WIX Archives
Flypast Dec 2003: Briefings page 18
Posted by Paul McMillan on Sat Nov 01, 2003 05:11:12 PM
In reply top null posted by null on null
"A report in the Oxfordshire Gazette newspaper indicates that a number of Japanese WW2 aircraft have been discovered on Ballalae Island in the Solomons"
So how does a report like this end up in a regional newspaper..
Anyway, firstly I think it's full title is the 'Witney & West Oxfordshire Gazette' and its readership is just over 7000 (well 7199) to be exact:
Source:
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/weeksearch/weekshowdetails.asp?vartitle=Witney+and+West+Oxfordshire+Gazette
Well, no disrespect to the journo's of this esteemed organ, but how come none of the majors picked up on this, CNN, BBC, AP, Reuters.. Well.. prehaps I can lead you down a path of likely events..
Firstly, the aircraft are not 'new' they have been known about for some time and in fact include Bettys, Vals a Irvine and a Zero - You can see pictures on the pacificwrecks website here:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/collaborators/bradley/ballalae.html
Well, it turns out that there is a very horific and sad story about the construction of the airfield on this Island by POW's and impressed labour. Over 400 died, and details are available one the net
Recently, a trip was organised to Ballalae Island by relatives of those who died
This did make the major UK news sources and here is a report..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2003/07/17/npow17.xml
Now, a quick read of this will probably reveal the likely source of this story to the local press...