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Discussion about the history of B-17E 'Swamp Ghost' and its recovery.

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Daniel Leahy
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Hi All,

It's been a while, but the following article appeared in THE NATIONAL on March 23:
Ghost shipment under probe
http://www.thenational.com.pg/032307/nation2.htm

By PETER KORUGL
PARTS of the American World War 11 plane “Swamp Ghost” was moved out of Papua New Guinea illegally, the PNG Customs alleged yesterday.
Senior Customs officials claimed a container with parts of the old B-7E Flying Fortress was moved out of Lae to Brisbane, Australia without the knowledge of PNG authorities.

They claim the container was moved out of Lae on Feb 27 without their knowledge, and have launched an internal investigation.

However, Steamships Shipping Agency, the company that allegedly shipped the parts to Australia, yesterday denied that the cargo in the container had parts of the Swamp Ghost.

Mr Ray Critchley, manager of Steamships Shipping Agency in Lae said the container had parts of another old war plane “that had been sitting in Lae for a long time”.

Mr Critchley said all documentations for the shipment of the parts in that particular container were completed and in order.

“The Swamp Ghost was still in Lae. It had not been moved. What was moved were parts of another plane,” Mr Critchley said.

But Customs officials in Lae are suspicious, and are investigating to establish what was in the container, and whether proper procedures were followed.

The officials also want to establish if some of their own people were doing things without the knowledge of their bosses.

PNG Customs insiders said the export entry papers for the Swamp Ghost was received by their office only three days ago but the container that they suspected had the parts of the plane was moved about three weeks ago.

The Swamp Ghost was moved from its resting place in Popondetta, Oro province in April last year and brought to Lae.

PNG Customs did not give clearance to United States-based Aero Archaeology, based in Pennsylvania or its agents to export the old bomber out of the country, when news of the evacuation broke.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee also intervened to prevent the relic leaving PNG shores.
This was then followed up with another article in today's THE NATIONAL:
‘Swamp Ghost’ parts still in Lae
http://www.thenational.com.pg/032607/nation26.htm

ALL containers with bits and pieces of the Swamp Ghost, the World War II US bomber, are still in Lae.

The National was told last weekend that all the containers are in the yard of a company (named) and none has left Papua New Guinea.

Ray Critchley of Steamship Shipping in Lae said none of the containers has been shipped out.

“The Swamp Ghost is still in Lae and has not been shipped anywhere,” Mr Critchley said when he responded to a set of questions faxed by The National regarding the reported “shipment” of the container on Feb 27. PNG customs in Lae have launched an investigation into the export of the plane parts, which they suspect were from the Swamp Ghost.

They said if the parts belonged to the old war plane, then the export was illegal as the permits were received only last week.
Daniel J. Leahy
Australia

AIR POWER ARCHAEOLOGY
http://www.airpowerarchaeologyc.com

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