PASIGHAT: The officials and airmen from the 25th Fighter Squadron of the US Air Force visited the “Hump World War II Museum” in Arunachal Pradesh’s Pasighat on Sunday to pay homage to their fellow airmen who lost their lives during the war.
The 25th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed “Assam Draggins,” flew numerous combat missions over the treacherous “Hump” route between Assam and Yunnan, China during the war. The squadron’s military aircraft transported nearly 6,50,000 tonnes of supplies like fuel, food, and ammunition.
During their missions, over 650 aircraft crashed due to the challenging terrain and extreme weather conditions.
The squadron’s visit to the museum was a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the airmen who fought for the Allied forces.
The Hump Museum, dedicated to the memory of those who flew the perilous route, was inaugurated by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and US Ambassador Eric Garcetti in November 2023.
Lt. Col. Justin “Riot” Davis and Capt. Nivruth Maramreddy expressed their deep emotion and gratitude for the opportunity to honour the fallen heroes. They visited the museum to honour many airmen who lost their lives in the mountainous regions of Arunachal Pradesh and elsewhere during World War II due to plane crashes.
They acknowledged the significant role played by the 25th Fighter Squadron in transporting vital supplies during the war across the treacherous route from Assam to China’s Yunnan province.
Notably, the 25th Fighter Squadron, known as the ‘Assam Draggins,’ conducted its first combat mission over the ‘Hump’ on September 25, 1942. After relocating to Dinjan, Assam, the squadron’s combat activity intensified, and it gained its nickname ‘Assam Draggins.’
The Hump route became infamous for its danger, with hundreds of US airmen losing their lives in crashes. The Hump air route passes over Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tibet, Myanmar, and Yunnan (China).
In 2016-17, the US Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) deployed a team for 30 days to conduct several search missions in Arunachal Pradesh to locate the remains of unaccounted-for American airmen. The remains of approximately 400 airmen are believed to be in the region.
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The visit of the 25th Fighter Squadron to Pasighat serves as a powerful reminder of the historical significance of the “Hump” route and the sacrifices made by those who fought along it.
John Tayeng, from Abor Country Travels & Expedition, who helped coordinate the visit, described it as an “honour” to welcome the squadron back to the region 81 years later.
