War Memories and Civilian Musings

Carl Frey Constein, author of the memoir Born to Fly the Hump, is invited by the Mid Atlantic Air Museum to give briefings at its spectacular WWII Weekend every June at the Reading PA Regional Airport. A Curtiss C-46 pilot, Constein recounts his 96 flights from India to China across the Himalayas. Conversations with aviation and history buffs at the Weekend to commemorate the war and honor its veterans have kindled new memories and reflections in the author. Pondering the perils of flying the Hump, he is more than ever aware of the profound impact of war on his life.

In War Memories and civilian Musings, the author recalls these reflections as he describes the museum's marvelous Weekend. He then takes an easy-going look at his life as a civilian. Writing about his family, his career in education, his convictions and favorite phantoms, he uncovers connections to his portentous year in China-India-Burma.