Robert Greinert - Recovery & Restoration of Warbirds
Australian salvager, restorer, and warbird owner. One of the co-founders of HARS. He had an aircraft recovery permit from Papua New Guinea National Museum (1999 - 2006) and was working to re-restore several of their aircraft: (P-38F 42-12647 and Ki-61 640). Also, to restoring P-47D 4208066 for himself. Rarely interviewed, Greinert has written for Classic Wings Magazine. Read interview with Pacific Wrecks, April 2006.

Restoration Projects:

P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-27608
Recovered from Popondetta in 2000, being used as a pattern for P-47 42-27608

P-47D "Sweetwater Swatter" Serial Number 42-8066
Being restored to fly by Greinert

Recovered Aircraft:

P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-22687 Tail Number 71
Pilot Marion C. Lutes is still listed as MIA. Greinert's interview about its salvage

P-40E Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-43
Pieces of wreckage recovered in 2003, used as the basis for a new aircraft's identity

P-38G "Dumbo!" Serial Number 42-12847 Tail 37
Recovered in 2002 from Terapo

P-40N-1 "Come in Suckers" Serial Number A29-414
Recovered from Tadji in 2001

P-40K "Swing It" Serial Number 42-45981 Tail 30 (5)
Recovered from Oro Province in 2000, donated to PIMA Museum 2002

P-40K Serial Number A29-183 Tail Number AH-M
Recovered from Goodenough Island in 1990s, aquired Graham Orphan

Co-Recoveries:

B-17E Serial Number 41-2446 (aka 'The Swamp Ghost')
Re-issue of permits for salvage by Hagen in May 2006

P-40N Serial Number 42-104977
Recovered February 2005 with Murry Griffith / Precision Aerospace

P-40N Serial Number 42-104986
Recovered Sinap in 2004 with Murry Griffith / Precision Aerospace

P-40E "The Spoddessape" Serial 41-25178 Tail 68
Recovered in November 2003 with Jason Cockayne

P-38H Lightining 42-66534
Recovered by Robert Jarrett, using the Robert Greinert / HARS salvage permit

P-40F Warhawk Serial Number 41-14205
Recovered from Vanuatu in 1989 with Ian Whitney

P-40F "Bone Crusher" Serial 41-14112 Tail VH-HWK
Recovered from Vanuatu in 1989 with Ian Whitney

Ki-43 Oscar Manufacture Number 5465
With AWM team in 1984, today part of AWM collection

Bristol Beaufighter Mk. XI A19-148
Recovered from Drysdale with Dennis Baxter in 1981

Bristol Beaufighter Mk. XI Serial Number A19-144
Recovered from Drysdale with Dennis Baxter in 1981

Partial Recoveries:

P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" Serial Number 42-66905
Tail and booms recovered in late 2000

P-39F Airacobra Serial Number 41-7191
Pilot listed as MIA, probably bailed out of aircraft. Tail section recovered in 2001

Beaufort Mk. VIII Serial Number A9-622
Tail section recovered in 2000

Part Recoveries:

Beaufort A9-637 Parts & Rudder

Items Exported:
From PNG Museum, Port Moresby

P-39D 41-38351 | F-5A 42-13084 | P-40E 41-36166 | Ki-61 299 | Ki-61 640 | P-47 "Frankie" 42-8130

Items Exported From PNG, Donated to Museums:

Kearby's P-47 Tail | Hudson A16-36 Tail | P-40K "Swing It" 42-45981

Restoration Projects For PNG Museum:

Ki-61 640
Since 2004, via Precision Aerospace

P-38F 42-12647
Since 2001 parts at Precision Aerospace

 

Last Updated
December 15, 2008