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Wreck News & Information - April 21, 2003
EDITORIAL
Planes of Fame Air show
Join Us in Chino, CA May 17-18!
NEWS
Neel Kearby P-47 Tail Donated to USAF Museum - Robert Greinert
PWD Helps Return A Guadalcanal Dog Tag
EVENTS - RAAF Beaufort Unveiling
First
Restored Beaufort in the Southern Hemisphere
HARS's Beaufort Restoration Team - Robert Greinert
Unveiling Ceremony at AWM - Daniel Leahy
Beaufort Walkaround - Daniel Leahy
INTERVIEWS
Two Figures in New Guinea Wreck & MIA Discoveries
Richard Leahy - Involved in the discovery
of dozens of WWII wrecks
Dave Pennefather - Former New Guinea Patrol Officer & Wreck Hunter
FORUM
Update on the PWD Form
REVIEWS
Reviews - Ghost Wings Issue 9, B-29 Hunters, SBD
Units, G4M1 Units
Links - WWII Pacific websites
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1. EDITORIAL
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Welcome to another Pacific Wreck Database (PWD) update. In a new format,
only a "short" version of the newsletter is being emailed,
with the link to check the full issue online at:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/news/emails/03/03news.html
This update is full of both old and new collaborators, and some amazing
news & developments related to restoration, and donation of an extremely
historical aviation relic, the remarkably preserved tail section of
MIA / KIA Col. Neel Kearby shot down over New Guinea to the USAF Museum.
Also, I have a special notice to readers in the Los Angles area...
Planes
of Fame Air show - I will be guest speaker at the Chino, California's
Planes of Fame Museum's annual air show, May 17-18. Also, I am pleased
that several associates, Bruce Fenstermaker, Henry Sakaida and Gary
Nila will also be joining us at our WWII Pacific tent. I look forward
to meeting more of the west coast readers and veterans at that event!
I think it will be an amazing event. At the air show, the museum's authentic
A6M5 Zero is scheduled for flight, and dozens of other famous WWII aircraft.
For additional info on their renowned air show, directions, and a discount
coupon, visit: http://www.pacificghosts.com/events/chino/
Yours in history,
- Justin Taylan
email - justin@wanpela.com
PWD - http://www.pacificwrecks.com
Pacific Ghosts - http://www.pacificghosts.com
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2. NEWS - Return of Pacific War Relics
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Neel Kearby Tail Section Donated to USAF
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/restore/hars/kearby.html
by
Robert Greinert . This tail is particularly historic to USAAF and 5th
Air Force history. It is from the P-47 that Col. Neel Kearby, a 22 victory
ace, and medal of honor recipient. He went MIA in this aircraft over
Wewak. In 2001, the remarkably intact tail section, with original paint
and US Army serial number visible were recovered by HARS in Australia,
and now are to be donated to the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. This is
one of the most important donations in the history of the PWD website,
and are honored present its story.
PWD Helps to Return USMC Dog Tag
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/news/dogtag/modzel.html
This story begins on Guadalcanal, with the discovery of a WWII dogtag.
Via email, Jimmy Nuake contact Pacific Wreck Database for assistance
in locating the former owner of the dog tag, and to learn more about
its history. On the first phone call, the owner's daughter, Ann Modzel
was found. Learn both sides of this story, from two sides of the world,
and the generosity of those who found it, to return it to the grateful
family.
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3. EVENTS - Unveiling
of RAAF Beaufort A9-557 at AWM
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HARS Restoration Team at Australian War Memorial
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/restore/hars/beaufort.html
by
Robert Greinert . Learn about the restoration work and team behind this
restoration. This Beaufort wreck is the only restored Beaufort in Australia,
and one of the few in the world. Its role in Commonwealth & Pacific
WWII history is significant and honored by this restoration.
Unveiling Ceremony at Australian War Memorial
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/60th/beaufort/
by
Daniel Leahy. The restoration of DAP Beaufort A9-557 has been completed
and the aircraft was placed on public display for the first time in
ANZAC Hall on March 8, 2003. On March 28, the Australian War Memorial,
in conjunction with the RAAF Beaufort Squadrons Association, held a
commemorative function to officially unveil the restored aircraft. Originally,
only about 70 guests were expected to arrive, but in the end closer
to 450 were in attendance. These included veterans, relatives, Air Force
dignitaries and researchers.
Walkaround of Beaufort A9-557
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/collaborators/leahy/beaufort/index.html
by Daniel Leahy contributes a photographic walkaround of the restored
AWM bomber. For additional information on this aircraft, visit http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/beaufort/A9-557.html
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4. Interview - Two Figures in New Guinea
Wartime Discovery
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Richard Leahy
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/visitors/leahy/
The
Leahy's family name is synonymous with Papua New Guinea history and
exploration. Richard Leahy lives in Lae, and over the past decades,
has been involved in the discovery of dozens of WWII wreck sites, MIA
sites and the work of U.S. Army CILHI to recover remains to return them
to the United States.
David Pennefather
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/visitors/pennefather/
Australian
Pennefather spent most of his life in Papua New Guinea as a 'Kiap',
or Patrol Officer and businessman. During his travels, his interest
in wartime history blossomed, and his travels to remote villages lead
to the discovered of many wartime relics and wrecks, including several
aircraft discoveries. He shares some of his recollections and work in
New Guinea from the late 1960's until the late 1980's.
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5. Update on the PWD Forum
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http://pacificwrecks.com/forum/
Report by Daniel Leahy, lead moderator. The forum is coming along nicely.
Recently there have been discussions concentrating on NEIAF and Japanese
aircraft wrecks in Australia, aircraft carriers in the Second World
War and more requests for information about relatives who served during
the war. If you have not already done so, browse the forum, and join
in order to post.
Over the four months that the forum has been active, there have been:
371 posts , 113 topics, and now includes 143 member users
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6. REVIEWS
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http://www.pacificwrecks.com/reviews/
Ghost
Wings Magazine, Issue 9
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/reviews/ghostwings9.html
Ghost Wings, America's fast growing and celebrated
aviation magazine, has just released its best edition to date, the stunning
Issue 9. Boasting groundbreaking stories of military aviators and aircraft
from WWII to Vietnam, Issue 9 includes crisp original artwork and seldom-seen
vintage photos, in full color layouts.
B-29 Hunters of the JAAF
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/reviews/osprey-b29-hunters.html
by Koji Takaki & Henry Sakaida. Little is written about the Japanese
air defense of the the home islands at the end of WWII. This story is
told in with vivid pilot profiles, mission histories and stunning photographs.
History and accounts from both the Japanese and American sides of the
campaign allow the reader to understand the vicious aerial combat that
occurred in the skys over Japan, from late 1944 until the end of the
war.
SBD Dauntless Units of WWII
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/reviews/osprey-sbd.html
Barrett Tillman's book tells the story of SBD units during WWII, and
tells the stories of its pilots and missions. At the time of its design,
it was one of the world's most modern and advanced dive bomber designs,
that filled the multiple roles of scout and dive bomber in the USN.
His research covers Dauntless operations through the war, including
unit strengths, losses, successes and even air-to-air victory totals.
Rikko 'Betty' Units of WWII
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/reviews/osprey-betty.html
Author Tagaya tells the history of this famous bomber. At the start
of the war, the bomber changed the course of history off the Malay peninsula
in particular, Bettys were instrumental in the sinking the British battleships
Repulse and Prince of Whales. Like the dive bombers and torpedo bombers
at Pearl Harbor, the Betty's success sunk the reign of the battleship.
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7. Links of the Month
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Great links related to WWII Pacific, submitted by users of the Pacific
Wreck Database site:
Reunited with a Trusted, Dependable Friend
http://p38assn.org/stories_current.htm
By former P-38 Pilot Wayne P. Rothgeb
AWM Beaufort Restoration Display
http://www.awm.gov.au/aboutus/conservation/beaufort/index.htm
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for this link
The Hunt for the Last Mystery Shipwreck
http://www.usni.org/NavalHistory/Articles03/NHlambert04.htm
Article by Chip Lambert & Mike Mair
Kilroy Was Here - WWII & Korean War Website
http://www.kilroywashere.org
Website by Patrick A. Tillery
B-24 Best Web
http://www.b24bestweb.com
Excellent site by Daniel L. Stockton
Army Air Forces - MACR Search
http://www.armyairforces.com/dbmacr.asp
thanks to Daniel L. Stockton for this link
Corregidor
http://www.corregidor.org
Thanks to Phil Bradley for this link
Battle of Leyte Gulf
http://www.battle-of-leyte-gulf.com
Ken Friedman's excellent webiste
Warbirds Over New Zealand
http://www.warbirdsovernewzealand.com
thanks to Pioneer restorations for this link
Guadalcanal Battle Sites
http://www.guadalcanal.homestead.com
Peter Flahavin's excellent website
# # # End of Wreck News April 21, 2003 # # #
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