Nakap Nalo along with several legislators visited the upcoming Museum of World war II

PASIGHAT, SEPTEMBER 5 : The Tourism, Transport, Civil Aviation and Land Management Nakap Nalo on Sunday visited the upcoming museum on the 2nd World War along with several legislatures.

Nalo’s visit came up after he was informed of the upcoming museum in the city. He said the museum would be much helpful to the people of state and others who will get the clear picture of the world warIInd in and around the state, region and country. The museum would also be beneficial to the students community and research scholars as well in the course of study and can learn many things from related activities.

The museum has been named “The Hump” would cater to the vast knowledge about the world war. ‘Promote the history of Arunachal Pradesh and its connection with the rest of the world and its importance in context to WW II’.Nalo added.

Nalo was accompanied by MLA Laisam Simai, Kaling Moyong, Ninong Ering, Secretary GA/DA & Tourism Sadhna Deori, DC East Siang Dr. Kinny Singh and a host of officers and officials of various departments of the district and others.

The officials present there informed that, The project is planned to have facilities including a Museum having gallery to display replicas, relics, photography and Memorial Corner. Future plannings is also kept in mind to accommodate Auditorium, Research Corner, Cafeteria cum Souvenir shop, Exhibition Centre, etc

The officials engaged in the upcoming Museum “ Hump ” give details of the outline of the project and said that by the end of 1942, the geo political climate of SouthEast Asia had changed considerably. After the embargo of Japan the search for oil and natural resources has moved their gaze towards these countries. For various reasons the bounty fully endowed Burma fell into the Japanese military think tank. By then the only effective supply route for the Chinese Nationalist army under the leadership of Marshal Chiang Kai Sek and American Air Force bases in China was through this vast country of Burma by rail and road transport pushing northward from Rangoon. With an aim to completely disrupt and seize, the Imperial Japanese Army advanced into Burma in 1942. They quickly consolidated their position, capturing the north as far as the towns of Tounggo and Lashio. Meanwhile the Chinese army was supported and armed by the United State of America. Right after this headache the next most feasible route available was through the land route originating from Calcutta to Upper Assam. Then flying off across the mighty Himalayas which was notoriously known as “The Hump”.

The whole establishment was code named the China-Burma-India (CBI) theatre and officially commenced from 22nd June 1942. This theatre was placed under the command of General Joseph Stilwell of the United State Army. Close to some 2,50,000 troops were assigned to this theatre. Some of the important unit associated were the Chinese Expeditionary Force, Transport and Bomber units, the 1st Air Commando, Merills Marauder or the 5307th Composite Unit and the Mars Task Force and beside this a mammoth contingent of engineers and labourers engaged in the construction of the ambitious Ledo Road winding through the upper Burma eventually joining Kunming in China.

Air lifting those much needed war materials and troops across the Hump was such an enormous task both in terms of scale and complexity. Above that flying across these unforgiving himalayas in unpredictable weather was a serious exercise. It was these nerves of steel behind those often young pilots fresh from flying schools that conquered the day. A record 650,000 tons of materials were transported. But the flying exercise was a costly affair in terms of casualties and aircrafts. Some close to one-third of the Allied Aircrew perished in these hazardous duties. Nearly 700 air crashes took place across earning the nickname of the “Aluminium trail”. Military historian Francis Pike writes “Every 340 tons delivered cost the life of a pilot” in his exhaustive new history Hirohito’s War : The Pacific War, 1941-1945.

The people of Arunachal were a part of the war. Tribesmen were recruited to carry supplies during the Burma campaign , many of whom did not return home. Being located in sorties number of bomber units, the 1st all commando , merms maradder of the 5307th Composite Unit and the Mars Task Force and beside this a mammoth contingent of engineers and labourers engaged in the construction of the ambitious Ledo Road winding through the upper Burma eventually joining Kunming in China.

Air lifting those much needed war materials and troops across the Hump was such an enormous task both in terms of scale and complexity. Above that flying across these unforgiving himalayas in unpredictable weather was a serious exercise. It was these nerves of steel behind those often young pilots fresh from flying schools that conquered the day. A record 650,000 tons of materials were transported. But the flying exercise was a costly affair in terms of casualties and aircrafts. Some close to one-third of the Allied Aircrew perished in these hazardous duties. Nearly 700 air crashes took place across earning the nickname of the “Aluminium trail”. Military historian Francis Pike writes “Every 340 tons delivered cost the life of a pilot” in his exhaustive new history Hirohito’s War : The Pacific War, 1941-1945.

The people of Arunachal were a part of the war. Tribesmen were recruited to carry supplies during the Burma campaign , many of whom did not return home.

Being located in the flight path of the Hump sorties, a number of planes crashed in the region. So far there are at least 22 reported crash sites in Arunachal alone.

Aborcountry Travels & Expeditions has been involved in locating these sites since 2005 and bringing back the information to the relatives of the lost airmen whom they are in close contact with.

The project is to bring a reconciliation not only amongst those who sacrificed but also with those who had suffered during the WWII and left unremembered. The project is conceptualized with an objective to ‘Promote the history of Arunachal Pradesh and its connection with the rest of the world and its importance in context to WWII’. It is also an objective to preserve the relics and history of WWII by establishing a Museum and to promote it as a symbol of reconciliation after WWII. Besides, the project aims to develop a single point where WWII resources can be studied by connecting to the War Museums and War History Studies all over the world. Lastly, but not the least to promote peace and quality of life to mankind.

Sixty lakhs) . The project is designed in such a way that sustainability is maintained. The project is planned to be established at Itanagar which is to be allotted by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The project shall be implemented and managed by the Abor Country Travels and Expeditions assisted by A.Angamba, Co-Founder, 2nd WW Imphal Campaign Foundation.

On successful implementation, it is expected to attract tourists, war enthusiasts and scholars to the site in large numbers and shall succeed in bringing peace and reconciliation amongst ourselves.

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