B-17 News

[Lightning]

Howdy Again

Hot off the press

http://www.thenational.com.pg/032307/nation2.htm
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20070323/news06.htm

Lightning

[mustangdriver]

It is still amazing that PNG still thinks that they should have any claim to this aircraft. If A380 crashes in my backyard, do I get to keep it?

[Versatile]

It has been laying on their soil for many yrs. Sure it is all about money overall. Like they say"possession is nine tenths of the law".

[agent86]

I kinda think that they think they have a claim to it cause If I remember correctly,The residents of New Guinea didnt request nor give permission for the various nations fighting each other over there to use their home for bombing practice,war games,atrocities oil enexploded ordanance and other toxic goodies deposited hither and yon,over hill and dale. and many other acts of unfriendliness that killed many of her people and changed their lives for ever.Thats my guess.I dont really like the fact that this incredible plane isnt here safe and warm,but they just might have a claim

[mustangdriver]

The problem is that it isn't going to survive if it remans where it is. Why not move it. If they are able to preserve it, I would have no issues with it staying there. But they can't and won't spend the money to do it.

[jbloomer2]

It is still amazing that PNG still thinks that they should have any claim to this aircraft. If A380 crashes in my backyard, do I get to keep it?

Is there any difference in their mentality and our own US Navy who would rather see aircraft rot away to nothing than allow those with the ability to rescue and restore salvage valuable pieces of our heritage

[Jack Cook]

It is still amazing that PNG still thinks that they should have any claim to this aircraft. If A380 crashes in my backyard, do I get to keep it?

No.
Were talking a country here not your back 40.
How would you like some foreigners showing up to your country
throwing $$$ around and taking what they want
I would imagine the B-17s 'saviors' could actually care less about
the land or the people they just want the plane.

[mustangdriver]

First off the Navy comment is pretty much right on. The only time I agree with leaving the aircraft under water, or what ever the case might be is if it is a tomb. Then it should stay under the ocean. Other wise let people recover it. Now as for the PNG thing, it is no different than my neighbor crashing his R.C. airplane in my yard, and me saying That is mine. And I don't want you to have it, but I don't want it either. Once again, I don't even mind if it stays in PNG, just so it is saved.

[jmkendall]

86 you are absolutely right! The people of New Guinea did not give permission when the US invaded....oh, yeah, it was the Japanese that invaded...what was I thinking.....invaded? Oh, yes, invaded New Guinea...oh, riiiiight, it was part of Austrailia then...Hey? Didn't the Austrailians ask us to help them fight off the Japanese invasion?

Darn, I should know better than to let history get in the way of a good rant....

You know if they had a decent museum and were actively trying to preserve aircraft; I think most people would be ok with them keeping Swamp Ghost.

[Jack Cook]

Opinions may vary. But if anyone showed up from a foreign
land to do this in the US of A, everyone of you would want to
be first in line at the *ss kicking contest

[groundpounder]

there really seems to be a lot of bleeding heart liberals around when it comes to this subject. this is a u.s. plane ,made in america , owned by americans , flown by americans,recovered by americans. not to mention the fact that the only reason the plane is there in the first place is that the afore mentioned americans were busy trying to save the butts of the n.g. people. of course its all about money. end of story. if enough money was given, that plane would have been home for christmas. dont give us this kind hearted b.s. about how it is a relic of the n.g. people and its a precious national treasure. total and utter crap!! pull your heads out of the sand and get real!! this plane couldnt be any more the property of the usa if it had crashed in california. im tired of hearing the banter on this subject by the liberal do gooders. this plane hasnt and wasnt being stolen. the only reason that its gotten to this point is that the people in charge of this matter have changed the rules halfway through the game. i dont think that it helped matters at all that this subject has been beaten to death here for all the world to see. americans not sticking up for other americans who had the gumption to do something about this is about as sad as it gets. you should be ashamed of yourselves. some warbird enthusiasts youve turned out to be. go march in a protest or write a letter to someone who cares! where is your patriotism and pride on this matter? dont defend a corrupt and primitive system that isnt even looking after its own people, let alone an american plane that has been lost in the bush for 60 years.geeeeeeeeez!!!!!!! p.s. im canadian. sim.

[shoki]

The USAF maintains that any aircraft that crashed or lay abandoned before November 19 1961, and the air force does not maintain title or the property interest. So who has the rights to the aircraft. The goverment of the country it has spent the majority of it's life. The land owner that has had it on his land for 60 years. Or anyone who comes in with lot's of money to buy the aircraft. New Guinea is a poor country they don't have much industry, they have to make money somehow.

[mustangdriver]

there really seems to be a lot of bleeding heart liberals around when it comes to this subject. this is a u.s. plane ,made in america , owned by americans , flown by americans,recovered by americans. not to mention the fact that the only reason the plane is there in the first place is that the afore mentioned americans were busy trying to save the butts of the n.g. people. of course its all about money. end of story. if enough money was given, that plane would have been home for christmas. dont give us this kind hearted b.s. about how it is a relic of the n.g. people and its a precious national treasure. total and utter crap!! pull your heads out of the sand and get real!! this plane couldnt be any more the property of the usa if it had crashed in california. im tired of hearing the banter on this subject by the liberal do gooders. this plane hasnt and wasnt being stolen. the only reason that its gotten to this point is that the people in charge of this matter have changed the rules halfway through the game. i dont think that it helped matters at all that this subject has been beaten to death here for all the world to see. americans not sticking up for other americans who had the gumption to do something about this is about as sad as it gets. you should be ashamed of yourselves. some warbird enthusiasts youve turned out to be. go march in a protest or write a letter to someone who cares! where is your patriotism and pride on this matter? dont defend a corrupt and primitive system that isnt even looking after its own people, let alone an american plane that has been lost in the bush for 60 years.geeeeeeeeez!!!!!!! p.s. im canadian. sim.

I couldn't have said any of that better myself. Everyone wants to get around the topic that if it stays in PNG, it will not survive.

[Jack Cook]

there really seems to be a lot of bleeding heart liberals around when it comes to this subject.

First time i've ever been called that
Ok Bill, stop laughing
I'd love to see that a/c here in the staes flying or otherwise. But bribing
people and trying to sneak it out of a foreign country is not the way to do it.
BTW you never responded to my statement. First in line, *ss kicking contest.

[mustangdriver]

Jack if a group of aviation nuts showed up here in the states to take an ME-109 that was laying in a swamp in Florida, and restore it to staatic or flying condition, I would say nothing at all. It is what would be best for that aircraft. We are not talking about taking an aircraft from a museum, we are talking about pulling one out of a swamp. And it was done legally with a deal with one of their government agencies, now that it has been recovered, it is a problem. You mean to tell me that the PNG governement had no idea that people were working to recover that aircraft. They waited until the nasty work was done to say anything. You guys are giving a corrupt PNG government way too much credit.