Webster Museum

Veteran's Day Program

November 14, 2021

99 year old, Ted Ellstrom returned to the museum to share Veterans Day and more of his experiences in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

Mr. Ellstrom was a radio operator on Air Force cargo flights from India to China over the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and units of the United States Army Air Forces based in China.

As the operation scaled up due to Japanese capture of traditional ground routes, Consolidated C-87's and C-109's and Curtiss C-46's were provided to maximize the efficiency of the operation.

The route was extremely dangerous due to inclement weather, strong winds and limited equipment and support.

During its 42 month of operation, the airlift delivered approximately 650,000 tons of materiel to China, but not without the loss of 1,659 servicemen.

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WEBSTER MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
18 Lapham Park Webster, New York 14580 585.265.3308

Webster Museum