Veterans of famous Hump air route reunite

Kunming (CNS) -- Veterans of "Flying Tigers" and the China Expeditionary Force -two teams that fought against Japanese forces to defend China in World War II, reunited at the Monument to The Hump Air Route on Wednesday to recall the history of warfare in Yunnan Province.

The Hump was a "death route" a reputation earned by the high terrain and extremely severe weather across this north-south extension of the main Himalaya Mountains. It has been seventy years since the first flight over the Hump occurred in 1942.

Air force supply missions flew across the Hump to reach the cities of Chongqing and Kunming. Some 730,000 tons of supplies were delivered to China this way, said Sun Guansheng, chairman of the Yunnan Flying Tigers Research Association.

Lu Jianhang, an elderly pilot, recalled the old days fighting together with the US 'Flying Tigers.' He said their bond was built on the raging battlefield and will never fade away.

Yang Yuzhou, a veteran of the China Expeditionary Force, laid a wreath at the monument.

Chengdu-based U.S. Consul General Peter Haymond said he was touched by the veterans reunion and believed China and the U.S. will continue to develop the friendship that was struck when they went through tough times together.