More on Swamp Ghost

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:36 am

Looks like Swamp Ghost's fate is still up in the air.

Paraphrasing & quoting from Daniel Leahy @ Pacific Wreck Database:

Quote:

The B-17E 41-2446 (Swamp Ghost) recovery has again made PNG newspapers.

This from today's NATIONAL:
http://www.thenational.com.pg/070506/nation1.htm

Quote:
PAC nails museum
By ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE National Museum and Art Gallery did not keep records of more than 30 war relics sold. Yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ordered that the museum furnished it with these records and other documents within 48 hours.

The inquiry also learnt that the sales were in direct breach of the Public Finance Management Act and financial instructions.

At the centre of yesterday’s inquiry was the Swamp Ghost, which received widespread publicity two months ago when it was salvaged from Oro and taken to Lae in Morobe province for shipment to the United States.

Acting museum director Simon Poraituk was yesterday lost and confused when told of the relevant laws preventing the sale of war relics in the absence of any ministerial or cabinet approval.

Mr Poraituk said he only knew of the National Museum Board of Trustees, representing the State, and a memorandum of agreement to enter into a sale agreement with a client.

He had nothing to say about breaching the Public Finance Management Act, or that no proper tender procedures were followed in entering into any sale arrangements.

Acting PAC chairman Chris Haiveta said under the War Surplus Materials Act, all war surpluses are State property and lawful procedures must be followed when dealing with them. The National Museum and Art Gallery had failed that responsibility, he said.

In the 48-hour deadline, the PAC ordered the museum to produce:
*Statement of reasons for the sale of war relics;
*Statement to identify the basis for the issuance of an export permit;
*Schedule for the export permit;
*A full record of the sale of more than 30 war relics and financial records of the sales; and
*Meet with the Auditor-General to provide all financial records.

On the Swamp Ghost deal, Mr Poraituk said US$100,000 (K298,075) had been deposited by US buyers Aero Archeology into a holding account at the Westpac Bank in Port Moresby.

He said under a memorandum of agreement, 50% of that amount will go to the museum, 25% to the landowners and 25% to the Oro provincial government.

The agent acting for Aero Archeology Robert Grienert, a collector of war relics with a museum in Sydney, Australia, was also summoned before the inquiry yesterday.

Grienert said he was first hired by the museum to value the Swamp Ghost.
He found that the plane had suffered heavy corrosion and “you can peel skins of the aircraft”, leaving it with a value of about K12,000.

He said the company spent K20,000 on motor hire and local labour during the salvage operation.

More from today's NATIONAL:
http://www.thenational.com.pg/070506/nation3.htm

Quote:
Inadequate documents anger acting PAC boss
By ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concerns about foreigners having access to buy and remove State property without proper checks and procedures.

Yesterday’s inquiry into the Swamp Ghost found that the sale of more than 30 war relics had left PNG without following proper procedures and laws.

PAC acting chairman Chris Haiveta was apparently angry that the documents and evidence provided to the committee did not adequately address the issues at hand.

He was also unhappy that the museum had not cooperated with the Auditor-General to account for its activities from 2003 up until last year.
“How can the museum sell State-owned property of great value and, moreover, with no regard to the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act and the financial instructions?”

He said eight years ago, the Solicitor-General had correctly pointed out that the State is the owner of war surplus material, and is the sole beneficiary of any sale. Therefore its disposal, by sale or otherwise, must be in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act, Mr Haiveta said. “It means that the Swamp Ghost should have gone on tender – if a decision was ever lawfully made to sell it in the first place.”

He said the only exception would be when the Central Supply and Tenders Board think it impractical or inexpedient, or if the minister in his discretion considers otherwise.

“Furthermore, this committee cannot yet identify any power in the National Museum and Art Gallery to permit the export of the wreck of the Swamp Ghost.

“Moreover, we are concerned that foreign exporters have apparently had access to, bought and removed State property with no proper checks,” Mr Haiveta said.

He was also concerned that the museum had received money and payment in kind from foreigners with no regard for the laws of this country.

Again from today's NATIONAL:
http://www.thenational.com.pg/070506/nation15.htm

Quote:
Buyer of Swamp Ghost has no hangar

AMERICAN war relic buyer Aero Archeology Limited neither owns a hangar nor a museum.

Aero Archeology had bought a World War II American bomber B-17E Flying Fortress, dubbed the Swamp Ghost, and moved it from Oro province to Lae for shipment to the United States.

Citing correspondence received from Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC) in Marshfield, California, on July 2, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Aimo yesterday said the company had denied receiving any correspondence from the buyer of the Swamp Ghost to have the plane housed at its establishment.

Mr Aimo said the museum, instead, is currently raising funds to build a new hangar for its own bombers.

Mr Aimo said MARC had denied knowledge of the Swamp Ghost.

“Yet, the NEC and museum trustees have been told that the Swamp Ghost would be restored at that location,” Mr Aimo said.

National Museum and Art Gallery acting director Simon Poraituk told the inquiry that in his letter to the NEC, he had hinted to dispose the plane to avoid Government and stakeholders’ intervention.

He said there was no legislation used to reach the agreement, effecting the sale of the Swamp Ghost.

Mr Poraituk said his submission to the National Executive Council, through the former Culture and Tourism Minister, was without the approval of the Central Agency Consultative Committee. He was advised to have it dealt with administratively, he said Acting chairman of the museum board of trustees Arthur Jawodimbari said the board only endorsed the decision of the former board to extract and sell the Swamp Ghost.

This from today's POST COURIER:
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20060705/news11.htm

Quote:
Swamp Ghost advice ignored

THE National Museum and Art Gallery blatantly disobeyed advice by the Solicitor-General to sell any war relic without tender. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found no relevant laws giving permission for the export of the “Swamp Ghost”. And also the Swamp Ghost was sold without public tender as advised by the Solicitor-General. The PAC, headed by acting chairman and Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta, heard the Solicitor-General in 1997 advised the sale or disposal of any “War Surplus Material” must be effected in accordance with Part VII of the Public Finances (Management) Act. Mr Haiveta said, “This means that the Swamp Ghost should have been put to public tender — if a decision was ever lawfully made to sell it in the first place. However, he told the inquiry the only exception to this requirement was the Central Suppliers & Tenders Board certified it was impractical or inexpedient, or if the Minister in his discretion considered there was an emergency or it was not expedient or proper to call for tenders. A very disappointed Mr Haiveta said in his closing remarks the evidence did not answer or adequately address the major matter of concern to the PAC. “That is, the issue of how the Museum can sell State owned property of great value at all and, moreover, with no regard to the requirements of the PFMA or the Financial instruction,” Mr Haiveta said. He said the committee was concerned the heritage of the country was being sold, given to or taken by foreigners with no regard to the law by them or by the Museum and its staff.

And although not mentioning the Swamp Ghost, this is in relation to the PNG Museum and the current PAC investigation. Also from today's POST COURIER:
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20060705/news10.htm

Quote:
Museum not co-operative

The Auditor-General’s Office told the Public Accounts Committee it could not carry out any meaningful audit into the National Museum because of lack of co-operation by the Museum management. The AGO said the National Museum’s audit reports for 1998, 1999 and 2000 were completely qualified. National Museum draft statements from 2001 to 2003 were submitted in 2005 but audit could not be carried out due to the lack of co-operation by the Museum management. Acting PAC chairman and Governor for Gulf Chris Haiveta said this was a breach of the Finance Management Act. Mr Haiveta said the committee was concerned it had heard little or no evidence from the National Museum during the inquiry. He reminded the acting director of the National Museum Simon Poraituk and members of the board of trustees that everything of culture importance, including artefacts, things from colonial times, things that have been traded, belonged to Papua New Guineans. Mr Haiveta raised concerns the Museum was also receiving donations in kind that were not recorded.

Mac

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Quote:

Buyer of Swamp Ghost has no hangar

AMERICAN war relic buyer Aero Archeology Limited neither owns a hangar nor a museum.

Aero Archeology had bought a World War II American bomber B-17E Flying Fortress, dubbed the Swamp Ghost, and moved it from Oro province to Lae for shipment to the United States.

Citing correspondence received from Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC) in Marshfield, California, on July 2, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Aimo yesterday said the company had denied receiving any correspondence from the buyer of the Swamp Ghost to have the plane housed at its establishment.

Mr Aimo said the museum, instead, is currently raising funds to build a new hangar for its own bombers.

Mr Aimo said MARC had denied knowledge of the Swamp Ghost.

“Yet, the NEC and museum trustees have been told that the Swamp Ghost would be restored at that location,” Mr Aimo said.

I suspect "Marshfield" is actually March Field since their is no Marshfield, CA (that I could find). At the time all this stuff was going on with Tallichet, he had a relationship with the March Field Air Museum which I don't think exists any longer. If you were to call the museum now, I'm sure the folks there would have no clue about it. MARC is Tallichet's restoration company which was never located at March anyways.

It sure seems like they are confusing the March Field Air Museum, the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC=Tallichet), and Aero Archaeology Ltd.

In any case it sounds like Tallichet has sold the rights to the plane. I'm not sure why these self-important busybodies are so concerned about a hangar- it isn't like those are hard to find... There are vacancies at Chino airport right now! :wink:

groundpounder · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:11 pm

sounds like its a big mess. has the plane actually left png yet?? this whole scenario seems to have stirred up a real hornets nest with the png government. i wonder what theyve been doing with themselves for the last 64 years. have they just realized that this stuff has some value??

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:09 pm

There does seem to be serious and ongoing government fallout in PNG, and its National Museum in particular, over the sale of "Swamp Ghost"?

Has it been confirmed anywhere or by anyone that the airframe has actually left Lae and is on its way to the US? and when it is expected to arrive?

The current PNG position being expressed in these news reports seems to question the recent decision to permit its export and does not bode well for future recoveries?

I wonder what impact this will have on current recoveries apparantly underway by "77 Squadron" and "Rob Grienhert/HARS" as reported in another thread?

regards
Mark Pilkington

Board based act on legal factors

LEGAL threats had forced the current board of trustees of the National Museum and Art Gallery to endorse the decision of the previous board to sell the Swamp Ghost.
Board member Andrew Abel yesterday told the Public Accounts Committee that the decision to extract and sell the American bomber was made by the previous board and the current board only inherited that.
But, he said, the trustees had agreed to accept a replica of the Swamp Ghost built from fibreglass as a replacement in a 99-year lease for the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Mr Abel said the replica would cost the museum less to maintain.
To rescind the decision would risk the legal suits and costs to the national museum, Mr Abel said.
“The American buyer can lodge litigation and easily milk out every little fund from the museum,” Mr Abel said.
However, he did admit that the trustees did not seek legal opinion on the matter, and, if it was possible to defend the original agreement signed by the former board and American firm Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC).
Fellow board member Maria Kopkop said the board acted because there was weakness and differences in policy and management of the museum.

No audit done on museum books

By BONNEY BONSELLA
THE parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday heard that the National Museum and Art Gallery had not carried out any proper audit in the last two years.
First assistant Auditor-General Andy Vui said the acting managing director of the museum had failed to cooperate in getting the books in order.
Acting director Simon Poraituk was directed by the PAC in 2004 to get its books in order, but had failed to do so.
Mr Vui said no audits were done since 2002.
Audit reports between 1998 and 2000 had been completed while the statements from 2003 up until last year are still outstanding.
When asked about whether the museum did receive any gifts from the sale of the Swamp Ghost, Mr Vui said that too was impractical to trace because the museum had no proper records. He attributed all these to poor accounting and registry.
Acting PAC chairman Chris Haiveta described the practice by the museum as “totally unacceptable”.
Mr Haiveta also directed Mr Poraituk to provide full and complete documents and records within 48 hours to the Auditor-General’s office.

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:26 pm

Following Jim's lead I read the pacific wreck database website and found this news item link to the PNG National Newspaper of interest as it describes an "obligation" for the Swamp Ghost to return to PNG after restoration?

Bomber gets OK to leave

THE controversial World War II B-17E bomber aircraft nicknamed the “Swamp Ghost” will be sent to the United State to be reconstructed and restored to its original form. This shall be bound by an agreement between the State and its client to have it returned when Papua New Guinea finally has the capacity to house and care for all its war materials. Minister for Culture and Tourism David Basua said this yesterday when explaining that the aircraft was not being sold off. “As minister responsible, I state that we will not sell the war relic nor give our history away. All we will do is salvage the B-17E flying fortress to be reconstructed and restored to its original form and then returned,” Mr Basua said. He said the plan to salvage and reconstruct the aircraft was shared between the governments of PNG and USA. “The plan to remove the aircraft is now a shared responsibility between Aero Archeology USA, the company that will salvage the aircraft, and the US government to whom the plane belongs, and PNG, to whom the history belongs,” Mr Basua said. Mr Basua said he has directed the national museum management to have the owner of Aero Archaeology to sort out all necessary documents for the good of the Swamp Ghost. He said the State could rebuild the aircraft in PNG but that would be costly and technical expertise in manpower and infrastructure was not available. National Museum and Art Gallery director Simon Poraituk acknowledged the minister’s move saying after restoring and reconstructing the B-17E war craft, it will attract more tourists. “For the last 64 years, it has been sitting in the Agiambo swamp in the Northern Province and has not attracted many people but after it is restored, it definitely will,” Mr Poraituk said.

This also sheds light on a comment made in one of the quotes above which refers to a 99 year agreement and possible substitution of a fibreglass replica??

But, he said, the trustees had agreed to accept a replica of the Swamp Ghost built from fibreglass as a replacement in a 99-year lease for the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Mr Abel said the replica would cost the museum less to maintain.

seems like there is still much more of the story to come out?

thankfully at least the airframe is out of the Swamp! and on its way to undercover restoration and display.

regards

Mark Pilkington

systemofadown1162 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:34 pm

Why is it controversial?

frankspeaks · **Joined:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:52 pm **Posts:** 160

I'm not tryin to bash, I just don't think we as a forum should be saying anything that could be hurtful to an ongoing recovery and restoration.

Jiggersfromsphilly · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:15 pm **Posts:** 951

Does anybody read this forum and change their plans because of what is said here?

david burke · **Posted:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:15 pm

Luckily most of what is posted on the internet is of little consequence.
This is an interesting case. People have berated the PNG Government for seeking to block it's export and in a few cases the comments are clearly
deeply insulting. What most don't realise is that the world of museums and indeed warbird operations would be very much depleated if it were not for the PNG people allowing exports of P-38's , P-39's ,P-40's, A-20's and Beauforts to name a few.
Interestingly PNG has traditionally been a source of aircraft - not for preservation however but to feed the smelters of Western interests .
In much the same way the West destroyed vast numbers of it's war surplus - surely now is the time to recognise that there might be a greater
understanding of the remaining heritage in PNG and try to offer advise rather than insults . Maybe there would be strong opinion in the U.S if PNG officials came and cast judgement on how some of the 'preserved'
B-17's are fairing out in the rain !
Finally Mr Greinert's valuation of the B-17 must be missing a zero or two ! Surely a B-17 wreck is worth more than K12,000 = $3,989 !

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:48 am

This post is being moved back into main population. If the juvenile behavior continues those involved will have thier accounts suspended for 30 days.

TEXANTOMCAT · **Posted:** Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:46 am

Perhaps to come at it from another angle I am familiar with the laws regarding US aircraft on UK soil -

Wrecks are classified as STILL BELONGING TO THE US GOVERNMENT but HM Government (ie UK Mod) under a mutual agreement acts for it as agents in regard to excavation, and eventual disposal of any recovered items to a licence holder. I believe this is a mutual agreement and works with RAF aircraft on US soil (if any)

This contrasts with enemy aircraft which are regarded as 'war prizes' and property of the Crown.

Whilst undoubtedly a war relic, does not the USAF or Department of Defense retain any rights over the airframe? Perhaps in the manner of MDAP aircraft?

It seems clear to me that once Swamp Ghost is outside PNG all bets are off - I seriously doubt the fact that the PNG Government would launch a recovery claim cross-jurisdictionally to have it returned - equally is there a limitation period for any such action or are all ex-PNG airframes around the world now 'illegal' retrospectively?

Further if bought by a bona fide purchaser then PNG would I imagine need to seek redress from the original exporter, not the present owner who bought in good faith?

Sorry - lawyers perspective but worth considering?

TT

Brett · **Posted:** Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:49 pm

Texantomcat...

My understanding is that any sovereign nation can pass laws concerning items within it's national boundaries. PNG may well have passed a law that any war material within it's borders has become the property of the PNG Government. This would overrule any ownership claim from external governments. Of course, any international agreements (UNESCO?) signed by the PNG government would also be a factor.

If the US government wants to claim ownership, then PNG would be able to claim 60 years rental of the valuable swamp land that was occupied, plus the cost of environmental clear-up, plus compensation for the risks to the locals from sharp metallic edges, unexploded ordinance and radioactive instrument dials..lets say USD$10M or seizure of the item in lieu of the unpaid amount.

As for ownership once the item is outside the borders, your assumption is incorrect. The legal owner is able to pursue the item in question and have it returned. The buyer would be the person who would need to take the issue up with the seller. If the seller did not have legal ownership of the item when they sold it, then the buyer does not receive legal ownership when they pay for it. Legal ownership remains with the legal owner.
For an example, imagine if I was to sell you the Enola Gay. The NASM would come after you for being in possession of their property. You would not be able to tell them that you bought it off some guy in a bar and that you legally own it, because I was never entitled to sell it to you.

This whole episode seems to stem from the fact that one section of the PNG government was 'selling' rights which it did not legally have the authority to do. It doesn't seem to me to be a major push to stop airframes being exported, but more of an effort to ensure that any money received is distributed to those who are legally entitled to it. I'm not commenting on whether that entitlement is right, wrong or fair. It just is.

If this is sorted out internally within the PNG government, then it should actually help with the recovery and export of airframes as there will be a defined process with the key PNG stakeholders.

Cheers,

Brett

frankspeaks · **Joined:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:52 pm **Posts:** 160

And if we are real lucky, it will fund the means for the PNG govt to stop or at least curb the illegal sales to the scrappers...... :evil:

TEXANTOMCAT · **Posted:** Thu Jul 13, 2006 3:19 am

Brett wrote:

Texantomcat...

My understanding is that any sovereign nation can pass laws concerning items within it's national boundaries. PNG may well have passed a law that any war material within it's borders has become the property of the PNG Government. This would overrule any ownership claim from external governments. Of course, any international agreements (UNESCO?) signed by the PNG government would also be a factor.

If the US government wants to claim ownership, then PNG would be able to claim 60 years rental of the valuable swamp land that was occupied, plus the cost of environmental clear-up, plus compensation for the risks to the locals from sharp metallic edges, unexploded ordinance and radioactive instrument dials..lets say USD$10M or seizure of the item in lieu of the unpaid amount.

As for ownership once the item is outside the borders, your assumption is incorrect. The legal owner is able to pursue the item in question and have it returned. The buyer would be the person who would need to take the issue up with the seller. If the seller did not have legal ownership of the item when they sold it, then the buyer does not receive legal ownership when they pay for it. Legal ownership remains with the legal owner.
For an example, imagine if I was to sell you the Enola Gay. The NASM would come after you for being in possession of their property. You would not be able to tell them that you bought it off some guy in a bar and that you legally own it, because I was never entitled to sell it to you.

This whole episode seems to stem from the fact that one section of the PNG government was 'selling' rights which it did not legally have the authority to do. It doesn't seem to me to be a major push to stop airframes being exported, but more of an effort to ensure that any money received is distributed to those who are legally entitled to it. I'm not commenting on whether that entitlement is right, wrong or fair. It just is.

If this is sorted out internally within the PNG government, then it should actually help with the recovery and export of airframes as there will be a defined process with the key PNG stakeholders.

Cheers,

Brett

Hi Brett -

thanks for that- I threw my post into the mix as in the UK we are at variance with the usual concept of wreck ownership - and not knowing PNG law (but I am a qualified UK solicitor) wondered whether there were any similar rules there -

Legal Ownership Vs Equitable/beneficial/presumptive/trust Ownership huh, wrote a 20,000 word dissertation at Law School on that but wont bore you- i guess the Bona Fide Purchaser for Value concept doesnt exist in the US?

TT

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:33 pm

some more information from the news reports listed on the Pacific wrecks website:

Post Courier [ May 27, 2006 ]
By Jessie Lapou

CUSTOMS officers in Lae are keeping a close eye on the American warplane bomber B-17 dubbed Swamp Ghost over the weekend. Internal Revenue Commission commissioner general David Sode had given instruction not to give any export permit pending the outcome of a Public Accounts Committee inquiry on the plane on July 1.

The plane was to be shipped to the United States of America but government had intervened and is sitting at the Lae Bismark Maritime Wharf. The plane was allowed to leave the country under an agreement signed in 1999 between the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation in the United States of America and the custodian of the aircraft, the National Museum and Art Gallery.

This has permitted American Alfred Hagen and Robert Greinert to remove the plane early this month from the Agiambo Swamps in Oro Province where it had crash-landed 64 years ago.
But the plane had survived the crash and is fully intact. Former curator of the war museum brand of the national museum and current director of the Kokoda-Buna Historical Foundation Maclaren Jude Hiari said the plane was the world war two’s rarest bomber.

“The Swamp Ghost is highly-regarded as mostly priced war relic in the aircraft archaeology world particularly in Australia, New Zealand and USA…as according to my close consultation with former crew members of the aircraft, leading international aircraft archaeologists, aviation historians and aviation museums and organizations,” he said. However, that was contradicting to current acting direction of the museum Simon Poraituk saying the plane was worth only “K12,000”.

Mr Hiari said the swamp ghost was the oldest, intact, Boeing-built B-17 in existence and the only remaining example of a B-17E model flying fortresses remaining in the world- one is near Black Cat Gap on the Kuber Ranger new Wau in Morobe Province while the third is in Greenland covered with ice. He said the board of trustees of the museum to approve the salvaging and restoration of swamp ghost did not help the government to restore the existing war collections in the country.

The National [ June 7, 2006 ]

By Bonney Bonsella
THE controversy surrounding the removal of the American bomber would have been adequately addressed if only a National Executive Council decision in 1997 for the development of a K43 million Constitutional Park and the National Heritage Centre to house such priceless war relics was fully implemented.

Acting director of the National Museum and Art Gallery Simon Poraituk said yesterday that two months earlier, an American company, Portico Group, based in Seattle, Washington, did a feasibility study to develop the plan located at the front of the Parliament House and the museum for close to K30,000.
But the plan is now hanging on the walls of the museum as a furniture collecting dust while proponents have vehemently argued to retain the Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress onshore.

The plan will also cater for a Modern History and War Museum that would provide a decent home to thousands of airplanes like the Swamp Ghost and others that have already been legally taken abroad or smuggled. [ *** PacificWrecks.com coverage of The History of Aircraft Salvage in Papua New Guinea ]

Mr Poraituk said on Jan 15, 1997, NEC gave approval under the Chan government to develop the park but successive governments failed to provide funding. A museum of Natural Science and Art Gallery was included as part of the development. Mr Poraituk said the museum had no record of the number of airplanes taken abroad. He said he was aware that currently, three war planes were being restored in Australia. He said two were being restored separately in Sydney and Wangaratta (Victoria) while one has been fully restored by the Royal Australian Air Force and is ready to be shifted back to PNG but there is no decent home.

“When they are fully restored, they must find a decent home to come back to,” he said. He said PNG did not have the technical know-how to take care of war relics and the museum also lacked the manpower to conduct surveillance to deter illegal shipment of war planes. He estimated that more than 3,000 airplanes were still lying in the jungles waiting to be uncovered and restored. Mr Poraituk said a proposal to spend K13.5 million to restore the old House of Assembly was yet to be implemented.

PAC puts ban on museum war relics
Post Courier [ July 10, 2006 ]

The Public Accounts Committee has directed the National Museum not to recover, salvage, sell or export any war surplus material. This is one of 22 directives the committee gave the museum on Friday. The committee also directed for specific documentation and full details regarding the exporting and selling of the B17E American bomber, the Swamp Ghost, to be provided. The committee also directed that the Swamp Ghost will not be removed from the country until the committee has completed its inquiry and made a report to Parliament. In the meantime, the committee has directed for the Swamp Ghost to be placed in a securely located shelter at the cost of Aero Archaeology LLC. The museum has also been directed to produce an inventory of all items under the control, possession or power of the National Museum and Arts Gallery every year since Independence. National Museum acting director Simon Poraituk has been directed to produce all documentation that shows compliance with the guidelines and the approval of the board of trustees, a minister or the NEC in regards to the sale, recovery or export of each aircraft or parts that have left the country since January 1, 1996. The committee has given 14 days for the National Museum to produce all records and files relating to the cashing or payment of 69 cheques, and details of the reason of each payment. The National Museum is also directed to give full co-operation and assistance to the Auditor General.

PAC orders freeze on war relics
The National [July 10, 2006 ]

By ISAAC NICHOLAS
THERE would be no more salvage, removal, export or sale of any war relics or surplus material from Papua New Guinea until the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee completes its inquiry.
The PAC also directed that the former US bomber, Swamp Ghost not be removed from Papua New Guinea until the committee had completed its inquiry and made a report to Parliament.
PAC also directed that the Swamp Ghost should, at the cost to Aero Archeology LLC, be removed to a place of shelter and safety, possibly Nadzab airport or some other secure location, pending the completion of this inquiry.
These were among a total of 22 directives issued by the PAC to the National Museum and Art Gallery last Friday.
“The public accounts committee directs that no shipping agent, company or provider remove the Swamp Ghost from Papua New Guinea pending further inquiry and determination by the Government of Papua New Guinea,” acting chairman Chris Haiveta said in the statement outlining the directions issued last Friday.
“All parties will have 30 days from the date of this inquiry to respond or submit what they may wish.”
Mr Haiveta said the committee encouraged all parties and any other interested or knowledgeable person to make submissions or provide materials to the committee that may assist in the inquiry.
Other directives issued include:
*The acting director of the national museum will within 14 days, produce to the committee a complete copy of the proposal from the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation sent to the National Museum and Art Gallery in January 1998 seeking a permit to recover the Swamp Ghost and all and every document that was before the board of trustees at any time relating to the decision to sell the Swamp Ghost;
*The acting director of the museum provide a copy of the directions, request to or retainer of Robert Greinert, or historical aircraft restoration society to supply a valuation of the Swamp Ghost to the National Museum and all records of payment made for that valuation;
*The acting director of museum produce full details of his travel to Aero Archaeology, MARC and March Field Flying Museum including details of payment for airfares, accommodation, per diems and travel allowances received and any other museum officer, who accompanied the director, dates of travel, purpose of travel, approvals sought and obtained under the Finance Instructions and all acquittal of monies received for that travel; and,
*Within 30 days, the acting director will produce an inventory of all items under the control, possession or power of the National Museum and Art Gallery for every year since independence, the current whereabouts of each item, full details of any sale, loan, exchange or other deals or arrangements in respect of any of those items in the last 30 years. This includes cultural artefacts, war surplus, art, sculpture, natural history collections, specimens and every other items or things held by or managed by the museum, wherever they maybe.

regards

Mark Pilkington

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