US forensic team recovers three WWII servicemen's bodies
Thursday, June 15, 2000

  A TEAM of forensic experts sent to Rabaul by the United States Marine Corps has managed to recover the remains of three American soldiers. The remains were found buried at a graveyard for World War II soldiers at Makurapau plantation, near Ralubang Village, in the Bitapaka LLG area last Thursday. The forensics team, which included doctors, technicians and a photographer, used special machines to detect, locate and identify the remains of the dead soldiers.

  A senior official from the PNG National Museum says museum staff are assisting the US Marine Corps by accompanying the team to various places where American soldiers operated during the war. He said the team is also recording and taking photographs of the wreckage of American warplanes, guns, ships, tankers and other weapons belonging to the American armed forces.