I've just received the following news article which appeared on the NEWS.COM.AU website yesterday:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21 ... 02,00.html
The Papua New Guinean newspaper, THE NATIONAL, also printed something on their website yesterday:WWII US airmen's remains found in PNG
From correspondents in Port Moresby
March 05, 2007 12:29pm
A US military recovery team has found the remains of American servicemen who died in plane crashes in Papua New Guinea during World War II.
The bones and personal effects of aircrew were found in recent weeks during excavations of crash sites in the mountains of Morobe Province.
Three recovery teams from the Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC) based in Hawaii have been in PNG since January 18 employing local labour and PNG police as security as they excavated the sites.
The recovery teams' chief, Major Albert Tabarez, said they were looking for the remains of 14 US servicemen at the three aircraft crash sites.
So far, two teams had found remains and personal effects, he said.
Forensic scientists in Hawaii would examine the teeth and bones they had found to determine the identities of the servicemen.
"We are here to find every bone, every tooth and personal effect and bring them back to their families," Maj Tabarez said.
The human remains could then be buried with full military honours.
The mission is being conducted under an agreement signed between the PNG and US governments.
In Hawaii, JPAC spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mark Brown said families in the US had been waiting for more than 50 years for answers about what happened to their loved ones.
Thanks to US and PNG efforts, some of those questions would finally be answered, he said.
The US government has conducted recovery missions in PNG since 1979.
http://www.thenational.com.pg/030507/nation4.htm
THE NATIONAL has also included the following image of Sgt Buffi Rider and T/Sgt Urbano Galindo with guns recovered from the A-20:Marines dig up soldiers’ remains
By FRANK RAI
PERSONAL effects and human bones of American soldiers who died in the Second World War were found by the United States Marine’s Recovery Teams at three separate excavation sites in the Saruwaga Mountains of Nawaeb district in Morobe province last week.
Three recovery teams from the Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command have been in the country for the last two months, excavating possible sites of three American war planes that crashed into the mountains between 1940 and 1944.
Each team was made up of a forensic anthropologist, communications officer, explosive disposal officer, medical person, team sergeant, security personal (mobile 13 – Lae) and an officer from the National Museum.
The recovery teams’ operations boss Major Albert Tabarez told a media team that was flown to the site last Friday that the teams were in separate sites doing excavations to find remains of more than 14 soldiers who died in three separate plane crashes at the Saruwaga Mountains.
The planes were identified as a C46 that crashed with 12 crew on board, A20 havoc and a P38.
“Reacovery team one and recovery team three have been successful in their findings so far and recovery team two has a wide area to cover,” Major Tabarez said.
“By next week, we will be combining team three and team two to work together.”
Major Tabarez said the excavation was one of the second hardest operations in the country because of the rough and difficult terrains.
He said teams one and three had recovered some personal effects and human bones and teeth at the crash sites but it was yet to be verified by forensic scientists at their laboratories in Hawaii, to confirm the individuals lost in the WWII.
“Our primary mission is to find the missing American soldiers. We are here to find every bone, every teeth, personals effects and bring them back to their families – everything we find is evidence in our mission,” he said.
Team three leader Capt George Murphy showed some personal effects they had recovered to media personnel at the site, saying this was one of their successful missions and they were happy to bring back some memories to the family members.
“We have found these glass frames, some dollars, parachutes, helmets, watch buckle, boot and jacket buttons, key, ring and headset radio but we are yet to verify the owner,” Capt Murphy said.
Assistant director for Science and Research from the National Museum Scnea Greh also said that previous reports by the media last week on the presence of American soldiers in the area was sensationalised, false and based on speculations.
Mr Greh said the Americans had employed more than 40 local villagers in team three, 50 in team two and 10 with team one.
The mission is under a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the PNG and US governments.
It is understood that the hosting Sakalang village will have solar powered lights, a classroom and a health centre from the US government as a compliment for their assistance .
