B-25C Mitchell 41-12486 crash site visit
by Paul Carpenter, Curtiss-Wright Technical Representative via Walt Houghton

Report No. 16, September 23, 1942:
"On another occasion we had an opportunity of going to an island some few miles off Port Moresby [Fishermans Island] to look at a B-25 which had been damaged in a fight and belly landed on this coral island, when it was seen impossible to make its home airdrome. The coral rocks had pretty well torn the under part all to bits and a fire started which pretty well cleared out the center section. The wings and engine had lots of salvageable parts and were evidentially stripped. No one seemed to know for sure what happened to the crew, but if they got out of it it was a miracle. There were burned parts of their parachutes and Mae Wests, but there were no traces of that terrible smell which always lingers around the spot where humans beings have burned or cooked."