He had been commander of the American forces in India and China in 1944 -- 45 . He knew about the Allied airlift from India over `` The Hump '' of the Himalayas to China . He had been the commander of the US China-Burma-India Theater in 1944 â `` 45 and he had a detailed knowledge of the previous largest airlift -- the World War II American airlift from India over The Hump of the Himalayas to China .