Pacific Wrecks Forum

Dear PWD,

To lead by example, I will post an introduction about myself.

Hi there, my name is Justin Taylan. I am the creator of Pacific Wreck Database. I started this website over 10 years ago.
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/authors/taylan/i

My interest started with my grandfather who was in US Army 201st CIC (Counter Intelligence Corp) I began researching his story
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/veterans/thien.html

Over that decade, I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you in person. For me, the core of the site is reporting on the activities of people related to these relics: interviewing veterans and people involved with history, like authors, researchers, museum people and so forth. There is no credential for an interview... other than they are reserved for people who want to share their story, research or travels. Here are a list of those interviews: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/

I and also have traveled to many locations related to the war in the SWPA area: Australia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines and Japan mostly. In my travels in those places, I seek out war relics, to photograph and video document them. To date, I have visited over 200+ WWII Pacific aircraft wrecks 'in situ'.

Also, I am the creator of the 'Pacific Ghosts' series. Videos about WWII wrecks. Currently, there are a variety of DVDs and CD-ROMs available, plus books by author Michael Claringbould. The purchase of these items helps support this free website. Check out the site and product list:
http://www.pacificghosts.com/
http://pacificghosts.com/store/

Look forward to hearing about everyone else. As always, feel free to email me with any new tips, research leads or material to add to the website. That is how this site continues to grow. Everything is always credited to!

Justin,
It is really cool to here the stories that are behind all the people out there looking for that lost plain or relative. My story began in 1939 when grandpa took his two sons fishing/ camping in northwest Ontario fishing. On the trip they talked of one day owning a piece of that vast wilderness to visit on fishing trips. A few years later the sons and friends were at all corners of the earth fighting the war. Oldest son Bob was lost 3/21/44 when the transport B-24 he was on was lost.
The following summer grandpa found a way to journey from Cincinnati Ohio to Lake of the Woods in honor of his lost son.
From the small island that Bob dreamt of owning, my grandfather carefully crafted a letter to the other son serving in Germany. He talked of the loss of bob and how "in his honor" he homesteaded the same island Bob so admired. In the letter he enclosed pine needles and talked of the great times in store. We still have this letter complete with pine needles.
The island still remains a monument to my fallen uncle and all who loved him. We visit as often as possible to recharge and remember our lost uncle. We still hope to one day find his remains or the plane he went down on. His great love of the outdoors lives on through our many friends and relatives as we visit the island pardise he discovered in 1939.

Hi Justin. I have just recently joined the forum. My interest is finding out addition information about my uncle Harry Bedard who was navigator on B25J 44-29760. It want down on Cebu Island on April 3, 1945. I've already learned more in a few minutes visiting your site than I knew all my life. Thank you foe the site and I am looking forward to hearing from other interested parties. -Ted VonFeldt