Warbird Information Exchange

Unless I missed something, Swamp Ghost was always planned to go to the Travis AFB museum. Am I wrong?

RICK

Swamp Ghost sale illegal

THE National Executive Council (NEC) decision to allow the Swamp Ghost wreck to be exported is an illegal decision and the NEC has actually participated in that conspiracy by giving an approval which it has no legal power to make.

This was said in a joint statement issued yesterday by the deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Governor of Western Province Dr Bob Danaya and Member of the PAC and Governor of Eastern Highlands Mal Kela Smith.

Both governors said this decision by the NEC showed very clearly the collapse of the rule of law in Papua New Guinea.

“And, all citizens can now see that the NEC is prepared to ignore thelaw and embrace and approve illegal transactions and acquisitions of State property by foreigners who themselves have no certification to work in PNG and who on — sell our heritage for profit confident that they will never be called to account,” the governors said.

They said the NEC decision totally ignores the law and advice given by the Attorney General, the State Solicitor, the PAC, O’Briens Lawyers and the Gubon Lawyers that the sale was illegal, the export was illegal and the removal from Agaiembo swamp was illegal.

The governors said the NEC has not only endorsed a conspiracy to illegally acquired public property by foreigners who have no capacity to restore or preserve the wreck and also completely ignored the fact that the wreck is sub judice in the National Court.

“Further, the NEC submission was intentionally misleading and deceitful as it again stated that the wreck was to go to March Field Museum in California,” they said.

They said on August 4, the museum again said there was no such arrangement and also had no knowledge of the Swamp Ghost or its exporters and intended to write to the PNG Government protesting that the name of the museum was again being used without its knowledge.
The governors asked to know which destination the Swamp Ghost was going to . . . who has actually bought it and why did the NEC accept the submission without seeking confirmation.

They said the Minister for Cultural and Tourism has no jurisdiction over the wreck nor does the museum.

The only person with legal power to approve such salvage is the Governor-General acting on advice – and even he cannot approve a sale.

Has anyone heard or read a statement from Justin regarding this new development?

LOL! What a joke. Lots of good mis-information there. First, they act as if THEY owned the plane, which they didn't. Ryan

On the 23rd February 1942 - B17 E 41-2446 crashed in Agiambo Swamp, Oro Province

In 1953 the wreck is declared to be property of the State by the War Surplus Materials Act.

WAR SURPLUS MATERIALS ACT 1953

This Act was first passed in 1953 to control the salvage and export of war surplus material.

Section 2 – Ownership of War Surplus Material. This Section deems all War Surplus Material be the absolute property of the State.

This Section then establishes that all War Surplus Material – including the Swamp Ghost and all other aircraft wrecks – were the absolute property of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea – and remain so.

I bet that if the real facts are ever known, and everything comes to light, that it will turn out that the folks doing the recovery did all their homework, did what reasonable people would do to abide by the "rule of law." Ryan

Clear evidence was received of Trustees and management being threatened by these foreigners and in one instance, of a senior manager of the Museum being physically assaulted by an exporter.

Why would anyone care what he thinks? Does having a website and selling videos make him an authority?

As I recall, he wasn't really welcome in some of these places anyhow. Somthing about stealing artifacts and entering countries illegally. Doesn't sound like anyone I'd want to hang out with!

I'll bet the exporters were never in that court to defend themselves. It's easy to try someone and defeat them in their absence.Ryan

26.37 This Committee has written to identified receivers or buyers of aircraft, seeking information and assistance. With two exceptions, we have received no reply – and the two replies which were received were self serving and evasive. Both refused to identify the person or company from which they had “purchased” the aircraft in their possession – which were originally exported from Papua New Guinea.

26.38 The Committee has called for submissions from the three major exporters mentioned earlier in this Report, concerning the current whereabouts of aircraft that they have removed from Papua New Guinea. We have received no reply.