{"product_id":"the-hump-1942-45-americas-first-massive-military-airlift-9781472865946","title":"The Hump 1942-45: America's First Massive Military Airlift","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA comprehensively illustrated history and analysis of 'The Hump' campaign \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ein World War II\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, the huge and treacherous airlift \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eover the Himalayas \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eto keep China fighting.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn World War II, the war in China tied down much of the Japanese Army, and it was crucial to keep China fighting and supplied. But when the Burma Road fell, the only way left was by air, in piston-engined transports, over the Himalayas from India. As Japan captured new bases and stationed fighters to intercept, the possible routes over 'The Hump' became increasingly treacherous. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this book, aviation historian Mark Lardas explains how the campaign was fought. While the effort started with only 25 transports and its original organization was ad hoc, by July 1945 it had grown into a vast and organized air armada, with new airfields, specialized navigation aids, and a force of 640 aircraft. The cost was high, with 594 aircraft lost, and over 1,300 killed. But during the war it hauled nearly 700,000 tons of supplies, keeping China in the war. The India-China Wing of the Air Traffic Command earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its efforts, the first ever awarded to a non-combat unit. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePacked with illustrations and maps, this is the story of the first successful strategic airlift in history. The lessons of the Hump fed into the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, and it was the essential forerunner behind the United States' capability to project power in the Cold War.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMark Lardas\u003c\/b\u003e has been fascinated by all things related to the sea and sky his entire life; from building models of ships and aircraft as a teen to studying Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at college. He worked as a navigation engineer on the Shuttle program and is now employed at Johnson Space Center on the Lunar Gateway program. He has written extensively on military aviation, and he lives in Texas. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eGraham Turner \u003c\/b\u003eis an acclaimed painter and member of the Guild of Aviation Artists.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Osprey Publishing (UK)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51777279951122,"sku":"9781472865946","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_25c5a366-7dbb-4434-b217-16ddf2f35d06.jpg?v=1765358886","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-hump-1942-45-americas-first-massive-military-airlift-9781472865946","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}