Papua New Guinea Wreck Tec Updates –  April 2001
by John Douglas

I spent some time helping CILHI, who are excavating a B-25 wreck [B-25C "The Happy Legend" 41-12907] in the Owen Stanley Ranges. My role was to locate other wrecks nearby, that they could inspect for human remains.

The area that I chose was in the near the vicinity of Kokoda. My written records suggest 4-5 wrecks. I located 14, and we visited 7 of these. They were mostly P-39 & P-40s. The others will be followed up on later. I also took them to a B-24 site I had located two years ago, northwest of Port Moresby.

According to the record, most of the crew survived, but there is a question mark over two crew. I have sent a foot patrol over the ranges east of Port Moresby to Safia valley. I have stories of a few wrecks that need checking out!

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