Ray Fairfield
Pilot and survey photographer in New Guinea

I was in New Guinea 1963–1972. I have quite a bit of how places were before the recovery efforts; Tadji, Tsilli-Tsillli, Ballalae, Alexishafen and Port Moresby area.

After leaving Papua New Guinea I spent time in the UK and Hong Kong, ended up in academia, lecturing at the regional University here in Toowoomba. I'm semi-retired, although I've signed up for a semester teaching at a feeder college in China.

I spent quite a while in PNG from 1963, some of it was flying high-altitude survey photos, so we got to most places.  I've got a couple of photos of the P-38 Lighning, when we found it in the swamp, and after snigging it onto dry land with a D8.  Also some photos of Bill Chapman we had a lot of fun with the car club, scuba diving, wrecks etc.

I was active with Bill Chapman thru most of the 1960s.

Ballalae Island Visits
Two visits: August 2, 1967 and 1971

Published Articles
Aircraft Illustrated, July 1975 "Down In The Jungle" page 269 - 272