(No association with the Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron) The owner, Bruno Carnovale
has declined to be interviewed. The
group's motto is "preserving
yesterday's history for tomorrow", but has
no museum location, website or any facility open to the
public.
Finschafen Recoveries
In 1998, with an export permit granted to '75 Squadron' by the PNG Museum for
wartime scrap in the Finchafen area. During November 1999, three P-47s and two P-38s were dug up at Finchafen. P-38J "Jandina III" 42-103988 was salvaged from Bilau. These relics were placed in containers at Lae,
and shipped to Melbourne. During 2002, thousands saw a truck loaded with
exported airframes: three P-47s and a P-38 on
Melbourne highways during rush hour. These aircraft were being shipped to WestPac.
P-38F
Lightning 42-12652 Nose 33 (White 33)
Recovered from Finschafen in 1999, shipped to Australia in 2002 and to WestPac during 2003-2004.
P-47D
Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-75284
Recovered from Finschafen in 2002, exported to
WestPac during 2003-2004
P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-22521
Recovered from Finschafen in 2002, exported to
WestPac during 2003-2004
P-47D
Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-8074
Recovered from Finschafen in 2002, exported to
WestPac during 2003-2004
P-38J "Jandina III" Serial Number 42-103988
Pilot Robbins force landed May 7, 1944 at Bilau. Recovered in 2002, exported to Australia then to Westpac
P-40 Warhawk Serial Number ?
Piloted by
Lt. James O'Neil recovered from Finschafen
PNG Museum Aircraft
During early 2001, several aircraft from the PNG Museum collection were removed by '75 Squadron' and exported to Australia.
P-39F Airacobra Serial
Number 41-7191
Pilot Chapman MIA case tail & parts removed
from the PNG Museum in 2001
P-39 Airacobra Serial
Number ?
Removed
from the PNG Museum between late 2000 to early 2001
P-39 Airacobra Serial
Number ?
Removed
from the PNG Museum between late 2000 to early 2001
Ki-43 Oscar
Removed
from the PNG Museum between late 2000 to early 2001
Jacquinot Bay Aircraft and Parts
During July 2003, 75 Squadron salvaged a B5N Kate and Ki-46 Dinah plus F4U Corsair parts and wings from Jacquinot Bay Airfield. They were barged to Lae and placed in containers for shipment to Melbourne, Australia. Instead, they were impounded by the PNG
Museum and ownership resolved in a court case ending in 2005. Afterwards, they were exported.
Ki-46-II Dinah Manufacture Number 2783
Surrendered August 18, 1945 salvaged July 2003 to
Lae, exported circa 2005
B5N2 Kate Tail 302
Flown to surrender October 14, 1945
salvaged July 2003 to
Lae, exported circa 2005
