"Swamp Ghost" news (September 2008)

[DaveM2]

I read today on the Aerovintage site that the B-17 wreck in Black Cat Pass was destroyed by a fire recently. Is that accurate?

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I wasnt aware of this?? How and when?? This wasnt locals rebelling against foreigners coming and taking the war wrecks was it?? or anything to do with swamp ghosts bad press??? This airframe was largely in one piece, if true this is very upsetting and a great shame...

There was a picture in Issue 65 of Classic Wings from the air, Fire had gone through where it lays, but it was hard to tell what damage was done to the airframe, just a lot of scorched ground around it. Maybe still worth getting out, but leaving it where it is a death sentence in progress

Dave

p.s. What the hell ....here is a scan

Last edited by DaveM2 on Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Shay]

Ahh..... perhaps this will serve as sign that something needs to be done on mass

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-9234.html

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[DoraNineFan]

It's hard to be 100% certain, but comparing the post-fire photos and the ones from Pacific Wrecks leads me to believe that Black Cat could still be recoverable. I see a lot of scorching, but it looks like there's still a considerable amount of airframe there, with exception of the left wing perhaps. It's hard to tell if the wheels/tires lit up and melted the wing.

[Shay]

I think it should be mentioned with regards to Swamp Ghost's intact condition. That when compared to pictures of 41-9234, or any wartime pictures of belly landing, That Capt.'s Eaton and Harlow did a Helluva job bringing her in for a landing. My hat's off to the whole crew.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[Shay]

It's hard to be 100% certain, but comparing the post-fire photos and the ones from Pacific Wrecks leads me to believe that Black Cat could still be recoverable. I see a lot of scorching, but it looks like there's still a considerable amount of airframe there, with exception of the left wing perhaps. It's hard to tell if the wheels/tires lit up and melted the wing.

Scorching? Or worn RAF balck paint? The Roundel is still there.

Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

[RyanShort1]

have any of the more well known restorers shown an interest in this project??

If you do a quick search back on the history of threads about Swamp Ghost there may be some answers to this question and others. There's a lot of interesting stuff that's "buried" around the boards - mostly because it gets forgotten, or we get new members who don't remember old discussions.

Ryan

[PinecastleAAF]

Regarding the picture of the toasted ground around that B-17 I can't imagine what better proof there is that these things need to be recovered before they are completely destroyed by the elements.

[daveymac82c]

based on that picture I'd say that the plane is still worth recovering. I imagine the fire didn't help at all, but still, it looks better than a lot of things I've seen.

-David

[hang the expense]

She dont look that bad.Due to the damage she encountered from the crash I would say she would have been 100% new skin anyway.Its the internal goodies that are made out of unobtanium.Looks to me she would be worth getting at least for static display.Save it all.

[mustangdriver]

'Swamp Ghost' will undoubtedly now be rebuilt. New engines-props-instruments -50% fuselage reskin- 40% wing reskin for starters!

Like I said before, is that really what we want to do with such a timecapsule of an aircraft?

Pretty much everything that was not bolted down and above water was removed long ago, all that was left was a hull, so it is a very empty time capsule, The only unknown was if the bendix belly turret was still in place, which it was.

Well if that is the case then it wouldn't be bad to see her rebuilt to airworthy. There are also a few other E models being rebuilt to airworthy as well. It would be cool to see them come along as well.

[Robbie Roberts]

I'm ecstatic to hear about Swamp Ghost! I look forward to the day she returns!

Robbie

[Mark_Pilkington]

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I am pleased to see swamp ghost will now live on in some form, rather than rotting to death in her swamp, or corroding away on the wharf and eventually being scrapped, it is a pity PNG cannot afford to establish its on collection or museum, but this really is a country with bigger social and infrastructure issues to resolve, and hopefully resolution of Swamp Ghost issues might lead to a more informed approach to other recoveries, in line with recent Solomon Island recoveries.

Well done to those who have perservered to resolve this issue, Swamp Ghost was too much of an aeroplane to leave to rot away.

The Black Cat Pass B17 still looks a prospect for static restoration, and perhaps this should be recovered to Port Moresby and put into long term storage for a future PNG Museum, or alternatively offered for recovery and removal out of PNG?

But again a happy ending to the Swamp Ghost situation.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

[warbird1]

they should just sell major portions of their aircraft and W.W.II wrecks, and use the money generated from that to start the Museum. It would be a win-win solution for everybody involved. If they don't, what good will aluminum oxide dust do for PNGs' citizens hundreds of years from now?

What a terrible idea. What good is a museum going to do their children? They already have no education, so a museum is the last thing they need. I'd say use the money to build some infrastructure and find some way to improve their economy to slightly above the horticluture stage, and see if they can't use this as a chance to get on a solid footing. They shoudl definitely sell as much of their air goodies as they can. but not to waste it on a museum. They should let US build the museums. Tourism down there will never be all that hoppin'. Too far, to hot, too many mosquitos. To many...blah blah blah...But they might be able to do something about all the poverty.

That would be fine too. My point is, that some kind of trade where both parties would benefit is what would work. Whether the selling of airframes is used for a National Museum, improving infrastructure, a water desalinization plant, rice mill, etc - it doesn't matter. PNG wants things, warbird collectors want things, now put the two together and hammer out a trade. It's basic bartering which has been done for centuries and both parties are happy!

[groundpounder]

if that recent pic of the black cat pass b-17 is accurate i would say that on the surface it really doesnt appear to be that much worse than it has looked for the last 60 years. its not a melted pile of aluminium as it had been described elsewhere. hopefully this will be a blessing in disguise and allow for the speedy removal of this aircraft. the timing with swamp ghost being released couldnt be better! is there enough history or interest in this aircraft to make it worthwhile? whooooaaaa buddy, turn the barge around , we got another one to pick up!!!!

[Hawkeye]

Of course its hard to tell from that photo, but it doesnt look like the fire caused any serious damage. And judging by the large amount of surviving vegetation in the area, it wasnt an inferno. It looks like the long grass burnt very quickly and the area just smoldered for a while. I wouldnt think that it could have gotten hot enough to seriously damage the airframe. It doesnt look any less salvagable now than it did before.