Indiana Jones

Chapter 56: Machine Nest Demon Soul (02)

This is a C-47 air train transport aircraft, which is the main transport aircraft on the "Hump Route" and also the aircraft with the most losses on the entire route. This model is a twin-engine piston military transport aircraft developed by Douglas Corporation of the United States , which was refitted from a DC-3 airliner. The prototype first flew in December 1935 and began to be equipped with troops in 12.Several models of this aircraft have been put into production one after another, with a total of 1940 aircraft produced.At that time, the C-10123 was equipped with the U.S. Army Air Corps due to its better flight performance and became its main military transport aircraft in World War II. It was mainly used for airlifting materials and soldiers, and could also drop paratroopers.

The "Hump Route" began in 1942 and finally ended World War II, making an important contribution to the fight against the Japanese Communist Party.The entire route is 500 miles long, with an altitude of 4500-5500 meters and a maximum altitude of 7000 meters. The undulating peaks are like the back of a camel, hence the name "Hump Route".

The "Hump Route" was a tragic airlift with the longest duration, the most difficult conditions and the highest cost in the history of world war airlift. The "Hump Route" passes through alpine snow peaks, canyon glaciers, tropical jungles, frigid virgin forests, and Japanese-occupied areas; in addition, the climate in this area is very harsh, with strong air currents, low pressure, hail, and frost, making the plane face crashes at any time during the flight and the danger of hitting a mountain, during the three-year arduous flight, Chinese airlines flew a total of 3 sorties. There were 8 materials and combat personnel.The 2100th Air Wing of the U.S. military alone, which has 84000 transport aircraft, lost 85 aircraft.On this route, the U.S. military has lost more than 33477 aircraft and nearly 629 outstanding pilots, with a loss rate of over 10%! China Airlines, which has a total of 563 transport aircraft, has lost 1500 aircraft successively. 3000 pilots were sacrificed, and the loss rate exceeded 80.00%.It can be said that it is a route of meritorious service that has made great contributions to the world anti-Japanese war!
Therefore, it is not surprising to encounter an Allied transport plane in this jungle. Under extremely harsh weather and environmental conditions, the plane may lose its direction and may crash anywhere in this jungle. The C-47 is an example.

The entire plane was stuck between several big trees at an angle, more than five meters above the ground, less than half of the wings were left, and the tail had disappeared. Most of the fuselage was still intact, except for the cabin. There doesn't appear to be much damage beyond the broken tail that hangs in midair.

Agui has found the position of the nose, and is chopping the vines vigorously. The whole plane has been wrapped in various vegetation. It is no exaggeration to say that it has merged with the jungle. The surface of the plane is covered with moss. Countless vines wrapped it, and even some depressions on the body had been covered with a mixture of rotting branches, leaves and dust. Various plants, flowers and even small trees had grown out of this mixture.

"If you don't pay attention, it's really hard to find a plane hidden here." Si Xuanyi watched Agui climb up the plane along the tree trunk and said.

"This should not be the plane we are looking for." Li Siming said.

"Yes." Si Xuanyi nodded, "Looking at the status, this plane has been here for at least a year, otherwise it would not be possible to be so tightly wrapped."

"It should be a transport plane of the 10th Aviation Wing." Rhodes lay on the cabin and looked in. Although the window was broken, it was covered with rattan. He could only look in through the gap, "There is only one pilot, The co-pilot is missing."

"Agui, clear the entrance, there may be something we need inside." Si Xuanyi said while climbing up the tree trunk, "Siming, Ma Zhong, keep watch."

Rhodes cut off the dense vines with a machete and got into the cockpit. The inside was already full of weeds and rotten leaves. The pilot had only a skeleton leaning on the armchair with his mouth open. It may have been when the plane crashed. His cervical spine was broken due to the force of the impact.

Rhodes took away the pilot's soldier badge as usual, found something to cover the bones, then went to open the door to the back cabin, opened it hard a few times, only to find that it was rusted and couldn't be opened.

"There are a lot of things inside." Agui had already cleaned out the vicinity of the fracture, and he couldn't help but feel happy when he saw a lot of boxes piled up inside. Just when he was happy, a group of big yellow-brown bats flew out of it. He was not prepared at all. He was so frightened that he fell straight down. Fortunately, there were trees and vines everywhere below, so he didn't fall to his death, but he was so scared that he almost peed his pants.

"Like a bear." Si Xuanyi climbed up along the tree vines and squatted at the break to look in. It was too dark to see anything clearly, and he seemed to be able to see a lot of box-like things piled up inside.

"Torch." Si Xuanyi shouted to the people below, Liang Rong immediately threw up the torch that had just been lit, it was because she was careful enough to know what to do when.

Si Xuanyi held up the torch and shook it into the cabin to prevent bats from appearing suddenly. After confirming that it was safe, he bent down and got in. There was a lot of space inside, and the torch's range of light was limited, so he could only see some cargo boxes in disorder. The fixed padlocks were already broken when the plane crashed, and some places were broken, and some vegetation got in, but it was a relatively small hole for the whole body. It won't have much impact, and some dark things can be seen in some broken boxes from a distance, and he can't see what it is for a while, and the rest of the place is still dark.

He stomped his feet vigorously, and after confirming that the deck was strong enough, he held up the torch and stopped going in. Only when he got closer did he realize that the black things scattered on the ground were moldy clothes, and the boxes contained military uniforms...

Si Xuanyi put the torch aside and rummaged in the box. It turned out to be some military uniforms. After all, it is not guns and ammunition, which cannot fundamentally change their situation.

He pried open another box, and there were still clothes in it. This box was well preserved. He immediately took a set and began to change. The clothes on his body were already worn out. In the fight with leopards and eagle owls, he was caught with holes everywhere. He tore off the tattered clothes and threw them aside and put on a new American military uniform. A figure flashed in the corner illuminated by the torch, and he immediately turned around. The figure disappeared into the gap between several boxes. He picked up the rifle and put it aside for a moment, convinced that there should be no one but himself. It's right for people to follow in. Besides, even if someone comes in, they won't just sneak in without saying hello. Then who is this guy?
Thinking of Si Xuanyi carefully walking over with a gun in his hand, only to find that the gap was only as wide as a ball, and it was impossible for a person to pass through the gap, did he see it wrong?Probably not, he held up the torch to shine in, the torch had just reached into the gap, when suddenly a dry bone arm rested on the torch...

(End of this chapter)