Local WWII vet helped save China

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The HBO miniseries will bring viewers the stories of battles that may not have gotten a lot of attention. So, all this week, FOX10 News is sitting down with local WWII veterans who served in the Pacific theater. FOX10 News reporter John Rogers introduces us to one former pilot who took part in a special airlift over the Himalayan Mountains.

HBO's ten-part series called 'The Pacific' will take viewers to battles that are not often shared.

So in a special week-long series, FOX10 News has been sitting down with local World War II veterans who served in the Pacific theater.

These are stories of courage and heroism that many may have forgotten or never heard.

One local veteran took part in a special airlift over the Himalayan Mountains.

As a young pilot in the 1940s, Retired Major F.P. Smith wished he had a detailed map for his journeys. Instead, he flew by the seat of his pants.

He flew with no navigation and no communication. Many of his fellow pilots crashed into mountains and yet they continued flying.

"We were at war!" Smith said.

In the early 1940s, the Japanese were on a quest to conquer Asia, and they were gaining ground. The imperial forces sealed off the Chinese coastline, leaving China isolated and helpless. So in 1942, the Chinese asked the U.S. for help.

F.P. Smith was a pilot in the US Army Air Force. He flew C-46 cargo planes on what's called 'The Hump Airlift', from India, over the Himalayan Mountains into China to help supply the Chinese forces. It was a dangerous five hour flight.

Smith flew directly through the Himalayan Mountains at altitudes pushing 22,000 feet, and temperatures at 54 degrees below zero.

"This was brand new to flying in 1943," said Smith. "We lost a lot of C-46s, by hitting mountains. You don't move a mountain very easily."

Radio communication was limited. Smith said at some points, they used rivers below to guide their journey. Many of pilots crashed and died. As if the conditions weren't enough, Japanese fighters were also shooting at them. The cargo planes had no gun turrets on board; the only weapons were handguns and tommy guns.

"What good is a tommy gun against an airplane?" he said.

During the airlift, pilots flew under dangerous conditions. Not only did they deal with Japanese fighters, they also battled ice on the wings.

During one flight, Smith's plane was struck by lightning.

From the summer of '42 to the summer of '45, thousands of tons of supplies were delivered on this dangerous route.

Most of it was gasoline and food, but they delivered some odd cargo too. Smith recalls carrying large containers of kotex.

"It was great for cleaning the engines!" Smith said.

The airlift also supported U.S. forces that were stationed in China. Smith said he also carried massive amounts of ping pong balls on his journeys. He says the ping pong balls were meant to be stuffed inside B-17s flying into the South Pacific. The balls would keep the plane afloat if it was ever shot down.

The hump airlift was vital for supplying the Chinese allies and stopping Japanese expansion. An experience laced with danger and death by the day.

By the end of the airlift, the U.S. delivered 650,000 tons of supplies to China.

Decades later, Smith admits they were crazy but he said, "we were young and foolish too."

But there's nothing crazy or foolish about the hump airlift. Many fearless pilots lost their lives for a noble purpose. During World War II, the U.S. had friends in danger, and these men delivered help