RAAF Detachment Surveys Area
Leigh Alver adds:
"I
visited in 1985 when serving with the Australian
Army. I had put in a task request to the RAAF
detachment
in support of the exercise to conduct an aerial recon of a training area. On completion of this task the pilot advised
he was going to take a quick look for a B-17. The initial search found nothing. So the pilot
flew out over the coast, then headed back on a direct line for Port Moresby
(as if coming from Rabaul), saying "if we were in a B-17 and wanted to
put it down, where would we do it" and at the same time losing height. To my surprise the aircraft appeared just to the
left
of the UH-1H when we were at an altitude of about 200 feet. I had seen a number
of WWII aircraft wrecks since my first visit to PNG in 1967 but this was the
most intact.
The pilot hovered off the right wing and a couple of
us went for a quick look. At that time the
water level inside
the airframe was low and floor was covered
with spent 50 cal rounds. Sign of previous visitors showed as a couple of
instruments had been removed from the instrument panel (I now see that the
whole pane has
gone, along with the control wheels from the control columns). Most of
the interior seemed to be intact. I am not certain but think that a number
of weapons
(50 cal) were still on board. I notice from the aerial photo that
the growth of small trees is now starting to dominate the wetlands. This
wasn't the case nearly 20
years
ago but
it was certainly an isolated area and was a little amazed how previous
visitors had found and 'stolen' stuff. It is
sad to see
it deteriorating from those who had and seem to continue
taking souvenirs."