Warbird Information Exchange

The Pacific war is my favorite subject of WWII. The geography is grand and beautiful and the combat seen is wide and deverse. Every odd aircraft saw combat from P-39's and P-400 of the 8th PG in New Guinea, to the PBY's of RAAF 11 squadron.

One topic I would like to talk about today is New Caledonia. Seen some interesting wartime photos inclduing P-39s, SNJs, B-17, etc. New Caledinia is a French colony, during WWII the Vichy French in the goverment were identified as a possible threat to Australia, which deployed troops in late Feburary 1942, to ascertained their feelings of support to the Allies. Considered safe, the area became a major Allied staging base for the Americans, and a ferry point for aircraft to Australia.
On March 12, 1942 the first American troops arrived in New Caledonia. During its height, 40,000 American servicemen were based in New Caledonia.

Noumea is the capital city of New Caledonia. there are currently a few wrecks around the area:

An R4D-1.....Crashed into Ousassio Hill after a night take off from Tontouta Airport. One engine failed, the crew of eight were all killed.

And SBD-3....Took off on a training mission and crashed into Mount Mou near Nouméa . Afterwards, the remains of the crew were recovered.

Magenta Airfield....... Built by the US Army in 1942, to have an airfield closer to Nouméa, while Tontouta Airfield was being completed.

Nouméa Harbor.....Units Based at Noumea Harbor were the
RAAF 11 Squadron (PBY-4/5), until the end of May 1942.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/ ... oumea.html

There is a B-17 wreck around Koumac. Says the B-17 is from the 13AF, 11BG.
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/koumac.html

Interesting I found a photo of a RAAF 11 PBY. Is it at Noumea Harbor though?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:11_Sqn_(AWM_P01490002).jpg
More about 11 Squadron:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._11_Squadron_RAAF

-Nate

EVERYthing?

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Apparently!

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

There is a P-40 somewhere in the highlands of Borneo that my old boss walked away from. He was flying with the Free Dutch AF. After the war, the natives decided they didn't want to exchange the Japanese rule back to the Dutch rule and fighting carried on. His P-40 went down, he thought, to sabotage by one of the "Native" groundcrew. Other AC in the squadron were found to have had mud, rocks and sticks stuffed into oil lines, coolant lines and such. Not good on engines. He was flying from one base to another when his engine started overheating and eventually turned into a glider. He set it down in the jungle as he didn't want to jump with his tommy gun, life raft, and his dog! He put it in the jungle and walked out!