Babo aircraft wrecks

[airmanual]

Please see below a small extract from a conference made by an aviation archeologist in 1999 about a visit of Babo airfield in 1997.

Interesting isn't it !!

Laurent

More than half a century later, the conduct of this reduction campaign is still encoded and largely untouched in the landscape around Babo. Like Boaz, I enjoyed only a brief visit to this site, but came away with significant impressions. Bomb craters pock the fields and swamplands near the runway, the runway itself is some distance from the coastal village proper, and I observed significant components of at least 34 Japanese aircraft either alongside the craters or actually within them, seemingly the products of direct hits or post-action disposal. The fuselage of the Betty destroyed by the U.S. B-25s in that 1944 raid can still be reached, at least after a cheerful hike through a leech-filled cess.

[Shay]

Wow. We can only hope that these places still exist. I really wish that someone had proof positive of some of these treasure troves. Via expeditions. As well as have the backing and the ability to start recovering thses relics. I'm afraid as time goes by that these diamonds in the rough will start to dissappear. Either through developers, scrappers or what have you. I just pray that some individuals with resources to make it happen step forward.

Shay

[HarvardIV]

I am interested in going to Babo as well as the rest of Indonesia. Anyway, there are still planes there. A colleague who works for BP told me that there are still a few Hien airframes there. It all amounts to time and money.

Chris

[Justin Taylan]

Hi WRG,

I was reading this tread about Babo with great interest.
I have been working on a DVD about Babo, that should be done soon, that coveres documentation of the former airbase in 1991, and many interesting special features.

Here is a link with more details:
http://www.pacificghosts.com/video/babo/

Best,
- Justin Taylan

[HarvardIV]

Hey Justin:

A small world indeed. Good luck on your research.