Wreck
related briefs from John
Douglas in Papua New Guinea
My main effort at the moment is exploring the forests
around Port Moresby. The area back towards Kokoda from Port Moresby
seems to have been a killing ground for planes.It was the main route
for planes travelling between Port Moresby and points north, including
Kokoda, Buna, Lae and Rabaul. Add in a mountain pass, regular bad
weather, combat and occasionally inexperienced pilots, and you get
a lot of mishaps. Much of this area is steep, forested and little
used except by occasional hunters. So, there are wrecks to be found.
CILHI have been working
on a couple with remains, but a lot more need to be located and checked
out. For the moment we've been working in one valley that seems to
have gathered up P39s. located four, all aparently lost in May 1942,When
matters were very evenly balanced between the opposing forces. These
P39s are all D or F models, not reported to the outside world before,
and come from 35 and 36 sqns, USAAF. No remains obvious. I've
got a camera travelling in the lower Sepic river [Another good location
for wrecks]as well. I attach a few photos for your gratification.
