In the process of conducting the postwar analysis of air operations, authors of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey paid attention to the story of airlift activities. In its study of the China-Burma-India theater, the survey attached particular value to the airlift factor and the role of the ATC. Regarding the CBI theater, the military situation in 1942 appeared to be highly unfavorable. Following the invasion of China in 1937, Japanese forces succeeded in occupying or controlling virtually all of China’s Pacific coast and large parts of the interior; the Japanese navy commanded all ocean approaches. In the spring of 1942,Japanese units overran Burma, on India’s northern border,cutting off the last significant land routes that supplied the struggling armies of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek in China.General Arnold had been worrying about the fragile supply lines to China even before the loss of Burma. Accordingly,the Tenth Air Force, based in India, took responsibility for substantial air cargo flights and began operations over the Hump in April 1942. In two months, the Tenth Air Force carried 196 tons of cargo, and CNAC delivered 112 tons. Summer monsoons nearly terminated flights, but the two units were delivering one thousand tons a month by the end of the year. This, however,was far short of the ten thousand tons required by the Chinese each month. A drastic reorganization ensued.

The record of ATC achievements in the CBI theater unquestionably demonstrated the potential of major airlifts in modern warfare. Of all the supplies delivered to China from 1942 through 1945, 81 percent came by air over the Hump.Chinese forces tying up one million Japanese troops meant that the Japanese Imperial Army had far fewer resources to oppose the amphibious landings and other island campaigns mounted by America and its allies in the fighting throughout the Pacific.Airlift thus emerged as a significant new military consideration in future applications of air power.

駝峰航線熱詞

the hump airline 駝峰航線

China-Burma-India theater中國-緬甸-印度戰(zhàn)區(qū)（二戰(zhàn)期間，美國陸軍對其在中國、緬甸、印度的軍隊的稱謂）

Summer monsoons夏季季風(fēng)

Japanese Imperial Army 日本皇軍

amphibious landings 兩棲登陸