Warbird Information Exchange

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

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
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Semper Fortis

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.

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"They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't flew." December 17, 1903

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

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

Shay
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Semper Fortis

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

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

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.

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

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.

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Hang The Expense

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.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

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

Robbie

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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

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20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

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!

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!!!!

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.