[mustangdriver]

There are on goin gbattles over the export of the rare B-17E that crashed in a swamp during WWII. It is being decided if the aircraft is going to be allowed to continue on to the states. Some people in the New Guinea government say it should be returned to the crash site. I wonder what makes then thin kit is their aircraft to decide this on in the first place. It is an Air Force aircraft. While the USAF doesn't make the stand that the NAvy does (which in itself is stupid), I think they should act in this case. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

There are on goin gbattles over the export of the rare B-17E that crashed in a swamp during WWII. It is being decided if the aircraft is going to be allowed to continue on to the states. Some people in the New Guinea government say it should be returned to the crash site. I wonder what makes then thin kit is their aircraft to decide this on in the first place. It is an Air Force aircraft. While the USAF doesn't make the stand that the NAvy does (which in itself is stupid), I think they should act in this case. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I think this is a picture of it.
I need to find the story i use to have on this plane.
Where did you get your update from?
JP

[Planebeach]

I just hate these kind of people. Letting wreks lay where they crashed they will disepear, only smart thing is to take them into museums or rebuild them to flying condition. The Swamp Ghost story I have been reding about on WIX, somone shold smuggle her out on PNG

[admin]

I found this when looking for more info on the aforementioned B-17.
This is another B-17 wreck found in Papua New Guinea.



This B-17 went down July 11, 1943 during WWII off the shore of the village known as Boga-Boga on a tiny Papuan island during a terrible storm. Amazingly, all of the crew members survived the crash with the help of the native peoples who ventured out into the surf in their dugout canoes to rescue the American aviators.

The wreck sits perfectly preserved on a white sand bottom in about 150 feet of water. I'm a little narc'd up on this dive (hence the saluting and whatnot.)

[admin]

Swamp
Ghost

B-17E Gravesite in the New Guinea
wetlands

Justin Taylan

The raid on Rabaul was
disappointing. Four of the five B-17s on the raid had been hit and B-17E 41-2446
was stricken from the inventory when its crew had to belly it into a swamp in
New Guinea as it ran out of fuel. For 60 years, it remained where it landed.
Occasionally visited by the curious and scavengers, this time it was visited by
Justin Taylan and his camera. See this glorious ghost from the past as it lives
out its final days as the most complete B-17 wreck known to exist.

 

[admin]

Discovery & "Swamp Ghost"
Rediscovered in 1972, during an RAAF helicopter exercise in New Guinea. "The Swamp Ghost" nickname was coined by media articles and visitors gave this wreck. (It is not the aircraft's wartime nickname.) The plane is nearly impossible to locate during the 'wet season', due to the high kunai grass and swamp around, and is half submerged in swamp water. Few visitors and no grass fires have have kept the plane in excellent condition.

Pictures and much more >>

[jim]

Wonderfull film Admin, many thanks for sharing it. Let us hope that someday soon both of these old ladies can be brought home.

[STARMAN 352ND]

That is so cool to be on a dive like that.
Thanks for sharing this
JP

[Aircrafty]

PNG officials are about as corrupt as you can get so the US may have to hand over a wad of cash before the PNG government allow it to leave the docks.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Aircrafty

PNG officials are about as corrupt as you can get so the US may have to hand over a wad of cash before the PNG government allow it to leave the docks.

I read that whole story on it and it is so unfair of them to do that too.
The USAF should have some say in this i would think.
I know the Navy does when you find one of there old birds.
JP