駝峰航線(the Hump)

　　the construction of the burma road over forbidding, monsoon-swept terrain was an astonishing feat. no less impressive, though, was the other way from india into china during world war ii, both before and after the land route was opened. goods traveled via an airlift that became known as the hump, and the accomplishments of those who kept the hu將mp route up and runsupplies were transported ning are truly remarkable.

　　在險惡嚴峻，飽受季風摧殘的地形修筑滇緬公路，是一項撼人的壯舉。然而，在二戰(zhàn)期間的陸路建設同時，從印度補給送入中國的另一條路線也不遑多讓。補給物資由飛行器飛越所謂的“駝峰航線”，能夠這條駝峰航線保持空運，也是非常了不起的成就。

　　from the spring of 1942 until the war ended in august 1945, pilots' skills were tested as they crossed towering mountains in abysmal circumstances—violent turbulence, japanese airfire, dreadful weather, malfunctioning airplanes—and with little sleep. planes took off around the clock from any of 13 bases in northeastern india, landing about 500 miles (800 kilometers) later at one of 6 airfields in china. most of the planes and pilots belonged to the air transport command, and some men flew as many as three round-trips a day.

　　從1942年春直到1945年8月戰(zhàn)爭結束，崇山峻嶺及險象環(huán)生的環(huán)境中——強勁氣流、日軍炮火、惡劣天氣、飛機故障——飛行員們忍受著睡眠不足，一次次的接受考驗。飛機全天候待命，從印度東北的13個基地飛到800公里外的6個中國機場降落。大部分的飛機和飛行員都隸屬于空運司令部，其中的一些人要一天來回飛三次。

　　in his book flying the hump: memories of an air war, former hump pilot and journalist otha c. spencer quotes one pilot's typically harrowing experience in the air. "we encountered a solid cold front at 16,000 feet (5,000 meters). suddenly the entire plane began to vibrate…ice had built up on our props and we were unable to break it loose.… i ordered the crew to prepare for bail out and i would remain and try to get rid of the ice…the crew elected to remain with the plane…we had dropped into a river valley…suddenly it sounded as if the engines were coming apart.… we had entered the warm air and the clubbing props were letting loose large chunks of ice…we were still flying, just skimming the treetops at 9,800 feet (2,900 meters)…at kunming the aircraft was grounded, as the entire fuselage in line with both props was literally demolished…our cargo had been explosives…another normal day."

　　前駝峰飛行員，后來做了記者的otha c. spencer在他的著作《飛越駝峰：空戰(zhàn)回憶錄》中，引述飛行員在空中典型的慘痛經驗。“我們在5000米的時候遇上強勁冷鋒。突然間整架飛機開始震動……螺旋槳結了冰，甩也甩不掉……我下令組員準備跳傘，我則留下來設法除冰……組員決定與飛機共存亡……我們墜向山谷……突然間引擎聽起來好像要四分五裂了……我們進入溫暖的空氣中，凍結的螺旋槳掉下大塊的冰……我們還在飛，高度2900米并擦過樹梢……飛機在昆明降落，整個機身和兩個螺旋槳幾乎全毀……我們載的貨物是炸藥……又過了有驚無險的一天�！�

　　in all, some 650,000 tons (600,000 metric tonnes) of supplies were ferried to china over the hump, but at a cost: more than 600 planes and 1,000 lives were lost in the airlift.

　　總共有大約65萬噸的補給品越過駝峰進入中國大陸，但這是有代價的：空運過程中損失了超過600架飛機和1000條人命。