Aircraft wreckage abandoned at Tadji Airfield
Photos 1944 - 2003

RAAF Dump Area
This area was a bone yard for the RAAF 12 Repair Salvage Unit (12 RSU). Many airframes were abandoned at this location in two dump areas.

The first group are in a row:

Beaufort Serial Number A9-689

Beaufort Serial Number A9-559 Tail QH-F

Beaufort Serial Number A9-637 Tail KT-B

The second group in a rough circle:

Beaufort Serial Number A9-414 Tail UV-Q

Beaufort Serial Number A9-210 Tail QH-D

Beaufort Serial Number A9-535

Other Wrecks at Tadji included:

Beaufort Mark VIII Serial Number A9-277

F5B Lightning 42-67383
Pilot Clark crashed April 30, 1944 collided with a P-40N A29-405 and crashed into a swamp

B-17F "The Horse" Serial Number 41-24548
Crashed at Tadji, stripped for parts wings only remain

C-47 Dakoda
Stripped for parts, Pieces only

Beaufort
Stripped for parts, fuselage only

Anson
Steel tube frames rusting into the ground, thanks to Charles Darby for this information

UC-43
Steel tube frames rusting into the ground, thanks to Charles Darby for this information

Mid-Air Collision
Collision 'over Tadji strip'.

P-40N Warhawk Serial A29-1210 | A29-1462
Pilot Madigan midair collision with P-40N Kittyhawk A29-527 crashed November 15 1945

P-40N Warhawk Serial A29-527
Pilot Madigan midair collision with P-40N Kittyhawk A29-1210 | A29-1462 crashed November 15 1945

Aircraft salvaged from Tadji Airfield
Since the war, a number of aircraft wrecks have been salvaged or removed from Tadji Airfield.

P-39N "San Antonio Rose" Serial Number 42-19039
Salvaged 1967, transported to Goroka and displayed. During the 1980s n displayed at the J. K. McCarthy Museum

B-25C "Feather Merchant" Serial Number 41-12442
Salvaged 1974, transported to Aitape High School as a memorial

P-40N Warhawk Serial Number A29-448 | A29-1050
Pilot Giles force landed May 4, 1944. Salvaged 1974, restored by Pacific Aircraft Ltd. / Pioneer Aero Restorations to flying condition

P-40N "Little Jeanne" Serial Number 42-105915
Salvaged 1974, restored to flying condition by Precision Aerospace, today owned in France

P-40N Warhawk Serial Number A29-405 Tail HU-S
Damaged April 30, 1944 by F-5B Lightning 42-67383 collison while parked. Salvaged 1974, today owned by Graham Orphan in NZ

P-40N Warhawk Serial Number 42-105951
Salvaged 1974, wings in storage in New Zeland and the fuselage in California

P-39N Airacobra Serial Number 42-8740
Salvaged 1974, restored to static display at Yanks Air Museum

P-39N Airacobra Serial Number 42-18814
Salvaged 1974, stored in California

P-39N "Little Sir Echo / Small Fry" Serial Number 42-19027
Salvaged 1974, restored to static condition and displayed at Planes of Fame Musuem

P-39Q Airacobra Serial Number 42-19991
Salvaged 1974, stored in California

P-39Q "Brooklyn Bum 2nd" Serial Number 42-19993
Salvaged 1974, restored to static, re-restored to flying condition during 2004, today owned by The Fighter Collection

P-39Q "Snooks 2nd" Serial Number 42-19995
Salvaged 1974, restored to stadic display, since 1980 displayed at Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Serviceman's Park

P-39Q Airacobra Serial Number 42-20339
Salvaged 1974, whereabouts today unknown

Beaufort Serial Number A9-557 Tail Code QH-L
Salvaged 1974 from Tadji to Australia, restored to static at AWM

Beaufort Serial Number A9-13 Tail Code FX-B
Salvaged 1974 from Tadji to Australia, displayed at Army Flying Museum

A-20G Havoc Serial Number 43-21627
Salvaged 1974, under restoration at PIMA