http://www.thenational.com.pg:80/091108/letter1.phpReturn Swamp Ghost to Agiambo
Simon Poraituk of the National Museum’s explanation justifying the removal of the Swamp Ghost from PNG to the USA is an absolute shame.
How can you just pick up something that had been on our land for 60 years and flog it off for a lousy K300,000?
Because it wasn't yours anyway?Sixty years is over half a century, therefore, the aeroplane rightfully belongs to the people of Agiambo.
No, if ownership was relinquished it would belong to New Guinea, and their Government, not the locals.I am not a legal expert
Believe me, I would never have guessed.... but my Miaru River tank tells me that if you apply the law of shipwrights to a lost ship found by someone, the finder is rightfully the owner.Since the plane was an “airship” lost during wartime, it rightfully belongs to the people who own the land on which it crash landed.
Okay... first of all its not a ship. Of any kind. Secondly if you want to play that game, you can only claim a shipwreck if you board it when it is abandoned and bring it into port. So what you are saying is if Swamp Ghost is empty, and I go sit in it, while it is being recovered, I can claim it as mine under the laws of marine salvage, right?What is a “modern history display, recreation playground, barbeque area and a lousy K300,000” compared to the millions Aero Archaeology will gain from displaying the Swamp Ghost in its US museum?
More than either side have got for the moment.Therefore, I call on all like minded Papua New Guineans to stand together and challenge this decision by the NEC and relayed by Mr Poraituk in court.
War relics and war tourism is big business in the United States.
The members of the Swamp Ghost all survived the crash landing (some of them have since passed on) and their generation live on in the US.
The plane has a rich history. It has a unique place in its squadron.
So, such a restored Flying Fortress bomber is a classical drawcard for millions of visitors.
Finally, Mr Poraituk, the US is already full of WWII memorabilia.
If you walk down Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, you will find a WWII submarine that used to patrol around the Bismarck Sea.
It’s name is US Pampanito (SS-383). Over 100,000 people visit the old boat every year. Now, how would your friends from Aero Archaeology feel if I were to walk into Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office in downtown LA, thump down a few “mikes” on the table, hitch hike down to Fisherman’s Pier in SF, jump in the old bucket, and sail it full speed back to Port Moresby for display at Ela Beach?
If it was a wreck that less than 10,000 people had seen since it crashed, and you were going to display it and preserve it, then most people would be happy. Of course some people would be annoyed by the paltry sum you offered for it, and the loss of the heritage that they couldn't be bothered to look after for the past 60 years. Why didn't you get your tushy down to the swamp and get the B17 yourself rather than worrying about a preserved submarine thousands of miles away?Those people would sink me before I even cranked up the 40-horse on the back!Oh, and if you are wondering about where SF & LA are, don’t think too hard, em yu yet kam na lukim!
Big Pat
Miaru River
Gulf of Papua
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