Pilot  2nd Lt. Charles H. Chapman, Jr. O-430920 (MIA/KIA) WA
MIA  May 18, 1942

Pilot History
Chapman was from West Virginia. He earned an Air Medal and Purple Heart. Chapman was never found, and is listed as Missing In Action (MIA) on the 'tablets of the missing' at Manila American Cemetery.

Mission History
This pilot was last seen at approximately 0915 while engaged in the interception of enemy bombers over 7 Mile Drome at Port Moresby. During the combat, an enemy bomber [ G4M1 Betty] was claimed shot down in flames. At the same time another aircraft, believed to be the Airacobra piloted by Lt Chapman appeared to explode and disintegrated in mid air. The aircraft and pilot were never found.

Wreckage
When a new logging road was cut in the Brown River area, the wreck was discovered in 2001 by 'wreck tec' Wilkenson Egimbari and John Douglas. Neither cockpit door was found at the crash site. There was no trace of the pilot visible in the cockpit, indicating the possibility he bailed out or walked away from the crash site.

Recovery
As news of this new wreck spread, and it was accessible by road, it was easily salvaged. The tail section of the wreck, machine guns, control stick and gun site were recovered by Robert Greinert / HARS and was to be exported by him to Australia.

While in storage at the PNG Museum, it was containered and exported to Australia by 75 Squadron  instead. Its whereabouts are unknown today.

Brian Bennett, a representative from US Army CILHI did visit the crash site in 2001, but no formal investigation or search was undertaken by the US military.

Justin Taylan adds:
"I visited this site in 2006, although the tail guns were missing, it was still an impressive wreck site. The land owner told us he was never paid. Instead the salvager said 'Talk to your government for payment. Now, they hope to encourage tourism to this easily accessible site."

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