Warbird Information Exchange

1 in France (not St. Ex's)


1 in Brahman, PNG (Mareelee 3)
1 in Milne Bay, PNG
3 near Port Moresby, PNG

5 in Greenland

1 in Uepi, Solomons

1 is in the Bismark Sea

1 is in Torrey Pines, CA, USA

Any more COMPLETE wrecks?

Are any of the Aleutian examples still in place, or have they all been recovered?

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

There is one off of Catalina Island, Calif., in about 200 ft of water.

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

There were some substantial P-38 sections including a tailboom in one of the UK's high ground area's. I don't know if they are still there.

Cees

Hi

"A lot" in the Phillipines...

And some more in PNG / Irian Jaya

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

So there is a lot of potential out there. I wonder what we can expect the coming years.

Cheers

Cees

Setter wrote

Hi John:

That can't be possible! I have some friends in P.I. who have scoured the area and found nothing. Can you fill us in on more details. I know there where at least 50 different airbases there.

I am quite new to this site, really REALLY enjoy it and would like to contribute more in the future with my limited knowledge, but sometimes, by reading the content of some posts, i can't help but think it's a waste of time as we have here a microcosme of the outside world.

- I mister X, answering your question about how many surviving P-38 are still around can tell you that "I" know there are still a lot around in the Philippines but of course i will not tell you how many or where. Just wanted to let you know that i know.

- Mister Y : Good mister X, you know a lot, but i know even more than you do !

Come on gentlemen ! You are definitely some of the best contributors to this site; but do you really think such posts add anything positive.

So, let's make a small test : please give the readers of this site the location (even approximative) ans some photos of just one of these wrecks.

Laurent

Laurent wrote:


Laurent, I agree and disagree with you. First I disagree as some info is hard to get, just a piece of the puzzle. if another WIXer has more info on the subject, the entire question can be answered. What you are seeing is not childish and deliberate, but more about blanks being filled in.

I agree on my R-1340 post that this "I warned you" kind of mentality falls more into what you are talking about. That sort of thing isn't called for. Rather, a simple explanation on why it isn't safe is far better. To answer your question there is a surplus of testosterone especially from the "big kahunas“. Almost kind of a chip on these guy's shoulders. Just a simple explanation, rather than a big ego trip is all that is required. On this part I agree with you 100%.

Hi

No secret about the Phillipines P38s - I posted on this in July when I was there watching them digging one of them up. There are a lot of P38s and other stuff in a dump formed from a ravine at the end of the Field in Manila itself. The reason people don't get photos and such is that it is an official dig and attention is not wished for at this stage. There is a tendancy over there for people to go and steal stuff once a location is fully revealed. I have absolutely no doubt that when the full operation is complete there will be publicity. I am only an observer here - I have no right to talk about it further or reveal their business.

You will never get all the information you want from people when you want it - there is a phase in any project when it is confidential and peoples privacy has to be protected, Often now recoveries are never revealed because in the past people pushed too hard when they shouldn't have. Just be patient and be happy that people are doing this stuff . I can assure you I use this forum to disclose everything I am at liberty to discuss so you need not fear on that score. I will not talk about things that I am asked not to or people will not trust you again.

Hope this helps explain

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Hi John:

THat's interesting news. What was the condition of the bird. I imagine the thing was pretty beat up.

Thanks,

Chris

Hi Chris

Well the condition wasn't anyway near as bad as I thought as the drainage is very good so corosion wasn't the issue I have seen before- the main problem was the system of disposal. All the aircraft were picked up with a crane by the horizontal stabiliser and lifted nose first into the ravine. This naturally buckled the stabilizer and bent both booms - otherwise the condition was pretty good - no doubt there was some corosion but not a lot that I could see and it could certainly be restored better than most I have seen come out of PNG.

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Ok John:

How many were found? Was there anything else other than P-38's?

Thanks,

Chris

Hi Chris

I have no real idea - it is a big hole and there are definately some more P38s but also some P51 and P47 parts and some wrecked B24 bits. Rob has some photos of the P38s stacked up before burial and I suppose there are 50 or so in the pics - I think it is likely that the P38s are the main content.

As I said just lets see what happens and not scare them off.

Regards
John P

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Setter,

Thanks for jogging my memory, the photo of the a/c being lifted by a crane is the one I remember from a mag some years ago, if my memory is correct it only stated "in the Philippines" no actual location.

I wish the guys all the best and hope they bring back some nice bits, can't wait to hear what's been done.

Stuart