Pilot Captain Leonhardt
Force Landed 1943
Aircraft History
Constructors Number 222-751. Sent overseas on July 19, 1943 and assigned to the 5th AF at Brisbane. Officially written off by the USAAF on February 4, 1944.
Mission History
Took off from 5 Mile Drome near Port
Moresby piloted by Captain Leonhardt on a delivery flight to 14 Mile Drome. Force landed in the Waigani swamp, near 17 Mile Drome.
Wreckage
Remained 'in situ' until 1978.
Salvage
Bill Chapman attempted its recovery in November 1969, having built a causeway out
to the aircraft, but the crane broke after getting itself bogged in the swamp
and the wet season began.
In 1978, Bruce Hoy, then curator
of the PNG
War Museum completed the recovery. He used the same heavily overgrown
causeway, and dragged the aircraft along the until reaching dry land.
Parts were used in the restoration of P-38F
42-12647.
Disposal
Around 2001, the museum was 'clearing up' their yard and was
going to dispose of the corroded remains of this aircraft. Robert
Greinert / HARS recovered
the outer wing panels and advised the museum to throw the rest of the
aircraft
away.
References
Thanks to Bruce Hoy for this information and all photographs.
Contribute
Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?
Last Updated
October 1, 2009
|
