Do you have an of the following you are replacing or
no longer use?
Digital Cameras, Laptop Computer, Video Cameras, GPS Equipment, Scanner
Alternately, consider a financial donation via Pacific Wrecks.
How You Can Help
This hobby I have; hunting out aircraft wrecks
in Papua New Guinea (and related WWII activities) is something
I enjoy very much. Papua New Guinea as a country is about as big
as California and the roading network is poorly developed. Most
travel between provinces is by plane, locally, travel involves
the use of expensive rental dinghies and 4 x 4s. As a result
the costs of field travel are quite high. I use a partially developed network of local wreck detectives that I have trained
to collect stories of aircraft wrecks, photograph them and record
vital information (location, serial numbers, aircraft condition
and type etc). When a site is of particular interest I try and
visit it myself.
Potential Leads Ready to Explore
There are probably about 3,000 aircraft wrecks
on PNG land and in shallow waters, about 2-300 of which are reasonably
known to the public. I have my own records of about 600 inspections
and a further 400 sites to be followed up on. My recent exploration
of one valley near Port Moresby has located about 20 aircraft to date,
including 8 P39s and two Betties.
I have another 10-12 leads in this same valley to
visit and record. None of these aircraft wrecks form any part of official
records of such sites in PNG, although some of the losses are recorded
in Military files. About half of these recently located wrecks near
Port Moresby probably have an M.I.A. query attached to them. I have
a number of deferred reports that I want to investigate including
stories of planes in lakes, as well as the shallow coastal waters
around PNG. There is at least 10-15 years work ahead of me at my current
rate of involvement
Seeking Funds
All of this study is done in my own time; at
my own expense. My direct disbursements are currently about $US10,
000/year, and I could locate considerably more wrecks if I could double
this expenditure. However, I do need to earn an income to support
my family (and this hobby as well); so from time to time I have to
put aside wreck hunting and devote more time to my business as an
environmental consultant.
Sharing Outcomes & Results
I am happy to share my hobby results with Pacific
Wrecks Downunder and its site users; and that sharing will continue
for the foreseeable future. Occasionally however, I have to slow my
activities down when my surplus income is reduced. I would certainly
like to expand these activities, which I believe are of some interest
to the public and occasionally of direct benefit to the families of
missing soldiers and airmen of WWII, as well as potential travellers
to the South Pacific.
Supplemental Pay Newsletter
As one option; I have been thinking about providing
a supplementary newsletter, for a small fee to people who would perhaps
like more information on my wreck-hunting activities here in PNG,
over and above what presented on Pacific Wrecks Downunder and this
option may yet emerge. Such a newsletter would contain more stories,
photos, and the history etc of recent wrecks located, where known.
This would entail (Justin and me) more work however (everything has
a cost).
Seeking Commerical Sponsors
For preference, I would like to work with a sponsor
who could see some merit in the information I am uncovering continuing
to be available publicly and if possible expanded; or in obtaining
some specialized wreck information. I would welcome anyone's thoughts
and suggestions about the (newsletter and sponsorship). Please e-mail
me with any comments you may have on these ideas.
Wreck Tecs
I would also like to expand the capabilities
of my "wreck tecs" through supplying them with better cameras
and laptops for communication and possibly G.P.Ss too. It may be that
some readers have surplus 35mm cameras laptops etc. that are no longer
needed, but still work. If these could be forwarded to me, for such
use by the "wreck tecs" I'm sure we could
This hobby I have; hunting out aircraft wrecks
in Papua New Guinea (and related WWII activities) is something
I enjoy very much. Papua New Guinea as a country is about as
big as California and the roading network is poorly developed.
Most travel between provinces is by plane, locally, travel involves
the use of expensive rental dinghies and 4 x 4s. As a result
the costs of field travel are quite high.
I use a partially developed network of local
wreck detectives that I have trained to collect stories of aircraft
wrecks, photograph them and record vital information. When a site
is of particular interest I try and visit it myself. Donate via Pacific Wrecks.
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