27th Jan 2019, 13:21 - Wikipost
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A thread where ex PNG geriatrics lapuns and long longs can live in the dim distant past.
Where tall stories are accepted as fact. War stories are applauded. Grab a Brownie, pull up a story and join in a trip down memory lane!!! 
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PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok
Grandpa Aerotart
Mine cost PNG45k...when the K was worth about Aus$1.50...she was crashed much later by a young Kiwi....wish I still had her...cheaper to run than a Bonanza...and she'd be worth at least double that now...in Oz$...when I took delivery she had new paint, interior, windows, wheels, brakes, undercarriage blocks, radios and instruments overhaulled and 1600 to run on engine and prop.
Retired Tiger pilot
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Taildragger and Chuckles,
I agree that many horrible crimes have been committed in PNG by PNG raskols but are not these same type of horrible crimes also committed in say Dunnunda or Godzone? maybe less frequently and less per 1000 head of population but man's inhumanity to man is common everywhere. Are these crimes more acceptable if committed by whitey against whitey?
Where I currently live can be rather dangerous and more so by each macho male's desire to carry a big gat which can and is used at the drop of a hat. Argument over a few beers, who won the cockfight, or road rage at an intersection can result in a shoot out, or as the other day, a bus driver upset a car driver who then chased the bus down a highway, stopped the bus and emptied his auto's mag. finito bus driver.
Many of the daily acts of mayhem and violence are not even news items unless they are very gruesome with vivid details shown on TV.
But I live here by choice and as in PNG, watch your ass!
Peter Sharpe.
I agree that many horrible crimes have been committed in PNG by PNG raskols but are not these same type of horrible crimes also committed in say Dunnunda or Godzone? maybe less frequently and less per 1000 head of population but man's inhumanity to man is common everywhere. Are these crimes more acceptable if committed by whitey against whitey?
Where I currently live can be rather dangerous and more so by each macho male's desire to carry a big gat which can and is used at the drop of a hat. Argument over a few beers, who won the cockfight, or road rage at an intersection can result in a shoot out, or as the other day, a bus driver upset a car driver who then chased the bus down a highway, stopped the bus and emptied his auto's mag. finito bus driver.
Many of the daily acts of mayhem and violence are not even news items unless they are very gruesome with vivid details shown on TV.
But I live here by choice and as in PNG, watch your ass!
Peter Sharpe.
Grandpa Aerotart
I agree completely...and I would not hestitate to add that it makes not one iotas difference the colour of the criminal...you don't want to hear what I'd do to anyone of whatever colour if they ever hurt Chelsea.
In Australia and New Zealand there are functioning police forces and a goal system that keeps them inside...well escapes are rare as rocking horse poop...unlike PNG where mass breakouts are regular...all it takes is a threat towards a 'guard' from a wantok and they look the other way while 50 hardened raskols walk out through a hole in the fence late one night. Also life seems more valued in Australia/New Zealand...even by ordinary crims..they don't shoot you then rob you...even if they are armed.
As I have said before the incidence of armed violence in PNG is orders of magnitude greater than OZ/NZ...by whatever measure you use. 90+% of the population of OZ/NZ would not know anyone who has been raped, shot,stabbed or burgled...90% of the population of PNG know several.
I don't consider myself to be macho for carrying while in PNG..if it was just a macho thing I would have carried even when at work far out in the bush...I have not even picked up a handgun since leaving PNG and never owned one before going there...I had owned a .22 rifle when a teen. I don't dislike guns but feel no desire to own one again...unless I need one again....I don't feel the need to join a gun club although I enjoyed my membership of Lae and Moresby pistol clubs and enjoyed competitive target shooting....I even got pretty good at it.
Everyone's different and the way they confront threats varies...from leaving on the next plane to, at the other end of the spectrum, and I believe the more common reaction, buying a gun and being prepared to use it. By use it I don't mean pull it out at the first sign of trouble and I don't mean shoot to kill as a first option...but when you do pull it out you're definately going to fire it...preferably a warning shot close over their heads...as I said before 99.9% of conflicts end right there.
If they are also armed (particularly with a gun)you MUST assume they are willing to use it too...I only faced that scenario twice (+ twice with bushknives),when I was also armed, and no-one was hurt on one of the occasions they had firearms...I'm not so certain on the other...both the knife wielders got nothing more than a big fright.
In 99.9% of cases where I faced an armed raskol they did use their weapon without hesitating and before I used mine...the only exception was Rabaul, although the second raskol I saw loaded the shotgun before pointing it at me at a range of several feet. Of the 4 raskols involved two had factory shotguns, one a revolver and one a knife...if I had pulled my pistol that night it would likely have ended in many of the patrons shot...we were all sitting crowded together on the floor as they covered us while the fourth emptied the till and helped himself to cool refreshment...they slapped us around a little and we handed over our wallets, sunglasses etc and they left....I made the
concious decision to blend into the floor and be as submissive as possible...until they looked like getting violent.
There are multitudinous cases of unarmed expats...and many more locals, being murdered in PNG so not carrying does not necesarily equate to de-escalating the situation..as it might have done in the 60s and 70s when armed raskols were virtually unknown.
I believe my ownership and use of a handgun in PNG was 100% successful and reasonable. It was even good for virtually every raskol I faced...they lived to rob another day...or perhaps in a few cases decided expats were in the 'too hard' basket and didn't try again. The ones that would shoot first and rob after were already of that mindset before we met.
I do accept that not every armed expat gave the situations under which they would use it as much thought as I and I do accept that a very few armed expats were way too keen to shoot someone.
As to what came first and which side escalated things to the situation as we know it in PNG today? I don't know and I don't care...it was the situation I faced.
I have been thinking about your brother, Pete...and I agree carrying a 9mm or a 45 in his case would be near useless...his best protection is the truck he's driving and the steel cage he's locked inside...a 9mm would be so undergunned as to border on Pythonesque...nothing short of a 50 cal mounted on the roof would make an iota of difference.
I am still keen to hear your thoughts on air freight to the highlands from say Lae...why hasn't it happened? And look forward to catching up at the Talair Reunion...I am sure we'll have same quality of debate we always had
Brgds,
Chuck.
PS when you call me Charles it's like I am being lectured by my father again...please desist
Edited for clarity....and ****e spelling...to/too
In Australia and New Zealand there are functioning police forces and a goal system that keeps them inside...well escapes are rare as rocking horse poop...unlike PNG where mass breakouts are regular...all it takes is a threat towards a 'guard' from a wantok and they look the other way while 50 hardened raskols walk out through a hole in the fence late one night. Also life seems more valued in Australia/New Zealand...even by ordinary crims..they don't shoot you then rob you...even if they are armed.
As I have said before the incidence of armed violence in PNG is orders of magnitude greater than OZ/NZ...by whatever measure you use. 90+% of the population of OZ/NZ would not know anyone who has been raped, shot,stabbed or burgled...90% of the population of PNG know several.
I don't consider myself to be macho for carrying while in PNG..if it was just a macho thing I would have carried even when at work far out in the bush...I have not even picked up a handgun since leaving PNG and never owned one before going there...I had owned a .22 rifle when a teen. I don't dislike guns but feel no desire to own one again...unless I need one again....I don't feel the need to join a gun club although I enjoyed my membership of Lae and Moresby pistol clubs and enjoyed competitive target shooting....I even got pretty good at it.
Everyone's different and the way they confront threats varies...from leaving on the next plane to, at the other end of the spectrum, and I believe the more common reaction, buying a gun and being prepared to use it. By use it I don't mean pull it out at the first sign of trouble and I don't mean shoot to kill as a first option...but when you do pull it out you're definately going to fire it...preferably a warning shot close over their heads...as I said before 99.9% of conflicts end right there.
If they are also armed (particularly with a gun)you MUST assume they are willing to use it too...I only faced that scenario twice (+ twice with bushknives),when I was also armed, and no-one was hurt on one of the occasions they had firearms...I'm not so certain on the other...both the knife wielders got nothing more than a big fright.
In 99.9% of cases where I faced an armed raskol they did use their weapon without hesitating and before I used mine...the only exception was Rabaul, although the second raskol I saw loaded the shotgun before pointing it at me at a range of several feet. Of the 4 raskols involved two had factory shotguns, one a revolver and one a knife...if I had pulled my pistol that night it would likely have ended in many of the patrons shot...we were all sitting crowded together on the floor as they covered us while the fourth emptied the till and helped himself to cool refreshment...they slapped us around a little and we handed over our wallets, sunglasses etc and they left....I made the
concious decision to blend into the floor and be as submissive as possible...until they looked like getting violent.
There are multitudinous cases of unarmed expats...and many more locals, being murdered in PNG so not carrying does not necesarily equate to de-escalating the situation..as it might have done in the 60s and 70s when armed raskols were virtually unknown.
I believe my ownership and use of a handgun in PNG was 100% successful and reasonable. It was even good for virtually every raskol I faced...they lived to rob another day...or perhaps in a few cases decided expats were in the 'too hard' basket and didn't try again. The ones that would shoot first and rob after were already of that mindset before we met.
I do accept that not every armed expat gave the situations under which they would use it as much thought as I and I do accept that a very few armed expats were way too keen to shoot someone.
As to what came first and which side escalated things to the situation as we know it in PNG today? I don't know and I don't care...it was the situation I faced.
I have been thinking about your brother, Pete...and I agree carrying a 9mm or a 45 in his case would be near useless...his best protection is the truck he's driving and the steel cage he's locked inside...a 9mm would be so undergunned as to border on Pythonesque...nothing short of a 50 cal mounted on the roof would make an iota of difference.
I am still keen to hear your thoughts on air freight to the highlands from say Lae...why hasn't it happened? And look forward to catching up at the Talair Reunion...I am sure we'll have same quality of debate we always had
Brgds,
Chuck.
PS when you call me Charles it's like I am being lectured by my father again...please desist
Edited for clarity....and ****e spelling...to/too
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 10th Mar 2005 at 07:55.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Taildragger; Thanks for the pm. Sent you another.
Chuckles; Wholeheartedly agree with you re the subject of carrying a pistol in PNG. I was also a member of the Pistol club in Moresby and had my own S&W but in .22 cal.
It was a similar model to the club pistols but with a 6 in barrel which made it somewhat bulky and impossible to carry all the time. But I rarely drove around at night without it, albeit on the floor next to my seat. And I still have it, legally on a collectors licence.
But once again I must mention that I never had a moment where I felt that I may have to use it. Must have just been lucky I guess.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Chuckles; Wholeheartedly agree with you re the subject of carrying a pistol in PNG. I was also a member of the Pistol club in Moresby and had my own S&W but in .22 cal.
It was a similar model to the club pistols but with a 6 in barrel which made it somewhat bulky and impossible to carry all the time. But I rarely drove around at night without it, albeit on the floor next to my seat. And I still have it, legally on a collectors licence.
But once again I must mention that I never had a moment where I felt that I may have to use it. Must have just been lucky I guess.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
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Used to think PNG was a bit rough, but after a couple of years living in Mogadishu, and time in Sudan, Congo, Angola and Afghanistan, it seemed a bit tame.
Kept an AK47 in the wardrobe in Moga, and Tokarev TT33 in flight bag always.
Those were the days ....
Muzza
Kept an AK47 in the wardrobe in Moga, and Tokarev TT33 in flight bag always.
Those were the days ....
Muzza
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That was a nice lookin balus chuck why didya lend it to a KIWI ya know theyre alll dickheads
I like your self had a failure in a 185 in PNG.
Was after T/O climbing out of Lumi strong fuel smell and rough running with no throttle response. I dipped the nose down gave a mayday call to Wewak and bugger me there was a strip Anguganak right in front of me.
Just so happened a god botherer 206 was taxying at the same time and saw the whole thing.He helped me push the 185 to the side of the strip and I hitched a ride to Wewak with him.
The FSO was sitting in his chair and got a shock when I walked in and asked him what paperwork would be required on my mayday?
He said "What Mayday? I wondered why you were landing at Anguganak?" ....doh...
Next day the SENIOR BASE pilot said come with me and you can ferry the 185 home there will be nothing wrong with it.
We arrived he hopped in the 185 and bugger me it wouldnt start.
Oh ho be something minor for sure.Off come the cowls and the first thing I see is the fuel injection distributor spider broken off the top of the crankcase.
We flew back to Wewak for an engineer.
Them was the days.
The rubber hose taking the breather oil under the pod was a Cranky Franky Newell TAL mod I think? (waits to get howled down)
Your Bonanza be a nice ship too I recall a fella at Ambunti having one years ago he had a pilot to fly it for him. He was a colllector of artifacts and big time gee-gee punter anyone remember it?
I would prefer the Bonanza to 185 here in Ozzy simply because of the Great Australian F**k All there is to cover on a trip.
A mate is going to build a taildragger Hornet next month it will have a little radial engine it looks real cute .
I like your self had a failure in a 185 in PNG.
Was after T/O climbing out of Lumi strong fuel smell and rough running with no throttle response. I dipped the nose down gave a mayday call to Wewak and bugger me there was a strip Anguganak right in front of me.
Just so happened a god botherer 206 was taxying at the same time and saw the whole thing.He helped me push the 185 to the side of the strip and I hitched a ride to Wewak with him.
The FSO was sitting in his chair and got a shock when I walked in and asked him what paperwork would be required on my mayday?
He said "What Mayday? I wondered why you were landing at Anguganak?" ....doh...
Next day the SENIOR BASE pilot said come with me and you can ferry the 185 home there will be nothing wrong with it.
We arrived he hopped in the 185 and bugger me it wouldnt start.
Oh ho be something minor for sure.Off come the cowls and the first thing I see is the fuel injection distributor spider broken off the top of the crankcase.
We flew back to Wewak for an engineer.
Them was the days.
The rubber hose taking the breather oil under the pod was a Cranky Franky Newell TAL mod I think? (waits to get howled down)
Your Bonanza be a nice ship too I recall a fella at Ambunti having one years ago he had a pilot to fly it for him. He was a colllector of artifacts and big time gee-gee punter anyone remember it?
I would prefer the Bonanza to 185 here in Ozzy simply because of the Great Australian F**k All there is to cover on a trip.
A mate is going to build a taildragger Hornet next month it will have a little radial engine it looks real cute .
Grandpa Aerotart
Yeah...the extra 35-40 kts is good when you're pushing a headwind...probably not THAT much difference in costs actually...I remember the running costs of the 185 and then remember it was 13yrs ago....labour rates and fuel have at least trippled in that time....but in Oz$ terms I pay the same insurance...PNGK4k then and OZ$6K now...just goes to show how expensive insurance in PNG was...even then I'd be surprised if Insurance companies made much of a profit....buying parts was good though when the Kina was worth US$1.05 as opposed to the Oz$ being worth US$0.49 a few years ago when my big expenses with the Bonanza happened...engine overhaul etc. Easy to see why aviation in PNG is nowadays such a marginal proposition when the PNG Kina is worth about US$0.30.
P2-AWM was a 1963 model that had been imported new to PNG by Anglican World Mission. MAF converted her from a C to an F equivalent in the mid 70s. She was the Wilde families first aeroplane before being sold to a cane farmer in Ingham who I bought her from in 1991. I paid him from memory 30k and then had her restored from tailwheel forward. Cracks were found in a cylinder and the crankcase but he did a top overhaul gratis..cost him 11k for two new cylinders and a crankcase...he was not happy but when I pointed out the engine had no more hours on it than before he relented.
With the kina being worth Oz$1.55 at the time the cost of all the work wasn't too painfull and I ended up with the nicest flying 185 I ever flew....despite her 10000hrs TTAF. She flew dead straight...if she'd ever been groundlooped it didn't show anywhere.
This got me thinking a few days ago about how well paid we were at Talair in those days and how aeroplanes have appreciated in such a rush these last 13 yrs...how many Bandit captains could afford to buy a C185 today?
Chuck
P2-AWM was a 1963 model that had been imported new to PNG by Anglican World Mission. MAF converted her from a C to an F equivalent in the mid 70s. She was the Wilde families first aeroplane before being sold to a cane farmer in Ingham who I bought her from in 1991. I paid him from memory 30k and then had her restored from tailwheel forward. Cracks were found in a cylinder and the crankcase but he did a top overhaul gratis..cost him 11k for two new cylinders and a crankcase...he was not happy but when I pointed out the engine had no more hours on it than before he relented.
With the kina being worth Oz$1.55 at the time the cost of all the work wasn't too painfull and I ended up with the nicest flying 185 I ever flew....despite her 10000hrs TTAF. She flew dead straight...if she'd ever been groundlooped it didn't show anywhere.
This got me thinking a few days ago about how well paid we were at Talair in those days and how aeroplanes have appreciated in such a rush these last 13 yrs...how many Bandit captains could afford to buy a C185 today?
Chuck
Talking of Wau and shooting......... Just after the M a c air take over around 1976, one of the ex M a c air pilots was taxiing a Baron at Wau and saw a dog on the strip. Without stopping he pulled out a .357, reached across in front of the passenger in the co-pilot's seat, opened the door, shot the poor pooch then took off!
Don't think he lasted long after that.
Anyone know if GHOC is still alive and where he is? Must be well into his 80s now.
Edited 'cause I forgot the auto censor of the ****** word...
Don't think he lasted long after that.
Anyone know if GHOC is still alive and where he is? Must be well into his 80s now.
Edited 'cause I forgot the auto censor of the ****** word...
Last edited by Torres; 11th Mar 2005 at 23:26.
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Sharpie I am not going to argue the point because of your PNG knowledge and because it's bloody late here. I therefore agree to disagree with you. Like Chuckles, I have never carried a gun since I left PNG, because I have never felt the need...the cops look after me here, and I never felt threatened in a Pub in Singapore, Athens or here after I left POM. Don't know apout the PI. I have never actually LIVED there, but it has gone down a bit since I was last in situ but the burds are certainly more attractive there, than in Kundiawa before or since.
Chuckles I remember that photo being taken in the Dero Club...(The Old Ansett Terminal with the Logo on the wall behind where the Photographer would be standing) I was just to Port of Stuart Thompson, whom I met up with again in AKL in January. Malcolm Wigglesworth (Aka "The Deviate" I see regularly, and who hasn't changed his proclivities since.! The young lad, I can't remember his name. He was a Kiwi though. Good Piccies...I can't remember if the Pic of me and Tommy Emmanuel was before or after the Dero Raid. It was whilst Joanne was in POM, co's we had dinner a cuppla nights later if you recall. Incidentally, he is appearing in "Tommyfest" at the local arts theatre in a few weeks. Thort Maggie and I would go a long and say G'Day again.
The Pic of the 185 where the Intnl. terminal is now. Mate... That IS the Intnl Terminal, and you thought that it was Yorke Mendoza's workshop.! (Check your email.)
Tinpis Nice 185.!! Adastra Aviation eh.? Per Ardua ad Astra...roughly translated as "With a hard on to the skies"
Simbu.... Enjoyed Luncheon in the Dero Club at White Waltham a few days ago. Looked at the Swedish burd behind the bar and thought of you.!!
Chuckles I remember that photo being taken in the Dero Club...(The Old Ansett Terminal with the Logo on the wall behind where the Photographer would be standing) I was just to Port of Stuart Thompson, whom I met up with again in AKL in January. Malcolm Wigglesworth (Aka "The Deviate" I see regularly, and who hasn't changed his proclivities since.! The young lad, I can't remember his name. He was a Kiwi though. Good Piccies...I can't remember if the Pic of me and Tommy Emmanuel was before or after the Dero Raid. It was whilst Joanne was in POM, co's we had dinner a cuppla nights later if you recall. Incidentally, he is appearing in "Tommyfest" at the local arts theatre in a few weeks. Thort Maggie and I would go a long and say G'Day again.
The Pic of the 185 where the Intnl. terminal is now. Mate... That IS the Intnl Terminal, and you thought that it was Yorke Mendoza's workshop.! (Check your email.)
Tinpis Nice 185.!! Adastra Aviation eh.? Per Ardua ad Astra...roughly translated as "With a hard on to the skies"
Simbu.... Enjoyed Luncheon in the Dero Club at White Waltham a few days ago. Looked at the Swedish burd behind the bar and thought of you.!!
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Torres I believe that story can be blamed on "Drunken Duncan"
It was a little before 76 tho
The pilot was sitting in his seat and pulled out a .38 revolver. He placed it on top of the instrument panel, then asked the navigator, "Do you know what I use this for?"
The navigator replied timidly, "No, what's it for?"
The pilot responded, "I use this on navigators who get me lost!"
The navigator proceeded to pull out a .45 and place it on his chart table.
The pilot asked, "What's that for?"
"To be honest sir," the navigator replied, "I'll know we're lost before you will."
It was a little before 76 tho
The pilot was sitting in his seat and pulled out a .38 revolver. He placed it on top of the instrument panel, then asked the navigator, "Do you know what I use this for?"
The navigator replied timidly, "No, what's it for?"
The pilot responded, "I use this on navigators who get me lost!"
The navigator proceeded to pull out a .45 and place it on his chart table.
The pilot asked, "What's that for?"
"To be honest sir," the navigator replied, "I'll know we're lost before you will."
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Geeez, I've had a bit of reading to catch up on here! Doesn't pay to be away from PPRuNe for very long, apparently! Anyway, just thought I'd add to the report on what the ECP coppers are doing these days.
The only story to have made it into the local rags is that they've been hassling the Port Morbid nightclubs for trading beyond the hours of their licences!
Now, I'm not going to go out on a limb here by saying that there's a suggestion of the involvement of some clubs in criminal activities - I'll leave that for others to decide for themselves! However, if that IS the case, it seems more than a little strange that the coppers would choose to tackle such a connection in that way.
Of recent times, I've noted the Oz coppers participating in nightly police roadblocks. Sure, there's a chance that they'll detect a few of the lower-rung crims, but that's all.
All in all, there's a growing perception that the ECP cops are making no difference to the situation here. Maybe they've just figured out that members of the RPNGC are part of the problem, as much as some members of the PNGDF are part of the problem, and have, therefore, already admitted defeat.
It wouldn't surprise me if all the local crim gangs knew about the said "rules of engagement" before the first Oz copper even arrived. I'll leave it to your imagination as to how such valuable information might have leaked out! In any event, the arrival of the Oz cops doesn't seem to have made much difference to the level of criminal activity. 
There is undoubtedly a perception of "us and them" among the RPNGC personnel. The Oz coppers are accommodated in the very best places around the city, at huge cost, while their PNG counterparts live in slums, squatter settlements, aging barracks and condemned buildings. And then there's the difference in the money being paid to the two different types of cops...
I have to wonder how the Oz coppers were briefed before they started work here. I wonder if they were informed of the true magnitude of difficulty that they'd be facing? I wonder if they were told that, for every employed citizen, there's at least 10 more who are unemployed - and that those who ARE employed receive paltry remuneration.
Now, whether or not you believe that their pay is appropriate to their skills, the fact is that the cost of living is very much higher than their wages. Even the food staples - flour and rice - are very expensive here, because all the flour and almost all the rice is imported.
All in all, the Oz coppers face a lot of challenges and I have to wonder what they will ever be able to achieve, if anything. I've had my doubts since the ECP was first mooted and, so far, have seen nothing to give me confidence that any improvement will occur - or last beyond the 5 years of the ECP arrangement.
Hmmm... perhaps I shouldn't have had that last glass of saki...
Anyway, just thought I'd add to the report on what the ECP coppers are doing these days.The only story to have made it into the local rags is that they've been hassling the Port Morbid nightclubs for trading beyond the hours of their licences!
Now, I'm not going to go out on a limb here by saying that there's a suggestion of the involvement of some clubs in criminal activities - I'll leave that for others to decide for themselves! However, if that IS the case, it seems more than a little strange that the coppers would choose to tackle such a connection in that way.Of recent times, I've noted the Oz coppers participating in nightly police roadblocks. Sure, there's a chance that they'll detect a few of the lower-rung crims, but that's all.
All in all, there's a growing perception that the ECP cops are making no difference to the situation here. Maybe they've just figured out that members of the RPNGC are part of the problem, as much as some members of the PNGDF are part of the problem, and have, therefore, already admitted defeat.
It wouldn't surprise me if all the local crim gangs knew about the said "rules of engagement" before the first Oz copper even arrived. I'll leave it to your imagination as to how such valuable information might have leaked out!
In any event, the arrival of the Oz cops doesn't seem to have made much difference to the level of criminal activity. There is undoubtedly a perception of "us and them" among the RPNGC personnel. The Oz coppers are accommodated in the very best places around the city, at huge cost, while their PNG counterparts live in slums, squatter settlements, aging barracks and condemned buildings. And then there's the difference in the money being paid to the two different types of cops...
I have to wonder how the Oz coppers were briefed before they started work here. I wonder if they were informed of the true magnitude of difficulty that they'd be facing? I wonder if they were told that, for every employed citizen, there's at least 10 more who are unemployed - and that those who ARE employed receive paltry remuneration.
Now, whether or not you believe that their pay is appropriate to their skills, the fact is that the cost of living is very much higher than their wages. Even the food staples - flour and rice - are very expensive here, because all the flour and almost all the rice is imported.
All in all, the Oz coppers face a lot of challenges and I have to wonder what they will ever be able to achieve, if anything. I've had my doubts since the ECP was first mooted and, so far, have seen nothing to give me confidence that any improvement will occur - or last beyond the 5 years of the ECP arrangement.
Hmmm... perhaps I shouldn't have had that last glass of saki...
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Dogs at Wau
My mother told a story about a bull dog or maybe a bull terrier at Wau in the early forties. Bastard used to amble across the strip all the time.
The old man was taking off down the hill in his Gypsie moth when Bully appears in front of him.
There's an awful lurch and Charlie manages to get off the ground and proceed to Lae.
After a careful landing he taxied in with a bit of an angle of bank and parked in front of the maintenance hangar.
Undercarriage is a nicely bent but was able to be replaced quickly.
Everyone seemed quite happy knowing that Bully had finally met his fate, as he had caused lots of havoc with swerving aircraft.
The old man did most of the days flights and returned to Wau in the arvo.
Touched down and up popps Bully from a nest on the strip and waddles JUST out of the way... tough old bugger AND they reckoned the cow wasn't even limping.
The old man was taking off down the hill in his Gypsie moth when Bully appears in front of him.
There's an awful lurch and Charlie manages to get off the ground and proceed to Lae.
After a careful landing he taxied in with a bit of an angle of bank and parked in front of the maintenance hangar.
Undercarriage is a nicely bent but was able to be replaced quickly.
Everyone seemed quite happy knowing that Bully had finally met his fate, as he had caused lots of havoc with swerving aircraft.
The old man did most of the days flights and returned to Wau in the arvo.
Touched down and up popps Bully from a nest on the strip and waddles JUST out of the way... tough old bugger AND they reckoned the cow wasn't even limping.
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Sixtiesrelic I take my hat off to your dad floating around the Markham in a moth.
Did you manage to get into Wau in your time there?
Prolly think Im dumb but did DC3 ever go into Wau, Ive been in there plenty but seem to recall it may have been shortish for a 3?
There were 3 ways of tracking Wau to Lae ? via the Markham, the black cat and what was the other?
Did you manage to get into Wau in your time there?
Prolly think Im dumb but did DC3 ever go into Wau, Ive been in there plenty but seem to recall it may have been shortish for a 3?
There were 3 ways of tracking Wau to Lae ? via the Markham, the black cat and what was the other?
Trying to remember what Talair sold the C185's for...........
The B Model Baron sold to a Rabaul timber company for $30,000 or $35,000 I think. The C185's went for between $9,000 and $15,000.
Sounds cheap - but it was around four years wages if ya worked for Junior!
Unless you were flying cash fares, in which case it was about a month's income.
Geeze, reminds me of Cash & Carry Bill.......... He was in Cairns, think he ended up in New Zealand.
Yup, Tinfish. Drunken Duncan was the culprit at Wau! Also, I am sure I remember DC3's at Wau - the slope helps! The Argosy used to go in there as well, although the first one is (or was) still there at the bottom of the strip in the kopi, converted to a boi haus. And before my time, Peter Manser (who died some years ago) demolished the Kwonnas Opis with one of Bobbie's Junkers JU52.
Can't say I ever felt very threatened in my years in PNG (1963 to 1985), although it was definately starting to get rough towards the end.
Peter - how's ya brother Doug? Havn't seen him since Mendi days - must be almost 30 years! Most times I was in Mendi was to convince Ron Neville to part with his cash, six months credit was more than enough!
Anyone know if W-w-w-w-Warwick and Geeves are still there?
The B Model Baron sold to a Rabaul timber company for $30,000 or $35,000 I think. The C185's went for between $9,000 and $15,000.
Sounds cheap - but it was around four years wages if ya worked for Junior!
Unless you were flying cash fares, in which case it was about a month's income.
Geeze, reminds me of Cash & Carry Bill.......... He was in Cairns, think he ended up in New Zealand.
Yup, Tinfish. Drunken Duncan was the culprit at Wau! Also, I am sure I remember DC3's at Wau - the slope helps! The Argosy used to go in there as well, although the first one is (or was) still there at the bottom of the strip in the kopi, converted to a boi haus. And before my time, Peter Manser (who died some years ago) demolished the Kwonnas Opis with one of Bobbie's Junkers JU52.
Can't say I ever felt very threatened in my years in PNG (1963 to 1985), although it was definately starting to get rough towards the end.
Peter - how's ya brother Doug? Havn't seen him since Mendi days - must be almost 30 years! Most times I was in Mendi was to convince Ron Neville to part with his cash, six months credit was more than enough!
Anyone know if W-w-w-w-Warwick and Geeves are still there?
Oi Torres, yu longlong o wanem?
No way an Argosy could ever go into Wau. You are thinking of the Bristol Freighter. Same basic shape, and same dreadful pommie technology (or lack of it), and indeed a demonstrator did end up at the bottom of Wau airstrip (probably long since converted to a boi haus).
If an Argosy ever even tried to fly through that area the noise of 4 screaming Darts would have precipitated the greatest guria of all time, turning the highlands to prairies.
No way an Argosy could ever go into Wau. You are thinking of the Bristol Freighter. Same basic shape, and same dreadful pommie technology (or lack of it), and indeed a demonstrator did end up at the bottom of Wau airstrip (probably long since converted to a boi haus).
If an Argosy ever even tried to fly through that area the noise of 4 screaming Darts would have precipitated the greatest guria of all time, turning the highlands to prairies.
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I seem to recall carting a front end loader bit by bit into Lake Kopiago for Doug in a 185 from Mendi.
I gotta photo someplace of the thing loaded so no daylight coming thru the windows.
That was the very beginning of Mendi motors.
Oi Chuck this Argosy??
I gotta photo someplace of the thing loaded so no daylight coming thru the windows.
That was the very beginning of Mendi motors.
Oi Chuck this Argosy??
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I've landed at Wau in a DC3 on the TAA PWL (remember those bloody flight numbers with letters!!) service - with my wife of 24 hours. Honeymooned at Pine Lodge Hotel, Bulolo when Ferris? was the owner. Top spot.
They were still dragging gold out of the place and BGD gold smelting room would be a security man's nightmare. It was in the middle of Bulolo village (town?) guarded by chicken wire!
They were still dragging gold out of the place and BGD gold smelting room would be a security man's nightmare. It was in the middle of Bulolo village (town?) guarded by chicken wire!