JAAF
? Sentai
RAN,
1944
Ray Fairfield 1972
Phil Bradley 1997
Justin Taylan 2003
Aircraft History
Built by Nakajima during the end of June 1943. Uncoded serial number 220. Likely served with the 7th Sentai or 61st Sentai (serving as a transport).
Wartime History
Abandoned at the western end of Alexishafen Airfield.
Its nose section, forward of the cockpit was
severly damaged, probably by a parafrag bomb explosion. There is also damage on other parts of the fuselage.
Wreckage
Often mistakenly called a "Betty Bomber" by locals or visitors,
tourists often visit this very accessable wreck, and for over a half
century have been respectful of its condition. It has surface corrosion
from grass fires, but traces of the fuselage hinomaru remains. This
is one of the last know Helen wrecks in the world. It is interesting
to note from 1944 photos, that the condition of the wreck has changed
very little in fifty years.
Scrapping of Wings
This aircraft was
in virtually the same condition as the war had left it in 1944. During the late 1990's, the nose
section was broken up, and later removed. The
outer wing pannels dissapeared, and were likely scraped. Another sad happening was naturally caused: a tree fell on the fuselage around the same time, denting it.
and nearly severing the tail.
Today
The wreck is still one of the most poular sites visited by tourists
from Madang, and one of the most often photographed war wrecks in all
of Papua New Guinea.
References
Charles Darby | Pacific
Aircraft Wrecks page 62, 77
National Geographic "Ghosts of War in the South Pacific" page 552
Pacific
Ghosts CD-ROM profiles this aircraft
"Nakajima Ki-49 Serial Numbers" by Jim Long for production data
Ki-49
Photo Archive
