WIX Archives
Re: Pacific Wreck Database
Posted by bdk on Sat Mar 27, 2004 01:36:40 AM
In reply top Pacific Wreck Database posted by Justin Taylan on Fri Mar 26, 2004 05:45:43 PM
I have edited some of this for brevity, but I don't think that I have lost any of the intent:
: Its a non-profit project, that I do i
: n my spare time.
Thank you, I have learned a lot from your site. Although I may disagree with a few points, I truly appreciate your efforts as you have put together a wealth of information not seen anywhere else on the net.
: I will do some research into these P-47's, and post back t
: o this forum, if anyone is interested.
I would be interested to hear any factual information you can present.
: Here are a few myths about 'Pacific Wrecks' eluded to by p
: osters to this thread...
:
: 1) Aircraft in jungles are corroded and 'rotting'
: Also, Everyone knows the 'worth' of WWII aircraft. Toda
: y, even villagers in remote areas know that they are 'valu
: able'. This has lead to preservation, lawsuits, scrapping
: and other activities... some good, others bad.
Yes, many are considered quite valuable as scrap! Perhaps they are more valuable to collectors? If they will potentially be scrapped, why not give those people more money to not scrap them?
: 3) Anyone can visit relics of war. All you have to do is
: travel there. Like it or not, these relics are part of th
: e native people' history of WWII (the people / places wher
: e the war was fought).
Also they are part of my country's history, and my relatives paid for them! Many Americans (Brits, Kiwis, Aussies, etc.) made the same human sacrifices- in some cases to free those very people in the region from the vicious and oppressive Japanese empire.
They are owned by those people, an
: d their governments.
Or by the US Navy???? :-)
: Often, outsiders get in trouble for taking reli
: cs (or attempting to bribe people, etc).
Bribing or purchasing? Ownership can sometimes be difficult to determine. Many governments and officials will not perform legitimate business transactions without bribery. This is a fact all over the world, from smaller countries like Vietnam to large countries like China. Corruption is a popular pastime in many places.
: Those taking r
: elics often claim they preserving history by breaking othe
: r country's laws.
Hmmm... Slavery was written into law in the US. All laws are not sensible and just, but I don't advocate breaking the law either. Nonetheless, sometimes rules and laws are overlooked by officials or can change when sufficient incentive is available ($$$$$- see corruption and bribery), or if you have the right connections. If you bribe someone to get the law changed, is that then OK because you haven't broken the law?
: 3) There are still amazing wrecks out there, that need to
: be recovered, now
: Yes, every wreck is historic and important and it would be
: great to have everyone displayed in a museum or restored
: to fly. But, the 'best' aircraft wrecks (in terms of res
: toration value) have ALREADY been recovered (in the 1970'
: s and beyond). Today, there are just crash sites, and aba
: ndoned bits that have been picked over.
Like Swamp Ghost...?
: Thank you and look forward to hearing from anyone with inf
: ormation on WWII Pacific aircraft, veterans, or travelers
: to the Pacific. Also, the Pacific Wrecks site has its own
: discussion forum, for those that are interested - histori
: cal topics only, no flaming - http://www.pacificwrecks.com
: /forum/
Does this mean that the "controversial" discussion at hand regarding current and future events in the region would not be welcome on your discussion forum?
Thanks again for posting! Please don't just visit when you feel that your website has been maligned (the myths you referred to).