Recent Solomon Island Recoveries.

[JohnB]

I hope everyone feels that way, I seem to recall when the discussion about the B-17E in the swamp was ongoing, a UK writer and forum member called its removal as "cultural imperialism".

(I had no idea a Seattle-built airplane would be considered a cultural part of PNG. )

If it had been a Lancaster, I doubt if he would have said that.

[Richard W.]

Facebook page says "(SOLD)Japanese aircraft parts $123,456"

I wonder what whoever bought the lot will do with it.

[JohnTerrell]

That basic figure (1 2 3 4 5 6...) was entered just because that particular FB page is an auction/marketplace page, set up to require a monetary amount to be included when you make a post - a lot of people simply put 123456...etc. down when the post really isn't about a sale or someone doesn't know the price and is asking around. I'm looking forward to the Classic Wings coverage which hopefully will shed more light on where these are headed.

[JFS61]

The "Betty" looks like a beaut from the outside (completely gutted from within)

I hope it survives the handling required to deliver it to wherever it is going. I imagine it is fragile after sitting out for 70+ years.

From what I read, they chopped the tail off, and then in order to get the front half to roll on the trolleys, weighted the nose down to get it up off the ground.

Not what I would have down, but not my airplane.

Personally, I would have rather seen it gone to FHC.

[Richard W.]

That basic figure (1 2 3 4 5 6...) was entered just because that particular FB page is an auction/marketplace page, set up to require a monetary amount to be included when you make a post - a lot of people simply put 123456...etc. down when the post really isn't about a sale or someone doesn't know the price and is asking around. I'm looking forward to the Classic Wings coverage which hopefully will shed more light on where these are headed.

Thanks John. I didn't know that. Don't Facebook very much.

[Mark Allen M]

Speaking of war relics. Below is called "Mined Island" ... as in still infested with mines from WW2 as well as lots of stuff. Link below shows a bit of what's still there.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instan ... T8caeZoFNU

[JohnTerrell]

[AG pilot]

That video is quite something. Thanks for posting it!

[DADE]

The following statement in the Warbird Digest is very relevant, as sometimes the signed papers are not worth the paper they are written on.

''There is reportedly a Memorandum of Understanding which includes the refurbishment and return of two aircraft back to the Museum for display. Such agreements have occurred in the past, of course, but once something leaves the islands, enforcing the terms is very difficult to police….''

One can only hope this is not the case, as everybody is the looser in the end and the country they go to ends up being a country not be trusted.
But there will be decades before seeing a finished product. You only have to see how long the Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien is taking and that is a smaller aircraft.
The statement about no substantial Betty bombers in the world forgets the business man in japan who has a completely refurbished fuselage.
But yes my thoughts are these aircraft remains should be recovered and refurbished but as long as the intentions are good and the agreement is kept.

[Michel Lemieux]

But it seems the AC's were put on home made skids...then brought close to the sea for extraction and then left there for a few years!!!!

Look at how old the skid ropes are and how much vegetation has grown around them.

What hapenned with the first expedition...if there was one?

[menards]

If one looks at aviation development things evolve as a product of the times rather than copying everything. Same happens today. Remember the USA is not the only centre of best technology>>

Have to disagree here. There are literally countless examples of designs being copied throughout antiquity from the cotton gin to the space shuttle. That said, in spirit of my original comment...the way the Japanese designed the nose/windscreen/turtle deck/fuselage & tail of the betty bomber look very similar to the early fortresses. Since the Fortress was designed & flew 5 years prior to the Betty, and by the time the Betty was making its first flight, aviation development had already swayed toward tricycle gear AND the fact that the Betty was never considered the pinnacle of bomber development (no armor or self sealing fuel tanks made it easy to shoot down), its safe to say the Japanese designers were borrowing some design elements. Howard Hughes said himself the Japanese copied the H-1 and called it a "Zero".

[marine air]

Wish them the very best with those projects. Was the the Naval Aviation museum in Pensacola. The aircraft that are on display that were on the botom of Lake Michigan served as a reminder that there is still about 70 of them down there, many are combat vets. Also the PBM Mariner on the bottom of Lake Washington needs to be brought up for eventual restoration. Weird that the museum is fantastic but doesn't have a Mariner, Helldiver or Mars. Maybe someday a Mars can be flown down and pulled up close to the hangar and made part of the exhibits. It would be supercool to walk through the Mars.

[marine air]

Wish them the very best with those projects. Was the the Naval Aviation museum in Pensacola. The aircraft that are on display that were on the botom of Lake Michigan served as a reminder that there is still about 70 of them down there, many are combat vets. Also the PBM Mariner on the bottom of Lake Washington needs to be brought up for eventual restoration. Weird that the museum is fantastic but doesn't have a Mariner, Helldiver or Mars. Maybe someday a Mars can be flown down and pulled up close to the hangar and made part of the exhibits. It would be supercool to walk through the Mars.