Aluminum Highway

JUNE 1944: It is a time of pipes, cigars, Lucky Strikes, chocolate, and whiskey. The world is at war. It takes oxygen masks and heated flight suits for crews to fly 25,000 feet above ground level, in temperatures below 50 degrees over the Himalayas, commonly called 'The Hump.' The air route wound its way into the high mountains and deep gorges between north Burma and west China, where violent turbulence, 125 to 200 mph (320 km/h) winds, icing, and inclement weather conditions are a regular occurrence. The premier cargo ships, C-46 Commando & C-47 Sky Train, are known to crash frequently. Four young friends and flight officers with the Army Air Corps, vow to make it safely through the Pacific War while assigned to fly The Hump for the CBI, China, Burma, India Theater. They must fly 750 hours, or complete 6 months with Air Transport Command before going home.