Question about the Far East

[O.P.]

I was going through JBaugher's list (http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html, for those who don't know) and there is a bay that is now in North Korea, the was in U.S. hands for awhile. It had an airstrip right next to it, and the number of aircraft that went into it was, was, alot. I thought while I was reading the serials, that the biggest concentration of Corsairs in the world, is probably in that bay. I'll look at the list again and see if I can find the name and post it. I love that site, good excuse to surf at work.

[DaveM2]

There are strong rumours of Korean War aircraft at crash sites in Nth. Korea, there was I think a satellite picture posted by Indiana Tony on the old Wix forum , showing what looked like a couple of Corsair wrecks..Tony , if you read this perhaps you still have that link someplace ?

Dave

[Dan K]

Cho Do Island is the one of which you're thinking. Just type in a google search and see what all pops up.

[Rob Mears]

There are definitely existing Corsairs in North Korea. There's one example in a museum, but I haven't been able to determine the type yet. It was obviously crash landed (bent prop), but appears to be in one piece.

Because of the nature of the country, I figure there's a fair chance of more than just a few warbird wrecks still scattered around the outlands (much like the ex-USSR). The subjects that live there obviously wouldn't have any constructive use for the wrecked planes other than for the normal pilfering of bits of scrap metal, and foreigners aren't about to be allowed to recover anything. With so much of the fighting taking place in cold, high, inhospitable mountainous areas, I figure there's a fair chance of finding substantial wrecksites should little Kim Jung Il somehow succumb to the pressures of the free world without nuking the countryside in the process.

Hi Guys,
I don't post as I live in Hong Kong and feel I have little to add to the discussions, but I have been a regular reader of this forum and the previous one.
As I live in the Far East and have done for some time now, I would like to throw in my ten cents worth.

North Korea, most probably, but I would expect that any left would be in the mountainous regions, difficult to access and horendously difficult to recover, quite apart from the cost there is the political side of things to consider, most certainly a considerable number within the waters of N.K., but as the government are slightly paranoid I feel that at present it would be almost impossible to get a licence to search, never mind recover, and there is the Navy thing to consider also.

Japan, most probably not, Japan cleared all wartime debris very quickly at the end of the conflict, it is very poplulous country with no areas of wilderness that are not used for recreation, so I would consider anything left in Japan on land to be close to zero.

China, again most probably nothing readily accessible as farm land was in a premium at the end of the conflict. On the mountainous west of China there are wrecks yet to be discovered both on land and in lakes.

Philippines, most certainly there are many dive sites avertised on the web for the Phills, and there are documented wrecks in fresh water lakes, I also remeber a photo in a magazine a considerable number of years ago of a/c being dumped into a quarry, but it did not give a location, just mentioned "in the Philippines". However if you want to go to the Phills, be very carefull, anyone found digging a hole is immediately thought to have found Yamato's gold with the consequence that lots of very strange guys with guns appear and shoot first and ask questions afterwards, it stings when you get shot! Oh and there's the Navy thing to consider also.

Thailand, Malayasia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, very probably, but probably deep in jungle and difficult to recover.

Mayanmar (was Burma) most certainly but politics intrude and lots of cash must be used to grease the ways, so to speak.

Indonesia, most probably, but this country has a reputation for corruption that would take your breath away.

So there you are guys, my ten cents worth, I hope it helps

Regards
Stuart

Hi Guys,
I don't post as I live in Hong Kong and feel I have little to add to the discussions, but I have been a regular reader of this forum and the previous one.
As I live in the Far East and have done for some time now, I would like to throw in my ten cents worth.

North Korea, most probably, but I would expect that any left would be in the mountainous regions, difficult to access and horendously difficult to recover, quite apart from the cost there is the political side of things to consider, most certainly a considerable number within the waters of N.K., but as the government are slightly paranoid I feel that at present it would be almost impossible to get a licence to search, never mind recover, and there is the Navy thing to consider also.

Japan, most probably not, Japan cleared all wartime debris very quickly at the end of the conflict, it is very poplulous country with no areas of wilderness that are not used for recreation, so I would consider anything left in Japan on land to be close to zero.

China, again most probably nothing readily accessible as farm land was in a premium at the end of the conflict. On the mountainous west of China there are wrecks yet to be discovered both on land and in lakes.

Philippines, most certainly there are many dive sites avertised on the web for the Phills, and there are documented wrecks in fresh water lakes, I also remeber a photo in a magazine a considerable number of years ago of a/c being dumped into a quarry, but it did not give a location, just mentioned "in the Philippines". However if you want to go to the Phills, be very carefull, anyone found digging a hole is immediately thought to have found Yamato's gold with the consequence that lots of very strange guys with guns appear and shoot first and ask questions afterwards, it stings when you get shot! Oh and there's the Navy thing to consider also.

Thailand, Malayasia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, very probably, but probably deep in jungle and difficult to recover.

Mayanmar (was Burma) most certainly but politics intrude and lots of cash must be used to grease the ways, so to speak.

Indonesia, most probably, but this country has a reputation for corruption that would take your breath away.

So there you are guys, my ten cents worth, I hope it helps

Regards
Stuart

[bdk]

Good to hear from you Stuart! If all of your posts will be this interesting and informative, please post more frequently!

[DaveM2]

[quote="Rob Mears"]There are definitely existing Corsairs in North Korea. There's one example in a museum, but I haven't been able to determine the type yet. It was obviously crash landed (bent prop), but appears to be in one piece.

At least two museum examples, along with one or two more goodies..look out for an article in Classic Wings before the end of the year

Dave

[stuart murdoch]

Sorry about the double post I thought the first had not gone through.

Any questions you have regarding this side of Asia, I would be more than happy to reply with what little knowledge I have.

Stuart

Hi Kiwimate

I'm looking for the image now. The Corsairs were actually Brown and Hudners ,so one is a MOH bird ,and as such ,good luck with the US navy!

I'm trying to see if I can get a more up to date image, but as you can imagine, it's kind of hard to raise DPRK imagery right now

I did send a copy of the image to CIHLI ,who felt it did show aircraft remains. The Late great Mick also noted other possible A/C remains in the area.

There are definitely still A/C of interest in DPRK, and before other more pressing Military matters intervened , there was some contact with DPRK authorities.

There was also a rumour of a Mustang in a Childrens playground near Pyongyang,but I have no confirmation of that.

Best regards

Tony

[Cees Broere]

Tony,

How about looking for some crashed Halifaxes in the Himalayas on your sattelite photo's?

Cees

[DaveM2]

Tony

The chap who sent us the pics of the Museum aircraft did suggest to his guides that the AirForce may have a Museum on one of its bases, but any mention of the mlitary caused them to shy away from the subject..understandable I guess
He was keen to go back , although I don't know if cruising the childrens playgrounds would be seen as a 'tourist pass time '.....in any country
There was talk the Tim Wallis had something brewing out of North Korea, but haven't heard anything further for a few years.

Dave

Cees , if we are going to do requests..I still want to see the images of Syria..Spits , Macchis or ???

[Cees Broere]

Cees , if we are going to do requests..I still want to see the images of Syria..Spits , Macchis or ???

Would be a nice thread Dave,


A few years ago I thought all recoverable hulks etc. had already been recovered. But the more time goes by the more I believe that we are yet to see some very interesting recoveries/finds. Just look at the Harts in Afghanistan for instance.

Cees

[DaveM2]

A few years ago I thought all recoverable hulks etc. had already been recovered. But the more time goes by the more I believe that we are yet to see some very interesting recoveries/finds. Just look at the Harts in Afghanistan for instance.

Cees[/quote]


Well I think there is a bit more out there, outside of the obvious places like Russia.
Has anybody made a move on the Hinds yet ??

Dave

[Rob Mears]

Very much looking forward to that info Dave!