Heartfelt Reunion: Sons of WWII RAF Officer Experience Nostalgia at Pasighat’s Captivating Hump Museum

Roderick and Ian Macdonald recently visited the Hump Museum in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, to honor the legacy of their late father, Major Ronald John Macdonald. Major Macdonald was a British officer who served in India during World War II, facilitating logistics for allied forces over the Hump, a treacherous mountainous route. He later commanded a British Military Mission in China, flying with the Royal Air Force until 1947.

The brothers, with Ian residing in the UK and Roderick now in the USA, expressed immense delight upon witnessing the museum’s collection, which includes relics of US airmen from World War II. They were particularly grateful to Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Hump Museum officials for preserving these historical memories. The museum, inaugurated by the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, commemorates the Hump Operation, a significant aviation feat.

Reflecting on their father’s fondness for India, both Roderick and Ian conveyed their happiness at connecting with his past. They shared vintage photographs, including their father’s images with his plane and a flying jacket, intending to donate these to the museum.

Roderick, a retired Brigadier in the British Army and now a consultant in the USA, and Ian, a Chartered Psychologist and Executive Chair of international consultancies in the UK, urged others from the UK and USA to visit the museum. Their visit highlights the strong historical ties and the impact of Major Macdonald’s efforts during the war.

The establishment of the Hump Museum stands as a tribute to the valiant airmen who lost their lives on this perilous route, serving as a symbol of remembrance and educational value for visitors worldwide.

Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/arunachal-pradesh/story/arunachal-ww-ii-raf-officers-sons-visit-pasighats-hump-museum-1158999-2025-01-22?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-01-22 23:20:00