I have been captivated by the Pacific war since age sixteen. My interest in this topic began with my grandfather, Carl R. Thien who was a combat photographer and soldier in the Pacific during WWII.  

In 1993, I had the opportunity to travel with him back to the places he served while writing a book about his experiences, No Place For A Picnic During this trip, we visited Papua New Guinea. There, I was shocked that war relics from half a century ago still existed where the war had left them. From that point forward, I became fascinated with the history of these wrecks, and when I searched the internet was surprised that there was no website dedicated to this topic. In 1997 I decided to create the Pacific Wreck Database, as a way to organize this research. Little did I know the response it would produce!

PacificWrecks.com
The site has connected with millions visitors all over the world who share this interest, or have a connection to the Pacific during WWII. Today, the site contains thousands of pages, and incorporates the memories, recollections and photographs from both the present day, and WWII, credited to contributing sources. It is my hope that the site continues to grow and maintain its reputation as the definitive internet site on the topic of WWII Pacific wrecks.

The Legacy of WWII Wrecks
For Pacific islanders, the legacy of the war continues to this day through the memories of older people, and daily contact with relics of the war. A crashed airplane, and the story of how villagers assisted the pilot or witnessed his execution are vivid in their minds. Some even remember the names of American G. I. or Japanese soldiers they befriended during the war.  "Wrecks" are a topic that spans both history and the present day. For instance every year, a few Pacific islanders are hurt or killed by unexploded WWII munitions. Previously undiscovered wrecks are found. Wartime mysteries are solved from new discoveries or interviews.

Hopes & Desires
One of the things that has preserved most of these wrecks is their remote locations and the fact that they are rarely disturbed by outsiders. It is my hope that this information will not be abused by potential visitors to these regions. Although these wrecks are only rusting hulks of aluminum, brass, paint and rubber, their historical value to the generation that saw them used makes them priceless. It is essential that these wrecks are allowed to rest in peace as monuments to their crews and the people who died in during the war.

Helping this Site To Grow
Learn about how you can assist this project.  This is a free website, that has been online since 1997. I use my own money and free time to maintain it. New information, expertise or monetary donations help this project to grow. Also with purchases through Pacific Ghosts of DVDs & CD-ROMs related to this subject.

Contact Me
This project has brought me in contact with people from all over the world, including: WWII Pacific veterans, their relatives, descendent, historians, travelers, authors and explorers. Some, I have even met in person. If you are one of the above, or have information, recollections related to this topic, email me to tell your story, share photos or wartime memories.

Yours in history,
Justin Taylan
info@pacificwrecks.com