Josh Mcdade  Reports from Bougainville: Nissan Island

On Thursday 23rd of September 1999 some of the PMG Buka liaison team  visited Nissan Island.  I was the medic for this liaison trip. This was during the week that I was stationed at the Buka team site.  Nissan Island lies NW approx 60 nautical miles from Buka Island. The island name is a small group of islands. About four main ones with population. The largest and main one is called Nissan Island. This island does have a long history of colinization by missionaries.

This island locals say had some type of base during WWII. We travelled there by a orange PMG Heuy helicopter. This was just a short day liaison visit to meet the chiefs and different social representatives of the island.

I visited their medical facility, talked to their medical team and chiefs.  We discussed their concerns and problems in relation to the peace process and social/medical problems since the crisis.The PMG has a main emphasis on peace monitoring. (No photos were taken of any relics)

Whilst there I found a large propeller under the large tree at 'the station' just near the working airfield. No significant damage or markings on the propeller which stands about four feet high.

Some other members of the liaison team were escorted to another part of the island to view a WWII relic.  The relic was an unexploded bomb on top of the ground.  It was said to have no fins and appeared to be a large air bomb.  With no map or sense of direction in this new place no accurate record can be given of the location.

Whilst travelling back from visiting the relic the host described a relic they didn't have time to visit on the way back that he claimed was a tank.

Return to Josh Mcdade

© 1997-2008 All rights reserved
Pacific Wreck Database