CILHI VISITS CRASH SITE TWICE, 2002
B-25C "The Happy Legend" 41-12907 crash site was partially excavated in 1995. During the current 2002 mission, the CILHI team's objective was to attempt to complete the excavation. Preliminary field reports from the team indicate they were forced to suspend work at the site due to safety concerns. The team indicated the aircraft wreckage itself is in an unstable, precarious position and they also ran into live ordnance.

In March 2002, CILHI went back to the site and attempted to complete the recovery.  During tile course of pumping out the crater, a 500 lb bomb, which was lodged in the side of the crater, began to shift. Attempts to reinforce the bomb were unsuccessful, and it began a slow descent to the center of the crater in the middle of the excavation area. After examination by the US EOD specialists and the PNG Defense Force EOD team, it was determined that the bomb was too unstable to move and the only alternative would be to blow it in place. Unfortunately, this would destroy whatever remained of the site. Due to safety concerns, the site was administratively closed on 15 March 2002 and the team relocated to another recovery site near Lae.

It was a difficult site to excavate, but it gives our teams a sense of pride when we can provide some sense of closure to family members. We will remain vigilant in our efforts here until all missing service members are brought home.

Mark A. Magalski
Major, US Army, CILHI