WIX Archives
P-38 Recovery sacrelige or rescue
Posted by Joe Scheil on Mon Jul 21, 2003 12:19:30 PM
In reply top Re: PNG Breaking News posted by Dave Sutton on Mon Jul 21, 2003 07:31:41 AM
I have thought about this for the last two weeks since we originally posted the notice of these guys getting arrested. The bottom line is that if there is a crash site or dump site within my reach, and the alternative to my salvaging is preservation in situ by the tourist board to bring vets to the site of the dead aircraft, I will make an attempt. The lost airframes that continue to dissapear into the ground are balanced by the legal recovery of some, like the P-61 and other 38's and 40's, but this ignores the wrenching sight of a P-38 wanting in the bush. The money that drives them is also way out of the original scale as well. Lets look at the P-38 Glacier Girl. This was a new aircraft, with no combat history, but impeccable preservation by ice. It had to be completly reconstructed and its restoration is perhaps the greatest done this decade. It looks and seems perfect to all who see her. This is a 4 to 5 Million Dollar aircraft. Now look at the possibilities with Jandina III! Imagine the same reconstructive techniques put into a verified warrior! Or the possibilities of a restored F-5, the only one in the world with all cameras and equipment! The preservation movement has more to gain with restored, preserved aircraft, than decaying relics. The preservation of history is far more involved than simply placing a fence around the battlefield. The current condition of these airframes is critical in assesing the validity of the claims by the PNG, as if they have less than 10 years remaining, legal means may not be in the best interest of the situation. If the collectors that are driving this resurgence in restoration create a demand for these aircraft that goes beyond the climate of the last few years, regardless of what PNG thinks, the wrecks will dissapear. Now there are several that have worked long and hard with PNG in order to save these aircraft, and they do have the vested interest in recovery or preservation of the wrecks. However, PNG must be convinced to Build a first class argument/museum to preserve these and begin restoring some of what they have indoors. I doubt that this will ever be done. Its got to be interesting to the old islanders that our trash of war, left to be scavenged into farm implements and housing materials, and used as such is now worth selling back to us again. It seems to me in the best interest of the PNG nation to ask for assistance in creating a standing museum, and trading a bit of the remaining relics for the privilege. Maybe they will preserve some of their island relics, but I am 100 percent sure we will see a Jandina III restored and flying.
Now the PNG is way out of my reach, so you won't see me there. I am waiting for North Korean wrecks anyway AU-1's and P-51's, and who knows what else...Would you steal from North Korea?
Bring em' back alive.