Versatile wrote:I really enjoyed the doc.
What is the story on all those wrecks in Guadalcanal? The village they went to had quite a bit of AC in varios states. Including a Widcat or Hellcat wing even with rounds still in the wing.
That village is Vilu, right off of the road out towards Cape Esperance.
I was there a year ago & got a nice tour from the caretaker, Anderson Dua.
There's an F4U, F4U main spar, F4F up on drums ( the right wing still folds and unfolds), P-38 laying on the ground with both Allisons, SBD, wings off of a TBM or TBF, float from a Kingfisher?, front glass from a Betty and a number of artillery pieces. There are also Japanese fighters and a Betty still out in the bush...I have seen digital photos.
At Betikama Museum near the Lunga powerhouse, there's a P-39 or P-400 along with an SBD.
Across the Strait off of Gavutu is a sunken Mavis flying boat. You can see it in the clear water. Supposed to be two B-17 wrecks out toward Cape Esperance that divers can get to & photograph, but I did not personally see these.
As to the wrecks at Vilu & Betikama, they have been outdoors for over 60 years and the skin on most or all is in poor shape, but nonetheless, the aircraft are there to see.