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Show U. S. Flying Squadron in India Twenty-two young American pilots from nearly as many states of the Union are billeted m "Hump Happy Tavern," somewhere in the wild borderlands of eastern India. Members Mem-bers of the India-China Ferry Command, their 30b is to fly supplies in and out of China. Kipling could have written another an-other "Barrack Room Ballad" about these youthful flyers and their unique tavern, a single-storied hut where the twenty-two spend their earthbound hours. "Hump" rffers to a particularly troublesome section of the Himalayas over which the twenty-two fly daily. All day long these Americans are on the move, bound for China across the mountains, moun-tains, with another day's deadly load to beat the Japs. But every evening these twenty -two are back at "Hump Happy." Right: The bulletin bulle-tin board is checked by Operations Officer Offi-cer Jack McRcynolds oj Dallas, Texas, and a group of pilot officers offi-cers before taking off to fly "the hump" into China. are on the move, j.,. 1,,:lrm bound for China y"v J across the moun- J 1 t ' J " j tains, with another , ' N , day's deadly load -. " to beat the Japs, i ,, y ' , 3 But every evening - V these twenty -two J (4 , ' 1 ' are back at 1 - ' ' ' "-s " "Hump Happy." " , t ' ' , 4 Right: The bulle- S-f f ' tin board is checked 5 y f x i' by Operations Offi- , ' ' s cerjark McReynoldi ' ' v - . of Dallas, J exas, and j x' ,p w r k g ' ' a group of pilot offi- 1 ' 1 J-fiSts. cers before taking , A f l ' s V-sH" off to fly "the hump" " lit - N ?' into China. ' J s, j M -iCr - 3 Left: Returning -4'-V.A; ' 7. fc-J from a flight across ." ) J?!' ' ''ie hump" are, left f? " T v- i lo rigif, Lieut. Don- ? f j t I aid J.'Fruda of West 4 ? ' iW,. ) PaZm Beact, Fla., -14 C V' Lieut. Laurence D. j4 .? - ' " Putnam of Portland, s v Ore., and Radio Op- v , . v, " I erator Fishbaugh. j A -1 j I . 2 Lieut. Putnam has 7' F 0i - - -4 been in Jnrfia or year. There J -.?t?ff.C --1 j are "ow few 1 , i - '? f f-fct o relaxation ahead - Y" "Nsa... or tiese toys. Left: Returning from a flight across 'the hump" are, left to right, Lieut. Donald Don-ald . Fruda of West Palm Beach, Fla., Lieut. Laurence D. Putnam of Portland. Ore., and Radio Operator Op-erator Fishbaugh. Lieut. Putnam has been in India for nearly a year. There are now a few hours of relaxation ahead for these boys. Leisure hours at "Hump Happy." Some play solitaire, some write home, and some read. Lieut. J. C. Crosse.lt of Springdale, Wash., (playing solitaire) was recently decorated by the Chinese government for dropping rice. "What's cookin?" is the ques- This bamboo-latticed shop is tion on the lips of these fliers equipped for repairing any one standing in front of thatched of the numerous instruments roof barracks No. 6, just before that face a pilot sitting in the chow time. cockpit of the big transport ships. I" 'c' The. ground crew works on a disabled plane amid wild bamboo Although this plane had a damaged wing, tail assembly and landing gear, it was repaired and back in the air the next day. ifeA. - - .., , v ... i. 1 . -. - " ' .. . ,,"" ' iTr - ' . ........ . : .'?,! |