William "Bill" Chapman
lived in Papua New Guinea during 1961 to 1981, and was a businessman
in Port Moresby. His father-in-law was a pilot in 18 Squadron,
of NEIAF, flying with
the RAAF during WWII.
New Guinea's First Aviation Museum
In the late 1960's, founded the Air
Museum of Papua New Guinea, the predecessor of the PNG
War Museum created when Papua New Guinea gained its independence.
Aircraft Exported & Recovered
Oversaw the recovery or export of 47 aircraft out of Papua New Guinea,
to Japan, America and New Zealand. Including, P-47 "Sweetwater Swatter" 42-8066 from Port Moresby
swamp, and was involved with the recovery of Ford
Trimotor A25-1 from Myola Lake. Also, P-40E
E11273.
Restoration
Champan restored a Jeep and Dodge Weapons Carrier, both later
donated to the PNG
War Museum. Both are still part of the museum's collection today.
B-17E "Swamp
Ghost"
An early visitor to B-17E
41-2446,with Charles
Darby. The
two of them recovered a machine gun, bullets, a thermos, pistols
all donated to
the
museum. He was involved with costing out several recovery operations
for the wreck, that were never carried out, including one offering
A$250,000.
John Jackson's P-40 Crash Site
He visited this most historic Australian loss, P-40E Kittyhawk A29-8 that
Port Moresby's 7-Mile airport was named Jackson in his honor.
During the visit, a rudder pedal was recovered for the museum.
Also, they recovered its guns. The
plane crashed vertically, and wings compressed from 8' to 8".
They also recovered engine and cockpit pieces, from a ten foot
deep crater from the crash.
Queen Emma's Cannon
Locals in Rabaul buried it during World Wari II so the Japanese would
not take it. This cannon was fired by him Port Moresby.
