Viewing page 274 of 349

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[strikethrough]] RESTRICTED [[/strikethrough]]

HEADQUARTERS-INDIA CHINA WING   
AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND
STATION #1

12A/3AF/jsn

APO 885,
26 March, 1944.

CIRCULAR )
         :
NUMBER 18)

[[underlined]] WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM LALMANIRHAT TO KUNMING [[/underlined]]

[[underlined]] CONTENTS [[/underlined]]

I - General Observations
II - Spring Season Weather
III - Monsoon Season Weather
IV - Fall Season Weather
V - Winter Season Weather
VI - Summary

I - [[underlined]] GENERAL OBSERVATIONS [[/underlined]]

1. The best way to learn about "hump" weather is to fly it. This circular is no more than an aid to safe flying. During the first flights over this route, weather reports and radio aids were inadequate, yet very few ships were lost by the Army during the first year of daylight operations; most of these losses could have been avoided. Today a few experienced Army pilots have flown as many as 70 round-trips over this route. They have a wholesome respect for the stormy weather enroute, but they know what to expect and fly accordingly. Weather communications have been greatly improved and weather reports are received regularly from terminal fields as well as from stations on the hump itself.

2.Past descriptions of weather on the route from Lalmenirhat to Kunning have been in reference to certain check points which are outstanding. Flying from west to east out of the Brahmaputra Valley, the first rise is the range of hills called the Patkai Mountains. To the west of these hills and south of the Brahmaputra Valley are the Naga hills. Still fatter west are the Khasi hills, where Shillong and Cherrapunji are located. Flying south-east from the Patkai range, the pilot crosses the Hukon  or Upper Chindwin River Valley which is bounded on the east by the 14,000 foot first ridge known as the Kumon Mountains. Beyond the first ridge we come to the West Irrawady River with a broad valley at Fort Hertz. After the Fort Hertz Valley comes a series of fourteen to sixteen thousand foot ridges separated by the valleys of the East Irrawady, Salween, and Mejong Rivers. Here there is 10,000 foot relief between mountain tops and valley floors. The main "hump" is the 15,000 foot range between the Salween and Mekong River, the geography in China is less rugged. Hills are more rolling. The relief is less exaggerated. Tali Mountain, Lae Tali and Ligiang Mountain are outstanding landmarks which

- 1 -

[[strikethrough]] RESTRICTED [[/strikethrough]]