Warbird Information Exchange

Ghost shipment under probe
The National [ March 23, 2007 ]

By PETER KORUGL
PARTS of the American World War 11 plane “Swamp Ghost” was moved out of Papua New Guinea illegally, the PNG Customs alleged yesterday.

Senior Customs officials claimed a container with parts of the old B-7E Flying Fortress was moved out of Lae to Brisbane, Australia without the knowledge of PNG authorities.
They claim the container was moved out of Lae on Feb 27 without their knowledge, and have launched an internal investigation.

However, Steamships Shipping Agency, the company that allegedly shipped the parts to Australia, yesterday denied that the cargo in the container had parts of the Swamp Ghost.

Mr Ray Critchley, manager of Steamships Shipping Agency in Lae said the container had parts of another old war plane “that had been sitting in Lae for a long time”.

Mr Critchley said all documentations for the shipment of the parts in that particular container were completed and in order.

“The Swamp Ghost was still in Lae. It had not been moved. What was moved were parts of another plane,” Mr Critchley said.

But Customs officials in Lae are suspicious, and are investigating to establish what was in the container, and whether proper procedures were followed.

The officials also want to establish if some of their own people were doing things without the knowledge of their bosses.

PNG Customs insiders said the export entry papers for the Swamp Ghost was received by their office only three days ago but the container that they suspected had the parts of the plane was moved about three weeks ago.

The Swamp Ghost was moved from its resting place in Popondetta, Oro province in April last year and brought to Lae.

PNG Customs did not give clearance to United States-based Aero Archaeology, based in Pennsylvania or its agents to export the old bomber out of the country, when news of the evacuation broke.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee also intervened to prevent the relic leaving PNG shores.

Salvage firm denies illegal shipping claim
The National [ March 27, 2007 ]

AERO Archaeology has denied claims that it has illegally shipped out parts of the B17 Swamp Ghost wreckage to Brisbane.

In an email to The National, owner Alfred Hagen said his company had followed the laws of PNG and had no intention of violating them.

“No parts of the Swamp Ghost have been shipped anywhere and I wish that the relevant authorities would simply check with me or my designees in PNG to ascertain the truth before making misleading accusations,” he said.

“I suspect that the repeated lies and exaggerations issued in the local papers are part of a campaign to discredit me and my honourable efforts to work with the PNG Government to resolve this issue amicably.”

Mr Hagen, whose company is based in Pennsylvania, USA, was responding to reports quoting senior PNG Customs officials that parts of the plane were shipped out in a container to Brisbane on Feb 27.

The officials told The National that they were not informed and had started an investigation. Mr Hagen described the claims as “repeated lies and exaggerations” to discredit him and his efforts to work with the PNG Government to resolve this issue amicably.

He said: “I am weary with being slandered without cause. “PNG legally sold me the rights to the B17. “I was issued an export permit prior to my recovery. “I could not have been more diligent or professional in my dealings.”

He said the authorities had virtually refused to honour a valid contract with an international firm and that it did not reflect well on the country.

“How can any international firm contemplate investing hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars when contracts are disregarded and violated with such flagrant disregard?”

However, he was still hopeful that the Government would, after investigations, recognise his rights and act accordingly.

In the report, The National also contacted Steamships Shipping Agency which said that it had only shipped out parts of another plane.