Burma Air

the lancaster kicks ass · 12-28-2004, 02:02 PM

that also sounds typically british

Medvedya · 12-28-2004, 02:08 PM

That's why it's so stupid, but so fun!

Hooray for Biggles and his pals Algy, Bertie, and Ginger! Yay!

plan_D · 12-28-2004, 08:56 PM

Cheers for shrinking the pic, Med.

Medvedya · 12-28-2004, 09:03 PM

No worries - I just bunged it into Jasc and tinkered with the definition to sharpen it up a little.

For pics out of books a scanner is the best thing. I'll probably have one in the new year, and I'll put up a few things for people to read.

evangilder · 12-28-2004, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightning Guy

I had a great uncle that flew with the 14th AF carrying supplies over the Hump. Unfortunately I never had the pleasure of meeting him though I do have a flight jacket that belonged to him.

Hey LG, did he fly C-46s by chance? Every year, they have a hump-pilots reunion. I think they are somewhere on the west coast. I know that our C-46 has gone to it on several occasions. Unfortunately, they get smaller every year.

By the way, flying the hump was serious business. Over 900 planes were lost flying the hump. Because of this it was called "the aluminum highway". We have some neat stuff on display at the museum from there. One of our members was a radio operator on the C-46.

plan_D · 12-28-2004, 11:22 PM

Started flying that in 1940, for the Chinese. Either that, or do the Burma road but then Britain closed that down in 1941, for three months. What? There was a threat of invasion...

evangilder · 12-28-2004, 11:30 PM

Tough flying across the Himalayas. Hard to believe they did that with the navigation tools they had then. I doubt anyone would try to fly that route now if their GPS set was out!

plan_D · 12-28-2004, 11:36 PM

I just got a book - for christmas - called 'Burma - The Forgotten War' by Jan Latimer. The 'Hump' has already been metioned in the first few pages, and the book is 500 + pages long. The 'Flying Tigers' - as the Chinese called them - have also been mentioned. It looks like a good book, I'm going to love reading it.

evangilder · 12-28-2004, 11:42 PM

That does sound like a good book, probably a great reference as well. DO they cover alot on the AVG?

plan_D · 12-28-2004, 11:56 PM

Not yet, that was just a little bit about the relations between China and Japan. And, of course, the US had to be put in that area because of them supporting China which put them in bad relations with Japan so on and so forth.
One thing I didn't know (and I feel stupid not knowing) is that Japan only became a naval super-power because Britain joined alliance with them in 1902. The first 50 pages or so are about political relations and events leading up to Burma.

"Like tigers with wings, their strength is irresistable"

It does mention their pay - $600 a month and $500 for every confirmed kill - and their complete lack of military look, just like being off a film set.
Also, the squadron symbols - 1st Sqd. 'Adam and Eve' . 2nd Sqd. Predator Panda. 3rd. Sqd - Hells Angel.

And then a few other things, 'cos then it quickly moves on to the US lend-lease not being put to military use - just on to the black market. I imagine there'll be more later on the AVG.

evangilder · 12-29-2004, 12:01 AM

Pretty interesting. I don't know if it will mention this, but Japan actually built some DC-3s (C-47) under license before the war and they also license built some Pratt and Whitney engines as well. I don't know if it is true or not, but I have heard the Sakae engine design was based on the Twin Wasp. I do know that our Zero is flying powered by a twin wasp. I think the one in Chino is as well. They bolt right in.

plan_D · 12-29-2004, 12:03 AM

I imagine that's so. The world was happy with Japan all the way up until it's invasion of China proper, even when in Manchuria the world wasn't bothered (except Russia). It is funny that Japan knocked Britain off top spot as Chinas worst enemy...politics, it is a funny world.

evangilder · 12-29-2004, 12:08 AM

Indeed, but after what the Japanese did to the Chinese, I can understand why there is hatred that still exists today. I know there are a bunch of Chinese that died because they helped my cousin live after the Doolittle raid. It is absolutely awful what the Japanese did to the Chinese, and Filipinos and every other place they conquered.

plan_D · 12-29-2004, 12:12 AM

The Sino-Japanese war was 'the most inhuman, most brutal, the most devestating war in Asia's history'. How handy that line became to be.

It wasn't technically a war until 8th December though because China refused to declare war because it would enact Americas neutrality pact, and Japan refused to declare war for some other political reason...when Pearl Harbour got bombed though, China was all too happy to declare war.

GermansRGeniuses · 12-29-2004, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evangilder

Pretty interesting. I don't know if it will mention this, but Japan actually built some DC-3s (C-47) under license before the war and they also license built some Pratt and Whitney engines as well. I don't know if it is true or not, but I have heard the Sakae engine design was based on the Twin Wasp. I do know that our Zero is flying powered by a twin wasp. I think the one in Chino is as well. They bolt right in.

Some info I stole from PF...

Oh, there's a double aircraft list in the bottom pic because I did a poor job of stitching the two with Panorama Maker...