WWII C-87 debris to go on display
Print Edition
THE remains of a United States army C-87 transport airplane that crashed in Tibet 71 years ago will be collected for display by one of China’s largest private museums.
The remains, found at the top of a mountain in Bomi County earlier this month, included a 4.5-meter-long and 2-meter-wide wing with an engraved white five-pointed star, three pairs of army boots, dashboard, engine and cabin parts.
“Chicago,” “USA,” “FBE-18” and “PAT” can be seen in some parts of the remains.
They were packed up yesterday and will be sent to the Jianchuan Museum in neighboring Sichuan Province. The remains will be displayed in the “Flying Tigers Hall” to mark China’s victory against Japanese aggression, said Yang Jianchao, deputy curator of the museum.
The C-87 plane and remains of five US pilots were found by local hunters in September 1993, but most of the wreckage stayed on the glacier.
Eleven professionals and 41 Tibetan support staff took part in the search that began on July 31 and ended on August 8.
“Those boots are the same as I saw in the 1990s,” said Luo Song, a villager who guided the search team to the glacier this month and also took part in the search in 1993.
The Hump Route, or “death route” over the Himalayan mountains, was operated by China and the US from 1942 to 1945 to transport supplies from India to southwest China.
About 1,500 planes crashed along the route which is clearly seen from above as the aluminum debris glitters in the sunlight.
The Flying Tigers, officially the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, were formed in 1941 and led by US General Claire Lee Chennault to help China drive out Japanese troops.
The museum, established by entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan, has about 30 halls focusing on the anti-Japanese war, folk customs and earthquakes.
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