WIX Archives
Some Reported Facts
Posted by Rob Mears on Tue Dec 18, 2001 12:40:43 PM
In reply top More on Morotai....... posted by Tony on Mon Dec 17, 2001 12:54:33 PM
George Singleton and I spent some time researching the facts surrounding Moratai last year. He sent me some documents submitted by the late Tom Voll to the Yankee Air Force in 1986. Included were pictures of Mr. Voll with various aircraft on the island. I'll quote part of the text in the memo to YAF:
"...I am enclosing some photos and price quotes. Your request for; tail gun position, bomb hatch, radio racks with gun mount, number 6 & 7 bulkhead, and bomb door faiing; our price is..."
"In the photos I am enclosing there are 6/B24s in this place, 2/P40s, 2/FG-1D Corsairs, 6/B25s, 6/P38s, 6/A20s, 2 Beaufighters, and some C47, C46, and C54. In the photo of the nose art on the B24 you will notice it has 25 bomb missions, we would be happy to get this combat veteran for your organization. Our price is...and it is rebuildable."
I have some very crude copies of the photos in question, but can still make out Mr. Voll standing in front of various B-25's A-20's, a B-24, P-40, etc.
Yes, this is a location worthy of many buckets of drool!...at least as late as 1986. I can't vouch for what might still exist today. I dealt with Tom Voll personally regarding the recovery of a Corsair from South America during the early 1990's. He has since passed away so I have no direct connection for possibly locating original photos from his visits to Moratai.
ALL of the planes there were war veterans and MANY were still intact as late as 1986. IMO that is a miracle in itself. From what I gathered, the piece of real estate in question became part of a prison facility after the war. The resulting factors of security are what supposedly kept these aircraft from being victimized for so many years.
I salute anyone who might find a way to visit this location and report back EXACTLY what still exists.
Rob Mears