On November 19, 2016, a C-47 transport aircraft arriving at Guilin Liangjiang Airport where the pilot waved in greeting after completing the re-flying of “the Hump Route”. This historic C-47, which served during World War II, successfully landed at Guilin, marking its achievement as part of a project funded by the Flying Tiger Historical Organization (FTHO). The aircraft is permanently displayed at the American Flying Tigers Guilin Heritage Park.

During World War II, 600 Allied Aircraft were lost crossing the Himalayas to supply the Flying Tigers in China. Japan controlled the entire coast of China, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and then Burma. With the loss of the Burma Road, “Flying the Hump” was the only option to re-supply the forces fighting the Japanese from within China. This was one of the most dangerous flying routes at the time. The DC-3 and C47 aircraft were the primary aircraft tasked with this operation.

The aircraft in the picture (Xinhua News Agency) is the only surviving C-47 transport plane in the world that once served with the Flying Tigers’ 36th Squadron in southern Australia during World War II. This model carried out numerous missions transporting wartime supplies and flying over “the Hump Route” during the war.