In this months Flypast (Oct 2004)

[paulmcmillan]

There is a news snippet saying "10 unidentified US WW2 aircraft are reportedly going to be salvaged from Lake Tengano in the Solomans"

Well the first good point is a) Lake Tengano is the largest Fresh Water Lake in the Solomans

the bad news is

b) because of a) it is a Listed World Heritage site! I can't see UNESCO being to pleased..... (unless it is a 'clean up operation')

Can anyone shed more light on this story? Or is it 'pie in sky' and does anyone know if anything is really in this Lake?

[Rob Mears]

If it's true, I can only imagine what kind of treasures might emerge from the depths of that lake. Hopefully someone will bring the details, and hopefully we're talking about intact aircraft.

[setter]

Hi

Apparently it is true and yes it is linked with a cleanup operation and it isn't the only one in the wind. The potential pollution of the lake has been an issue for some time as is quite a large quantity of unexploded ordanance. Don't expect too much I am led to believe what is there is pretty poor - if it is even what it is supposed to be. I don't know who it is but I suspect some very logical arguments were put and all parties are satisfied.

The Solomons have had a rough time for quite a while and as peace has broken out for a period it is again possible to do these sort of things - not safe completely just safer.

On another matter Australia has started sending peacekeeper/advisor Police into PNG as well as public service advisors to assist the Government pull things back into line so I would hope fairly soon things will get safer and more predictable again up there. There will be at least 300 Police advisors going in on a long term basis.

Kindest regards