My grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Clayton E Joyce, hump pilot and commander of the army cargo bases in China, Burma and India. He would help design the fuel pods that would go in the C46 to help it make the journey over the hump. He was a commercial airline pilot for United Airlines and flew the Seattle Honolulu Tokyo route. His nickname was old iron ass because he could sit in the cockpit longer than anybody.
I flew auto air freight in the C-46 out of Detroit in 1978. The specs were 48,000# takeoff weight 13,000# of cargo. R-2800 Pratt and Whitney Engines rated at 2000 hp each. The plane had turbosuperchargers with low and high stage blower. It could go up to 18,000 but on one engine at heavy weight, the single engine service ceiling was around 5000 feet. That would pose a problem in high terrain. It was a challenging plane and could be a beauty or a beast at times to handle.
Finished the book today and it is a gripper. The interlocking events in this war theater are compelling and reach right into our present global tensions and struggles. Caroline Alexander is a consummate storyteller and provides telling background, details and top notch research chops to put us all into the dangerous conditions and insane challenges these men and women endured who served there. The disease, filth, heat, dust, bugs, and cultural challenges never let up. Thank you for an insightful interview and a terrific subject and author.
My dad was an experienced pilot in the ferry command picking up all sorts of planes at various factories and delivering them all over the world and had been an instructor and test pilot before that. When he got his commission he was sent to fly the hump and was based in Luliang China. I think he was there till the end of the war. He raised my brother and me single-handedly and we heard many many stories as kids but it sounded as if he were on some kind of lark. I don’t think he was ever afraid except having dozed off on the hump run he woke suddenly to see a mountain side directly in front. He did have a lot to say about iceing. After he had passed away I was in touch with another hump pilot who told me how scary and dangerous it was, otherwise I’d never have known. He flew both c-47s and C-46, but mostly C-46s. He was an amazing father, he tried to teach me so much about every subject under the sun.
@@damcasterspod thanks, he’s been gone for over 30 years but hardly a day goes by that either my son or brother and I talk about him and really appreciate what a treasure he was and how unusual our childhoods were.
3 месяца назад+1
My dad was there as well, 11th Com. Cargo Sq. They relocated from Luliang to Kunming as Hq. till the end of the war.
My Dad served in the CBI as Radio on C46s flying the “Hump” from Aug ‘44 to war's end based out of Chabua, India. Nearly 900 hours in 110 missions. He complained of being off course occasionally and the crew seeing unknown valleys filled with equipment the ATC had undoubtedly delivered. We talked about it and concluded this was probably materiel being taken by Mao for his revolution. Has there been any #’s published as to how much tonnage was delivered to fight the enemy as opposed to how much did not reach our allies? He alluded to if they would have known it was a substantial number back then there may have been a mutinous attitude on his base. Living conditions were miserable, they were risking their lives in unreliable aircraft ( bad props, hydraulic leaks, and freezing carburetors), some loads were ridiculous (pianos and bushes for some generals' house, besides the leaking 50 gal av gas drums for the failed B29 missions from China), and flying against their worst enemy...the weather. On Jan 6, 1945 he was in the air lost when the storm brewed up from the south that claimed over a dozen ships and crew. BTW, between missions he was the organist at the base chapel. I jokingly stated that is what got you through, being closer to God.
For more detailed information on CNAC, read The Shadow Tiger, Billy McDonald, Wingman to Chennault by William C. McDonald III. McDonald moved from instructor of the Chinese Air Force to combat pilot flying Chennault's legendary Hawk 75 Special against the Japanese over Nanking in 1937. He became CNAC's senior pilot ferrying passengers and high-value cargo around China. He flew gasoline and ammo over the Hump for Chennault's Flying Tigers and the Chinese Army.
My father flew in Burma during this time. He was a pacifist so the perfect job for him. C47 no guns just flying at tree top dropping supplies to troops on the ground. He was in 117 squadron RAAF and flew the hump many times. Never talked about it but lost a lot of mates many from Canada. The only reason I even know this is many years later mum and dad went to Canada in the early 70s to visit some of his old friends. Wish I'd asked more questions when I was young.....
@@damcasterspod thanks mate . Here we are my birthday June 6 D Day and I'm almost 70 and I for one will never forget what these brave men and women gave to us all. Loved the podcast thank you .
My grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Clayton E Joyce, hump pilot and commander of the army cargo bases in China, Burma and India. He would help design the fuel pods that would go in the C46 to help it make the journey over the hump. He was a commercial airline pilot for United Airlines and flew the Seattle Honolulu Tokyo route. His nickname was old iron ass because he could sit in the cockpit longer than anybody.
I flew auto air freight in the C-46 out of Detroit in 1978. The specs were 48,000# takeoff weight 13,000# of cargo. R-2800 Pratt and Whitney Engines rated at 2000 hp each. The plane had turbosuperchargers with low and high stage blower. It could go up to 18,000 but on one engine at heavy weight, the single engine service ceiling was around 5000 feet. That would pose a problem in high terrain. It was a challenging plane and could be a beauty or a beast at times to handle.
My Father Russell T. Dotter flew the hump 1944-1945 1st Lt. C-47 pilot.
Finished the book today and it is a gripper. The interlocking events in this war theater are compelling and reach right into our present global tensions and struggles. Caroline Alexander is a consummate storyteller and provides telling background, details and top notch research chops to put us all into the dangerous conditions and insane challenges these men and women endured who served there. The disease, filth, heat, dust, bugs, and cultural challenges never let up. Thank you for an insightful interview and a terrific subject and author.
My dad was an experienced pilot in the ferry command picking up all sorts of planes at various factories and delivering them all over the world and had been an instructor and test pilot before that. When he got his commission he was sent to fly the hump and was based in Luliang China. I think he was there till the end of the war. He raised my brother and me single-handedly and we heard many many stories as kids but it sounded as if he were on some kind of lark. I don’t think he was ever afraid except having dozed off on the hump run he woke suddenly to see a mountain side directly in front. He did have a lot to say about iceing. After he had passed away I was in touch with another hump pilot who told me how scary and dangerous it was, otherwise I’d never have known. He flew both c-47s and C-46, but mostly C-46s. He was an amazing father, he tried to teach me so much about every subject under the sun.
Thanks for sharing your memories. Your Dad seems like a great guy.
@@damcasterspod thanks, he’s been gone for over 30 years but hardly a day goes by that either my son or brother and I talk about him and really appreciate what a treasure he was and how unusual our childhoods were.
My dad was there as well, 11th Com. Cargo Sq. They relocated from Luliang to Kunming as Hq. till the end of the war.
My Dad served in the CBI as Radio on C46s flying the “Hump” from Aug ‘44 to war's end based out of Chabua, India. Nearly 900 hours in 110 missions. He complained of being off course occasionally and the crew seeing unknown valleys filled with equipment the ATC had undoubtedly delivered. We talked about it and concluded this was probably materiel being taken by Mao for his revolution.
Has there been any #’s published as to how much tonnage was delivered to fight the enemy as opposed to how much did not reach our allies?
He alluded to if they would have known it was a substantial number back then there may have been a mutinous attitude on his base. Living conditions were miserable, they were risking their lives in unreliable aircraft ( bad props, hydraulic leaks, and freezing carburetors), some loads were ridiculous (pianos and bushes for some generals' house, besides the leaking 50 gal av gas drums for the failed B29 missions from China), and flying against their worst enemy...the weather.
On Jan 6, 1945 he was in the air lost when the storm brewed up from the south that claimed over a dozen ships and crew.
BTW, between missions he was the organist at the base chapel. I jokingly stated that is what got you through, being closer to God.
Thanks for sharing your Dad's tale! As for tonnage, I'm not sure to be honest, I shall ask.
For more detailed information on CNAC, read The Shadow Tiger, Billy McDonald, Wingman to Chennault by William C. McDonald III. McDonald moved from instructor of the Chinese Air Force to combat pilot flying Chennault's legendary Hawk 75 Special against the Japanese over Nanking in 1937. He became CNAC's senior pilot ferrying passengers and high-value cargo around China. He flew gasoline and ammo over the Hump for Chennault's Flying Tigers and the Chinese Army.
Another fascinating episode! 👏
My father flew in Burma during this time. He was a pacifist so the perfect job for him. C47 no guns just flying at tree top dropping supplies to troops on the ground. He was in 117 squadron RAAF and flew the hump many times. Never talked about it but lost a lot of mates many from Canada. The only reason I even know this is many years later mum and dad went to Canada in the early 70s to visit some of his old friends. Wish I'd asked more questions when I was young.....
Thanks for sharing that, Greame. If only we could tell our younger selves to be more inquisitive... I certainly feel your experince.
@@damcasterspod thanks mate . Here we are my birthday June 6 D Day and I'm almost 70 and I for one will never forget what these brave men and women gave to us all. Loved the podcast thank you .
...the nickname "vinegar Joe" seems extremely apt..
Blah, blah, blah. No thanks.