Billy Baumann

Birthplace: Sweetwater, TN

Branch of Service: Army Air Corps

Unit: 1326 Army Air Force Base Unit

Theater of Operation: China / Burma / India

Enlisted / Commissioned: Apr 15, 1943

Discharged: Feb 2, 1946

Honored By: His three sons

Was a ‘Hump’ pilot. Flew with the 1326 Army Air Force base unit in the India Burma China theater of operations for 13 months. Piloted the C-46 twin-engine transport aircraft over the Hump to deliver supplies to Allied ground forces, fighter plan bases and bomber plane bases to help the Chinese defeat the Japanese who had closed China’s access to the ocean, had occupied all major cities in China and about one-third of southern China. The Air Force has labeled the flights over the Himalayan mountains as the most treacherous flight path of WW II and the world’s worst weather. When C-46 airplanes were loaded and ready for takeoff they would make the takeoff day or night, whatever the weather, to deliver the supplies. missions would be repeated about every three days. Additional duty was as Senior Briefing and Navigation Officer, briefing all crews on proper preparation for flight prior to takeoff. Performed periodic checks to ascertain that crews knew all emergency procedures.