Even though he had flown this route many times before, this was supposed to be a "routine" nighttime check flight for Lt. August Miller after delivering his cargo flying from Kunming, China, to Missamari, India. Over the Hump. Knowing that these routes in late fall and winters are plagued by severe thunderstorms this evening's flight did not disappoint. At 20,000 ft. "Augie" fount his C-46 headed for a humongous thunderstorm. The Capt. commanding the check flight denied his request to skirt the storm. Augie successfully exited the storm after flying what seemed like hours, through the roughest turbulence "boiling, full of fire and God knows how high" with his left engine down, 2.000 ft. below the highest peaks, his automatic direction finder radio antenna crippled -- and off course. All at night.
His clever use of the ATC emergency frequency to a radio operator in Myitkyina who he knew routinely kept his radio on enabled him to land safely in Myitkyina. Augies's choice words to the Capt. were not recorded. And no court material proceedings were ever instigated.
The instantaneous lighting flash gives the illusion that the right engine though working is feathered.