Remains of WWII US aircraft displayed in SW China

CHENGDU - The remains of a United States army C-87 transport airplane that crashed in Tibet 71 years ago was exhibited on Sunday at a private museum in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

A wing with an engraved white five-pointed star, dashboard, engine and cabin parts, which were found at the top of a mountain in Bomi County earlier this month, were among more than 50 pieces of remains displayed at the Jianchuan Museum.

Xinhua reporters saw letters like "Chicago," "USA," "FBE-18" and "PAT" in some parts of the remains, which were made public to mark China's victory against the Japanese aggression.

The C-87 plane and remains of five US pilots were found by local hunters in September 1993, but most of the wreckage stayed on the glacier. Eleven professionals and 41 Tibetan supporting staff took part in the search that began on July 31 and ended on Aug 8.

The Hump, or the "death route" over the Himalayan mountains, was operated jointly by China and the United States from 1942 to 1945 to transport military supplies from India to southwest China.

About 1,500 planes crashed along the route. The route is clearly seen from above as the aluminum trail of wrecked planes glittering in the sunlight.

The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, were formed in 1941 and led by US General Claire Lee Chennault to help China drive out invading Japanese troops.

The Jianchuan Museum, established by entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan, opened to the public in 2005. It is one of the largest private museums in China with about 30 exhibition halls focusing on the anti-Japanese war, folk customs and earthquakes.