Papua New Guinea Wreck Tec Updates –  August 2002
by John Douglas

Gusap Equipment Dumps
I spent two days wandering around the Gusap Air field in the company of Mike Collins, a fellow enthusiast, currently contracting on the nearby Sugar Estate; Ramu Sugar. Mike had been digging out some old dumps, mostly truck wrecks but also several hundred discarded gun barrels. There had been a few grass fires through the area, and it was possible to I.D. several other potential dumps among the revetments. I'll be back in two weeks to join in the excavations.

Japanese Wrecks in Port Moresby Area
I got some photos of a Betty wreck in the foothills behind Port Moresby. There were probably about 15-20 Betties shot down by Ack Ack and Allied fighters during the aerial battle for Port Moresby [150 plus air raids, a good book one day...]; but the wrecks are hard to find. This is only the second Betty I've found, the other was only just fragments on a grass plain near the coast.

There are also two engines [all thats left from a Japanese wreck] up on the Sogeri plateau, so I guess that was a Betty too The tail is mostly straight on this new wreck, but the rest was just debris. Human remains are present as well. Its about a days walk in from the road head.

About four years ago I located an H6K Mavis [B-24 Liberator] further along the range, that I'll try to get back to one day. I have located only a very few Zeros, so Japanese wrecks are fairly scattered here I attach some photos of the Betty and will send some more in a day or two from the Gusap trip.

Em Tasol
John Douglas

Seeking Support
John Douglas writes WWII wreck related new briefs for Pacific Wreck from his home in Port Moresby. Learn how to help Douglas' efforts and Wreck 'Tec network, donate your old 35mm camera, video equipment or financial help - support this effort!