Mono Airfield
I flew into Mono. I did not take any pictures of the airfield at Mono in when I visited.
There was not much to see. It was simply an overgrown strip of pavement. Once you get here there
is virtually nothing of civilization left. No such thing as
accomodation or anything like that for tourist. I was fortunate
that I knew some people from my first visit and therefore
had a place to stay. They have since left the region. You
pretty much have to chance it if you go.
Stortlands Harbor
I took the boat from Mono to the harbour.
Just me and about 20 people with chickens, and oranges which
were green, and coconuts.
Poporang
The IJN provided the troops for the island.
It is also totally inaccessibel except by boat. There is a bunch
of coastal defence and anti aircraft guns, plus a searchlight and
a few old vehicles still there. I saw things such as old radar trucks,
motorcycles, searchlights, and a Pete fuselage. There was also a
live artillery shell. Most of this was on a hillside and was intended
for coastal defense. There was a few anti-aircraft guns of probably
90mm as well as some large naval cannon. There was a now empty bunker
as well and an old water system originally done by the Japanese.
Nila
There is not too much left at Nila. All there is now
is a few decrepit Pete fuselages and some barely identifiable flaps
etc sitting in the surf. I only really noticed them because of the
distinctive blue/green preservative Lacquer on them.
Jake Dive Site
I snorkeled on a "Jake" floatplane
that was in far better shape. It was missing the tail but
was otherwise intact including the cockpit interior, floats,
wings, etc. It is sitting on it's floats and is in about
15' of water which means that the uppermost parts are only
about 5' down. The engine and cowling was resting in front
of it but the plane was sitting on the bottom on its floats
as if parked. Fascinating! It was actually more intact than
the photo would indicate. The canopy framing was damaged
and the engine was on the bottom in front but other than
that it was in excellent shape.
Mavis Dive Site
The Mavis and the Jake are in Shortland harbor.
I did snorkel on an Mavis and it was faily well deteriorated. The
wing was left and the nose pointed up at the sky. The underwing struts
and boat hull made it recognizeable.It was sunk on a slope and the
nose ended up about 10' down and the wing trailing edge and fuselage
were about 50' down. The rear fuselage is nowhere to be seen. Even
so, that is one heck of a big aircraft!! The wing especially is about
three acres in size it seems. I don't have any photos of the Mavis
because I had only a dosposable camera with me and it did not take
photos deep under water - deep as in over 10'!
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