Monday February 27, 7:00 p.m.
In its speakers series at Crowell Public Library, the San Marino Historical Society presents quarterly history talks focusing on topics especially selected for residents of San Marino. On February 27 at 7:00 p.m., all are welcome to experience World War II from one who was there. Jeff Arnett will talk about his service in Asia including a three week flight form the United States to India, his service in Burma and China, and crossing the famous and dangerous “Hump.” According to Wikipedia, the ‘hump’ was “…the name given by Allied pilots in the Second World War to the eastern end of the Himalayan mountains over which they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the United States Army Air Forces based in China. Creating an airlift presented the USAAF a considerable challenge in 1942: it had no units trained or equipped for moving cargo, and no airfields existed in the China Burma India Theater for basing the large number of transports that would be needed. Flying over the Himalayas was extremely dangerous and made more difficult by a lack of reliable charts, an absence of radio navigation aids, and a dearth of information about the weather.”*
Jeff Arnett is retired
from fifty years in the investment business, fifty years of private plane
piloting and fifteen years as a docent at the Palm Springs Air Museum. In
recent years, he has returned to model railroading and a renewed focus on golf
where he has managed to “shoot his age” four of the past five years. He was born in Los Angeles and has resided in
the Pasadena-San Marino area since 1930. He graduated from South Pasadena
High School in 1943, just one day before entering the Army Air Corps.
After serving as a transport pilot in Burma and China for three years, he
returned from the service to graduate from USC. Jeff last spoke to the Historical Society on
the Pacific Electric Company and his experience riding the Red Cars. On January 11th he celebrated his 92nd
birthday.
Come to Crowell Public
and hear about this fascinating part of World War II history from an original
source. No reservations are
required. For information on the San
Marino Historical Society call (626) 304-9375 or
email smhistorical@earthlink.net.
