81 years later, US Air Force's Assam Draggins return to Arunachal to pay homage
Pasighat: In a poignant tribute to their fallen comrades, officials and members of the 25th Fighter Squadron of the US Air Force, known as the "Assam Draggins," visited the Hump Museum at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh.
The squadron, which played a key role in World War II operations over the Himalayan mountains, returned to the region 81 years later to honor the sacrifices of those who perished during their missions.
Lt. Col. Justin "Riot" Davis and Capt. Nivruth Maramreddy, along with their unit, expressed deep emotion and gratitude as they paid homage to the airmen who lost their lives while flying over the treacherous terrain of Arunachal Pradesh.
The squadron's aircraft transported vital supplies to allied forces in China, but the perilous journey over the 10,000-foot-high mountains resulted in the loss of over 650 aircraft and countless lives.
In 2016-17, the US Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) conducted a search mission in Arunachal Pradesh to locate the remains of unaccounted-for American airmen.
The remains of approximately 400 airmen are believed to be scattered throughout the Himalayan mountains in the region.
The 25th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed "Assam Draggins" after their base at Dinjan in upper Assam, first flew a combat mission over the Hump on September 25, 1942.
Their efforts were crucial in supporting the Allied war effort, but the harsh conditions and frequent crashes took a heavy toll.
In recent years, the US Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) has conducted search missions in the region to recover the remains of unaccounted-for American airmen.
The Hump Museum in Pasighat, which was inaugurated in 2023, serves as a memorial to these fallen heroes and a testament to their bravery.
Oken Tayeng, the museum director and a legislator from the 39th Mebo Assembly Constituency, highlighted the growing popularity of the Hump Museum as a tourist destination.
He attributed the museum's success to its ability to commemorate the historical significance of the "Hump" route and the sacrifices made by the airmen who flew it.
