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The History of Aircraft Salvage in Papua New Guinea (PNG) 1980s
by Justin Taylan

1980s: Salvage Boom
What had only a decade before been an obscure topic, suddenly was on ever 'warbird' enthusiast's mind: 'How can we salvage a real WWII airplane?'.  The passage of four decades since the war: scrapping, and salvage saw most countries void of any aircraft from the war. Only the more remote countries in the Pacific still contained intact aircraft. PNG still had the greatest number and widest diversity remaining. 

Many wrecks began to emerge as "famous" worldwide including the B-17E 41-2446 (aka "Swamp Ghost"), an upside down B-26 Marauder 40-1426, or the fully intact Ki-61 Tony 640. Suddenly, acquiring a 'wreck' for display or restoration became a collection priority for museums and private collectors.  The booming global economy of the 80s helped fund a new crop of salvagers who were willing to go to more remote places to get aircraft.

The rules had changed since PNG independence. All war wrecks were considered state property. All salvage permits were granted by the state via the PNG National Museum, that was the administrator of the War Surplus Materials Act 1952. Now, salvagers would have to negotiate with the museum for 'export permits'.

1982 - P-39K Airacobra 42-4312 by Jarrett

RAAF Salvages: Training & Historical Exercises
During 1984, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) financed the recovery of three Havocs from remote areas of New Guinea. The expense was justified as a training exercise for helicopter crews and RAAF mechanics and aerial riggers. Done in cooperation with the PNG Museum, it would also seek to preserve historic aircraft for both Australia and PNG.

The first salvaged was A-20G "Hell'N Pelican" 42-86786. Completely intact, the aircraft had to be carefully disassembled on the ground, so pieces could be lifted by helicopter and transported to the coast, then shipped to Australia. Over the next decade, it was meticulously restored to static display. "Hell'N Pelican" remains the property of PNG, but is in storage at Amberly in Australia, due to lack of adequate display hanger in PNG to this day. Its former pilot, Charles Davidson was reunited with the restored aircraft in 1996 at its unveiling. The book "Hellva Pelican" by Michael Claringbould [out of print] details the plane's history, salvage and restoration.

Additionally, DB-7 "J is for Jessica" A28-8 was salvaged for the RAAF Museum, that later fully restored to static display into the early 1990s. To support these restoration projects, other less complete Douglas Havocs were salvaged from Saidor and Yamai: A-20G 42-86615, A-20G 43-9401, A-20G 43-9491, A-20G 43-9629. These airframes were stripped during the war and easy to recover from kunai grass near the old airstrips. All these Havocs force landed after an April 16, 1944 mission to Hollanida when they ran into intense weather front and a total of 37 planes, including these Havocs were lost.

Another 'Black Sunday' victim proved to be more difficult to salvage, A-20G "Lady Constance" 43-9628. When rigged to a helicopter, the left engine was cut loose in the air and lost on the first attempt in 1984. The next year, the rest was successfully salvaged.

By far the most difficult salvage was A-20G "Big Nig" 43-9436 which force landed and submerged in a freshwater swamp. A difficult salvaged for RAAF training, using air bags to lift the aircraft from the swamp. This A-20 was an amazingly intact aircraft: complete with nose art, guns, instruments, even the pilot's thermos still half full of coffee.

The remains of these other salvaged A-20s remain in storage with the RAAF at Point Cook. Most recently, the fuselage of A-20G "Big Nig" was transferred to a private restoration facility, Precision Aerospace in 2005.

Meanwhile, another RAAF party salvaged several Japanese aircraft, for both the PNG Museum and Australia. Among them were: Ki-61 Tony 299 from Alexishafen for the PNG Museum. [In 2002, it was removed by Robert Greinert / HARS to Australia] and Ki-43 Oscar 5465 from Alexishafen [to AWM]. Finally, Ki-61 Tony 640 from Nuku for the PNG Museum. [In 2004, it was removed by Robert Greinert / HARS to Australia.]

Other 1984 Salvages
1984 was a big year for salvage, also two Airacobras were salvaged: P-400 AP 335 and P-400 AP 347 taken from Bulldog Emergency Strip. Recovered thru the efforts of (Retired) Col. Jack Taft. Only one was exported to the USA (whereabouts unknown), the other donated to PNG Museum, where it is displayed at the Port Moresby Aero Club.

Next Decade: 1990s: Rising Stakes

Return to History of Aircraft Salvage in Papua New Guinea

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B-17E 'Swamp Ghost'

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B-26 40-1426

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Ki-61 Tony 640

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A-20 "Hell'N Pelican"
Restored & Former Pilot
Charles Davidson

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DB-7 "J is for Jessica"

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A-20G "Big Nig"
Swamp Salvage

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Ki-61 Tony 640
Salvaged

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P-400 AP 335 salvaged

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