Swamp Ghost
Latest from Trevor Michie's PNG Gossip...
** Swamp Ghost **
The American B-17E warplane that crash-landed in the Agiambo swamps of Oro (Northern) Province will remain at the Lae Bismarck Maritime Wharf pending a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry on the 1st of July. The Internal Revenue Commission will not issue an export permit pending the inquiry. The PAC is responsible for protecting public funds and state properties.
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** Swamp Ghost II **
Bruce Hoy, the first curator of Modern History with the National Museum, says that he received several requests to recover the B-17E aircraft while he was in charge of the museum. One of the proposals he received and passed on to the politicians for consideration was that no money would change hands but rather the B-25 on display at Girua Airport Oro Province was to be restored externally, the Museum's P-38 fully restored, and an L-5 observation aircraft provided. Bruce adds that it was a far better offer than money because money can be so easily squandered on the wrong projects. Unfortunately because politicians get moved around in a typical PNG cabinet this proposal never eventuated.
Bruce says his main concern about selling any "wreck" to a private group of people is that their only object will be to make money out of the deal.