PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok

[Woomera]

Someone suggested a thread where ex PNG geriatrics lapuns could live in the dim distant past.

Where ever ex PNG staff post in Dunnunda, the thread seems to get hijacked with ever more incredible and unbelievable stories, so a dedicated thread sounds like a good idea.

So, grab your SP Brownie and go for it...........

:}

Lukim yu.........

Woomera

[Sir Shags]

Your going to regret this...........

[tinpis]

:p

Ok olgeta lapun man na meri

this is Goroka right what the hell is the balus the lik lik meri standing by?

http://fototime.com/%7B757CC0C2-3740-47AC-82D5-DFE9177F7996%7D/picture.JPG

:p

Numba wan ples for sucking greenies and telling lies

http://fototime.com/%7B6F8026FA-2CFE-46EB-8F46-D5CD40CAD543%7D/picture.JPG

[Torres]

SAAB Safir?? And if it is, the registration will be VH-RHG and owner Bobby Gibbes. (Just a guess - I never saw the aircraft).

And if the guess is correct, pounds to peanuts the lik lik meri's name is either Robin or Julie???

And if the lik lik meri is Robin or Julie, the photo is circa 1959.

Crowley A model Ashtruck in the background. But whose is the DC3/C-47 - is that Ansett-MAL?

Smugglers in Madang? Home of some memorable hang overs.......

:}

[tinpis]

By jove you could be right a Saab saffir.i've had a few memorable trips in the other RHG a twin comm Paddy Gibbes in rear and IFR in the cabin from Bobs cigar....

TAA Sunbird DC3??


Yup Smugglers circa 1976, god the memories and braincells destroyed there..
Who fell in the soda warra off the balcony?.

[Torres]

Then you'll all know this legend....... who looks a tad spak!

http://www.pngaa.net/Photo_Gallery/Photos_Xmas2001/photos/Jean_and_Bobby_Gibbes.JPG

Photo taken Christmas 2001.

:}

Fell off the balcony at the Smugglers - geezus, that could be painful!!

Was the tide in or out?

I know a few who "recycled" they dinner over the balcony........ :yuk:

[Chimbu chuckles]

Ahh yes...Smugglers...met my ex wife there...the place certainly has got a lot to answer for:}

[69s]

Psst ......... Woomera

Masta bilong sampela diwai long spia

Great idea.....lets go for it :O

[Night Watch]

Aaaah P.N.G.... God i miss that place! Just got out of the Sim up here in Hong Kong, and was downing a few quite beers in the Dakota bar, when the subject turned to PNG. It's amazing how when you come across someone who flew in PNG, who you have never met before in your entire life, in a bar on a completely different part of the earth, you inevitably talk about Niugini for hours. Any other conversation that had been going has now been hijacked, as you reminisce about the best flying of your life.

Don't get me wrong..... I love my current job, but will NEVER forget the country that taught me how to fly an aeroplane.

Hope to go back next year for some wreck diving out of Madang!

[Torres]

Night Watch

"God i miss that place!"

Don't know when you left PNG but beware - it probably is now not the place you once lived and worked in.

Gone is the peaceful country and people; gone are the "characters" of aviation that gave much of their flying careers to PNG; gone are the operators, Gibbes, Mandated, Ansett, TAA, Qantas, Patair, STOL, TAL, M@cair, Aerial Tours - and gone is DCA with whom many of us had memorable fights.

It may be better to remember PNG as it was long taim before, than return only to be very disappointed!

But I will agree with you - diving off Madang has not changed! :ok:

[Torres]

Reminds me of a story from thirty odd years ago..........

Many will remember Jack Thick who owned a timber mill in north Goroka - and, with "Poppa" Raasch recovered the JU52 from Wau after Peter Manser tried to demolish the Qantas office - and the legendary Gillies brothers - Les and Merve.

Les went to Jack's timber mill to buy timber. After eying off Jack's sawn timber, Les suggested to Jack he "...take the timber down to TAL at the airport"

"Why is that, Les?"

"Make bloody good props!" :}

Then there was Les and Merve's side kick, Sparrow..... who went head first into the sewage pit at the Goroka butcher's shop! :yuk: Someone suggested his odor was an improvement!

C'mon Animalclub, Hanoi, Sharpie ......... you must have some unbelievably tall stories to add........

[Animalclub]

Smugglers............!!

We had a meeting of mentors at the local Granite Belt high school and met, for the first time in umpteen years, Marcia Bastow. Hale and hearty and only too willing to talk about PNG and the goings on at Smugglers.

How many of you are writing of your experiences? Good and bad. A good idea for a book? Proceeds to charity in PNG? Or am I talking pie in the sky? I'm willing to be on a team and I'm sure we can get Torres, Jan Balan and Hanoi (if that's still GH's handle) to help.

Cheers

[tinpis]

Ok...whos thrown the chairs in...?



http://fototime.com/%7BE89DF61F-2A83-4BD9-955A-C68880E1DDCE%7D/picture.JPG:p

[Torres]

Bugg@ the PNG charity! Whilst books don't make profits - ask Jim Sinclair - any surplus should be applied to subsidise PNG reunions and the Talair reunion! :}

Yup, tinpis, remember the Smugglers well! :yuk: At least the balcony was closer than the toilets!

[tinpis]

Cant for the life of me remember the story does anyone know of the famous (Ben?)
Young go-around at Aseki in an aztruck?

:oh:

[Pinky the pilot]

The one and only time I ever was able to get to Smugglers was on a (non pay) Friday night, somewhere around 10pm back in early March 1992. The bloody joint was empty. :{ I was the only customer and the bar staff were bored stiff!!
If only the walls could speak!:ok:
Night Watch; Check your PMs.

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Had more than a few beers with Pierce Brosnan at Smugglers when he was filming Castaway....they used a Twotter for a wind machine and had a ship 'set' in the old Patair hangar...now Airlink I think.

Rooted my ex misses in the Smugglers pool more than once:}

Remember Ricky Johnson's go pinis party that ended up with him falling into a lava crevice off the verandah...lucky he was really, REALLY pi$$ed...he might have felt it...bet he still has scars..both physical and mental:E

In fact we 'borrowed' a Bandit so we, the Lae contingent could attend said function. Bones was PIC and Marty Yarde and I amused ourselves making paper planes in the back and flying them into the cockpit enroute...after a while that got boring and I noticed a plastic cover in the roof liner...not yet being endorsed I enquired of Marty what it's purpose was..."It's the smoke detector cover for when we fly frieght".......:E Shoulda seen Bones sit bolt upright when the smoke alarm went off in the cockpit... :E

PNG was and always will be the best years of my life...nothing else can come close for comradery, adventure....and sheer, unadulterated group stupidity:ok: :}

[OzExpat]

Can't wait for the day when I finally leave here forever. That's when I'll be able to write my own memoires!


But, heck... who the hell would believe it... :}

Which Rick Johnson was that Chuck? I remember two people of that name - both pilots and, at one time, both worked for the same company. :eek: :D One went into QF... was it him, or the other one? ;)

[Chimbu chuckles]

The QF one...as opposed to the PX but now Korean Airlines one.

[Animalclub]

Anybody remember the TAA catering guy Cec?

He had more red lines (scars) on his bald head than a road map. He had this persistant habit of falling off the verandah, every verandah at the TAA mess, every time he got pi**ed and landing on his head... but he was always there at 4 in the morning for work.

He was carrying some aircraft catering across the Lae tarmac one early morning and got very close to the TAA C185 prop... everyone who saw the incident swore that it was only because he was drunk that he avoided walking into it.

[tinpis]

Heehee speaking of those that were fond of a few does anyone remember Phil the TAL bagsnatcher at Kagamuga?
Phil was in demand as a gents hairdresser.
One was wise to have yer hair cut in the morning before Phil took his lunch-break in the Kagamuga tavern .
You risked losing an ear or three after lunch.


:p

[Animalclub]

Not Phil the Continental Hairdresser that ended up in POM?

[tinpis]

Animal I dont know where he went there was nothing "continental" about Phil yer got a short back and sides but it beat the hausbois efforts.

:}

[OzExpat]

Thanks Chuck, I should've guessed! :D We probably shouldn't have named names here... :eek:

[Animalclub]

I remember the time...

...in the TAA Mess seeing Capt Mal S. poor a beer down the piano when he hit a wrong note (which was frequently) during his rendition of "Yellow Bird"... Capt Guria fall off his bar stool whilst singing about his "Bready Basket" and talking about his "humble opinion"... and Jumbo Dave making the ceiling fans turn the wrong way... many, many times

... when all that was required in getting a PNG driving licence was to reverse the Morobe Police Supt's car from the kitchen door to the bar door at the TAA Mess whilst it was raining!

... when the Lae Manager of TAA had to come around to the Mess at some ungodly hour in the mornings to close the bar! Some inconsiderate people were complaining about the noise.

... when we had to provide names of all attendees at parties in any of the dongas (proved interesting reading at times!)

... when you were told by Mess resident female staff the next morning of the subject of your slide show was the previous night. Blush Blush.

... of the amount of fund raising we did to build that pool at the Mess (and I never got to use it due to transfer to MEL)

... when Lae airstrip was closed and we had to use Nadzab for the DC6B. I think it's the only flight I've had (LAE-NZB) where the taxiing times were longer than the flight time. Where Check-in, ATC, etc. were all under canvas and the bloody DC6B skippers used to love turning so that we received the full benefit of their exhaust!!!

... when it took 2 days to drive LAE - HGU (before Kagamuga was even thought of) and having to be towed by 'dozer over the Kassam Pass.

... of being a Cabin Attendant on a DC3 charter from POM to Minj full of single ladies for the Whagi Valley Ball at the Minj Golf Club. The only time I've seen lady wall flowers. We called all the females ladies in those days! By breakfast time a few of the guys had fallen asleep (how strange) in chairs just a few yards in front of the main doors of the club and a few other guys had bets to see who could miss these guys with a tee shot off the top of a XXXX stubby - also without breaking the bottle. No guys hit and no bottles broken. Beds were palliasses in the local government office so the Capt (Peter C.) and F/O (John B.) decided to go to HGU for a sleep. They forgot to leave the catering stuff behind so we had to clean that on their return - thus running pretty close to last light on the return flight to POM. Who cared - we had the ladies?!

... when I hadn't loaded the barf bags on the last leg from GKA to LAE early on Monday morning. A guy was struggling to keep his weekends drink/food down and all I could find was a clear cellophane chip/crisp bag. It did the job but he wouldn't give it to me to dispose of as his false teeth was in it. I can still smell Buka Meri!!

You can guess I was based mainly in Lae... and all this happened in the mid 1960's.

I'll stop raving now.

Cheers

[troppo]

Any of you blokes spent any/much time on Buka/Bougainville?, and more specifically ever visited a place called Tinputz? Any tips on what it is like? Size wise would it be like Vanimo, Saidor or...Mumeng? :eek:

Cheers!

[Torres]

Tinputz. Unless there has been a population explosion, you can probably count the population on one hand.

Tinpis. That picture of a blaus na lik lik meri long ples balus long Goroka........ Bit of further information: Been carrying on an email dialogue with Cplane as he suggested the SAAB Safir was VH-BHG, not VH-RHG and that VH-BHG was still operating in Victoria:

VH-BHG
Aircraft : SAAB 91C
Serial Number : 91-276
Aircraft Type : Aeroplane, Tricycle-retractable
Max. Takeoff Weight : 1215 kg
Engine : LYCOMING O-435 (Reciprocating)
Number of Engines : 1
Fuel : Gasoline
Certificate of Registration : XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Certificate Holder Address : XXXXXXXXXXX
: NARRE WARREN
: Victoria
Postal Code : 3805
Certificate Category : Normal
Certificate Issue Date : 19-January-1988
First Registr. Date : 10-June-1955
Operational Class : General Aviation

In the end and to settle the arguement, I called Bobby by phone in Sydney, who confirms BHG was his SAAB Safir and the registration was changed from RHG to BHG when he sold it!

Reference here (http://www.fcfk.com/safir/sb91/sb91-sn3.htm) give the registration changes and dates of the aircraft. Even a picture:
http://www.fcfk.com/safir/sb91/images/91276/VH-BHG.jpg

The SAAB 91A had a Gypsy Major engine, but the 91C VH-BHG definately had a Lycoming O-435.

Interesting innit? :}

[tinpis]

I bet Bobby was plucking the buttons out of the seat in that thing on more than one trip !
Stiill old Laurie operated a 172 for years out of Lae (ARK)?

[Torres]

Cplane. What's the logo with Crown on the left hand side, any idea? Bobby's autobiography has a similar logo in it, which is a cross between the RAAF logo with an anchor superimposed. I wonder whether that is the same logo.........??

Tinpis. Laurie had ARK but he also had another weird and wonderful aircraft in the early 50's, but I can't recall what it was! :{ Was it a Curtis Robin???? It was a rather unique "thingie", just as Bobby's Butler Bat was unique.

I should stop this....... This is exactly the same interesting research I started 20 plus years ago ..... which lead to the "Balus" trilogy......

Troppo. I lived on Bougainville 30 years ago. I don't think you can go to Tinputz now ........ unless I guess, you have access to a Cessna Citation..... :} :}

[Animalclub]

In 1998 it was possible to travel by rough road from Buka (after negotiating the Passage!!) to Tinputz.

Expat population was 1 - a building type teacher from Adelaide with Ausaid I think. He even had to build his own house when he got there. He enjoyed R & R in Buka!!!

The Australian Army used to pass through there on irregular occasions... you know, just checking up.

The airstrip was brought up to some sort of Twin Otter standard in 1998, but operations were restricted to when the BRA said it was OK to operate.

Bullets were known to fly around - again, at irregular intervals.

Ausaid people visit to see where our money is spent - enough said on that!

For all that the village type people were very happy to see an expat... now I said that was in 1998. Don't know what it's like now.

If you're going there set out with a mindset that you're going to enjoy it otherwise you'll go troppo easily.

p.s. It was an alcohol free province then - except for the stuff smuggled in from Solomon Islands and POM.

[troppo]

alcohol free province??? wot? no brown bottle? :eek:
tough call!...
thanks for your post

[Cplane]

I believe it has something to do with the Royal family in Sweden, I have blurred memories of that, I'll get the answer tomorrow.

[Torres]

Geeze, Animalclub, what were you doing there in 1998? Not into a Citation charter, I hope? :}

Perhaps someone can help with this one? I found a very brief reference on the internet, to Brian Walker's autobiography simply called "Black Jack". Can't find any reference on where the book may be available.

Now, I've been bored s:mad:tless on more occasions than I care to remember with Blackjack's war stories (not to mention the foul stink of that bloody twist tobacco he used to smoke), but it would be interesting to buy and add the book to my aviation and PNG library.

Anyone know if the book is available and where from?

And talking of Blackjack Walker reminds me of a certain H4 registered Baron, a Cairns - Port Moresby ferry flight, VFR flight plan, the airstrip on Fishman's island and a 44 gallon drum of Avgas.......

Or another Baron ferry flight, storming out on Customs at Daru and having the cops meet him on arrival at Goroka.......

Sad the old fart has gone. There was something unique about Blackjack. Thank God! :}

[PLovett]

Torres

Try a search on this site:

www.booksearchwizard.com

I have found it useful in tracking down out of print books. :ok:

[QSK?]

Torres:Can't find any reference on where the book may be available. Try the Pacific Book House run by the McGraths (ex PNG). They specialise in selling out of print books (including aviation) on PNG. Goto:http://www.pacificbookhouse.com.au/

Cheers QSK?

[tinpis]

:p

Or another Baron ferry flight, storming out on Customs at Daru and having the cops meet him on arrival at Goroka.......

I once flew into Daru from Cairns and had to wait while the police went into town got the Customs agent out of the lock up and brought him to the strip.

Black Jack " VFR" in a pig departing Bankstown for Gove while other IFR traffic unable to get into Bathurst ,Orange etc.
Approaching Charleville getting his mate in FSU to get his "groceries" as hes going straight through to Gove.

:p

[tinpis]

QSK thanks fpr the link have just ordered Balus 3 from them.

[Animalclub]

Torres...

I seem to remember escorting a "Black Jack" around POM airport looking at the locations of various war time buildings etc... I think they were looking at various locations to film a documentary on his life. Is this the same "Black Jack", and what was the name of the documentary?

I seem to remember (old age creeping in) also that diver Bruce Johns(t)on, a GV pilot, went down on "Black Jack's" aircraft (be nice!) that was in the sea off the southern coast of Papua to the east of POM... which also appeared in the documentary.

Please tell me that I'm not confused.

[Torres]

Animal, you must be confused. Don't think Blackjack ever took a dunking. He is Bobby Gibbes old Air Force mate - think he made Group Captain. They were both Court Marshalled for illegally flying grog into Morotai in Spitfires in 1944.

Blackjack went on to be a test pilot for de Havillands in the 50's and 60's, mostly on Canberras. He visited PNG often but don't think he ever worked as a pilot in PNG for any length of time. He had over 130 type endorsements!

He's on the right below.
http://www.aamb.com.au/images/BlackJackDodd.jpg

He had a disgusting habit of rolling the cheapest, most foul smelling Muruk twist tobacco in the PNG Post Courier and lighting up anywhere.........

He was a legend in his own lunch time - a laugh a minute. Never worried about technicalities like an instrument rating or holding a valid license for the country of registration of any aircraft he ferried.

I could tell you some wild stories about Blackjack.......

He fell off the perch maybe 10 years or so ago.

I didn't know he'd written an autobiography until I found a Google reference a few days ago.

Later:
Found Blackjack's war details: Born 1913, enlisted RAAF 1935 made Group Captain, won the DSO.

[Chimbu chuckles]

animalclub,

The aircraft BJ dived on...and I have since too, was the B17 'Blackjack' which ditched off Raba Raba (Cape Vogel/North Coast between Tufi and Gurney) on the way back from bombing Rabaul. It was piloted by a chap who went on to be the very first 'Marlboro Man' and while very old he came to PNG after BJ and 'Bubbles' Pierce found his B17 in 1988ish. The original intention was for him to dive the wreck as part of the doco but it was decided that it was too high a risk, despite him being in remarkable shape for a man his age. The wreck is in excess of 140' down. Thus the film crew filmed BJ sitting in the pilots seat and a still of same was in National Geographic.

BJ is now an F28 Captain at PX and one of my best mates...sadly neither of us dive as much as we used to...still I think we're both lucky to have survived bends free from some of our more adventurous dives in the vicinity of 300' on compressed air:ooh: :E :ok:

[tinpis]

Chuck surprised to learn there are expat F28 pilots at PX.Where they based?

[Chimbu chuckles]

Yeah still a bunch left....based Cairns.

[tinpis]

Oh ...didnt they stop flying them into oz?

[Chimbu chuckles]

Yup...now the CNS based crews deadhead back and forth on the F100s...but for how long you may well ask:ugh:

[Animalclub]

Well who was the guy, with some reference to "Black Jack", that I escorted around Jacksons? He must have been someone of import as I think it was RDB that asked (told) me to do it. Could it have been the pilot of the aircraft that the Simbu man refers?

Simbu... BJ hasn't thought too kindly of me for some years!!

[Torres]

Dunno mate - don't recall that person. I posted a picture of Blackjack above - is that the guy you carted around Jacksons?

I don't think Blackjack visited PNG after the late 70's or very early 80's - too many hassles with Customs, CAA, Police etc ........ :E

[chimbu warrior]

Torres.............ating yu lusim tingting liklik...........it was actually a 260hp GV Islander that Blackjack lobbed in to Daugo with.

The "Blackjack" referred to in the B-17 episode was a US pilot.

The real Blackjack, Brian Walker passed away in 1999.

[Torres]

Chimbu ... so maybe he did the Daugo thing twice?

Perhaps around the early 1980's Blackjack ran short of bang water in eight eigths over POM and peeled off to Daugo. The aircraft was an H4 registered Solair Baron, Cairns - Port Moresby - Kieta - Honiara after overhaul at Archerfield.

As it was a Solair aircraft, he didn't have the GV HF frequency (6.980 Mhz) so called the tower and requested they call GV/POM to send over a drum of fuel.

CAA got involved hoping to "get" Blackjack's PNG license for the final time, however it all got too hard with the aircraft being H4 registered and not being flown on a PNG license.

[tinpis]

Daugo..now there was a nice strip.Why the hell was it there?

:confused:

[Animalclub]

Perhaps somewhere for Taildragger to go?

[Chimbu chuckles]

I think it dates back to the days of the DC4s and 6s doing the run up from Sydney...Daugo was always a viable divert from POM as the weather was always reasonable out at Daugo when truly crap at POM...well it was viable until they closed it in the late 80s.

[poteroo]

Daugo Is was used a lot in the 60's as a training strip away from the alert eyes of the TWR. Saw with mine own eyes some newbies struggling sweatingly with STOL c185's in all the loose coronas. Slow groundloops were verrry spectacular!

Daugo was also the scene of some good STOL/PATAIR weekend bbq's in the same era. Several c185 loads would get ferried out there with supplies, then back about last light. It was a worse job than a football charter!

On one such return flight, the lack of spare seating was resolved by inserting one very pissed pilot into the cargo pod via the aft door.

A dedicated PNG thread? Better do it while everyone is still compus!

happy days,

[tinpis]

Who was designated to get the pissed pilot out of the cargo pod in the event of a ditching?

:}

Yep we was all bloody nuts.

Oh...oh reminds of a charter I did to Manus from Wewak in 402 GKK.
Ok all ready to go wheres the life raft?
Em istap long nose locker masta.
Go or get the arse.

[Animalclub]

Take off from Daugo - you'd be on finals for Ela Beach RSL.

Pissed Pilot? Em i orait!

[Pinky the pilot]

Tinpis; Your post reminded me of several flights I did from Port Morbid out to Kiriwina and back in 402s GKH and SAV.
Life raft?? Life Jackets???
Eh sorri. Nogat!:{ :{
And if memory serves correctly I once did the same route in an Islander. Same deal!!

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Bit like trips I have done between Lae and Kieta...before the Bouganville war...life jackets yes...raft? wotsa raft?

Or an Islander charter from Chimbu-Kieta via Finchafen, Rabaul and Buka....not a jacket to be seen...except under my seat:E

Works well enough while all engines run but lost an engine between Finchafen and West New Britain once in an Islander...we stopped drifting down high enough to fly around Cape Gloucester and stagger along the north coast to Hoskins...3 of 4 magnetos failed within minutes...left me with half an engine...Bongos don't fly good on 1/2 an engine:ugh:

What's that saying about young and dumb and full of cum?

[Alistair]

We did Nadzab to Cairns direct for Christmas one year in P2-KAA with all of NCA's pilots. Don't know about life rafts/jackets but we had plenti too mas spak http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/drunkbuds.gif

http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/drowning.gif

[tinpis]

I accidently stumbled over these (http://www.pngaa.net/Photo_Gallery/Grays_Aviation_PNG/grays_aviation_index.htm)the other day.
Im sure Dennis would want everyone to enjoy them.I was sweating there may of been a photty of a young tinpis but there was an old girlfriend ! :E

Anyone know where Dennis is?

[Feather #3]

Nice shot of -CMY with the fridge-loading swing tail. From memory she was the only C336 of the incumbents which few almost level; the rest being distinctly nose-up in the cruise! [Fixed, I'm told on the C337.]

There was a time when I virtually 'owned' -GKY, but I don't know that I'd rush back to fly a C336 again in a hurry [saw her in PMQ many years later as VH-...think the boys in GKA would have done a better paint job!! :uhoh: ]

G'day ;)

[tinpis]

You can actualyy see the hinges on the engine firewall in the shot of CMY.Dennis has labeled it a 337 it was of course a 336. Unless Im wrong the Talair pilots mess up the hill in the background?

Feather#3 did you "own" GKY in Simbu perchance?

[tinpis]

The original GKE I have never seen a photo of it before only a painting on the Bird of Paralyse wall.

http://fototime.com/%7B03F0F3F9-1CAE-46D1-80B0-66BD54A10258%7D/picture.JPG

[Feather #3]

tinpis , indeed!! :rolleyes:

G'day ;)

[RSO]

Tinpis

The Denis Gray I used to know drove a MG ( I think ) with a surf board stuck in it called Honry! That was about 1965 / 6 on the Sunshine Coast. He used to study his CCA books on the beach.

He went flying and I got transferred to the bush. Have not seen him since but I think he lives near Caboolture.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Wow some history in those piccies...spotted a young Aria Bouraga...now seniority no 1 at PX and what I think was a young James Moresby Birrell.

Some very cute trollies but some of those uniforms...and hats!!!:yuk:

Pity not more names in the people section....bet some of those old and bold captains had some stories!!!

[tinpis]

Chuck youre right there are some LEGENDS there and they managed to perform miracles of aviation with only THREE gold bars!
If you right click on a photo of someone and click "save image as" it will give you the caption of the picture and in most cases the persons name.
RSO thats sounds very much like Dennis he was 733 Capt Ansett before the 89 biff-up.

[Torres]

I was going to comment on that "337" picture. 336 VH-CMY was originally purchased (from memory) by the Ansett Light Aircraft Division (managed by Dick Glass-eye) around 1962. Ansett carried out the conversion to a rear opening door. It was unique - that was the only 336 so converted. Early in it's career after conversion, the rear door became unlatched during flight, really making the pilots day!

The door was subsequently screwed shut and I don't think ever used again?

I last saw CMY at Coolangatta, looking very second hand, maybe 10 or so years ago.

The Dorniers had an interesting career in PNG - Junior got rid of his very rapidly. They were plagued with fuel starvation/vaporisation problems and although fixed in later models, resulted in most of the Dorniers being pranged with loss of life.

Chuck. We don't need reminding of some names! :{

Tinpis. The Bird of Parasite wall was painted by Dennis Faithful, under instructions from Bobby Gibbes when Bobby built, owned (and burnt down) the establishment. I tried unsuccessfully to get Dennis to do the paintings for the dust covers on the Balus series of books.

[tinpis]

Pax patiently wait at Daru customs shed while police retrieve the customs man from the Daru lock-up :rolleyes:


http://www.fototime.com/%7BFA82846E-1610-4C01-993F-AAE90EC7F8DE%7D/picture.JPG


The "Bird" Goroka it was burnt down ?


http://www.fototime.com/%7B7E8365DB-0274-406E-A6CC-DDEC7141F0BE%7D/picture.JPG


Bird patron tries Phil Bennets seat belt bar stool.
http://www.fototime.com/%7BA766BC55-A4A9-4134-A9FB-93976D1396D4%7D/picture.JPG

[Animalclub]

Capt Bouraga flew the inaugural PX F28 flight from KIE to CNS... and had eleven illegal immigrants on board!!! One of 'em was the Premier of Bougainville.

Good job I knew the immigration guy at CNS.

[tinpis]

Animal they were prolly going to collect the money from their rental properties in Cairns :p

What became of the very first local PNG pilot Mincon Penny?


Mincon (http://www.pngaa.net/Photo_Gallery/Grays_Aviation_PNG/Dennis_Gray/People/image70.html)

[leekmas]

Believe it's Minson Peni. Left PX and started a charter with some other blokes but that didn't get off the ground so I think he's in Pom doing some other job.

[Chimbu chuckles]

It certainly did get off the ground...it was called Nationair...Minson and Nat Koleala and a few others....they eventually sold out to Islands Aviation thus becoming Islands Nationair.

[tinpis]

http://fototime.com/%7B696953C8-E572-4057-A583-13B5B0A25128%7D/picture.JPG


The P-38 that was in the swamp off Jacksons?

[Animalclub]

Dennis Gray - you are a star for collecting those early photographs.

Cheers

[tinpis]

Yes many thanks for Dennis Grays efforts.
I was in Madang at the time and if the wall s of the Ansett Madang mess could only talk..........


:}

[robroy]

Apinun Torres,

C336, VH-CMY was converted to a swing rear engine at Rex Aviation, Bankstown. The conversion cost was paid by Ansett.
Whether that was ATI or Ansett MAL, I don't know.

All I know is , that the overtime pay I received doing the Mod. , paid for my entire CPL flying training. From memory it took us about 4 months.

I and 2 other engineers were assigned to the Mod. by Mr. Dave Irons, the Boss of REX at the time. We would work our normal day assembling new Cessna's, 0800 to 1600, then we would go onto overtime to work on CMY. We normally did 4 hours a day/night and come in for 8 hours on the Saturday.

DCA and CESSNA reps. from Wichita were always around checking on progress. From memory, I think Cessna was keen to see if it would be vaible for them to do this ex the factory, as an option.

The latch incident, there were more than one latch, the incident was caused by an incorrect closing of the engine/ latch , sequence, which allowed 1 latch to become free. The swing engine was operated for some time as I found out when I arrived in PNG.

Yes ,the 336 is at OOL, I saw an Ad in the C Mail ,seeking the owner about a year ago, re unpaid parking fees, or something like.

Will be down in that neck of the woods on Wed 8th, will have a look for it and report back.

Apinun wantoks,

robroy

Stand by for, The Ode to Mendi.

I am a slow, 2 finger typer, might take me around an hour.

Apinun

robroy

[Torres]

Robroy

Knew Dave Irons well. I think you will find the mod was paid by Ansett MAL or Ansett Airlines of PNG (can't remember when the amalgamation with MAL occurred), not ATI. Ansett PNG was a separate company, hence their pilots were permanent in PNG and TAA pilots on secondment.

You must be lapun tru!!! :E

[robroy]

WOOMERA,

In a reply to Tinpis, on the 21-10-04, I made the following request.

"A TPNG site, but where, Woomera, your choice.

"Woomera, many thanks.

Sir Shaggy said, "Your going to regret this ", Shags, I think not, I think Woomi has opened a large CAN of fun and memories.

Apinun

robroy

:O ;) :D :cool: :rolleyes: :mad: :{ :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok:

[robroy]

THE ODE TO MENDI

by John Morxxx & Norm Bramxxx

With restricted throat and tongue all dry,
I sit in my balus, trying not to cry,
For "Wahgi Bill"decreed that I,
Must have my stay in Mendi.

I strap that balus tight and fast,
And head up through that awesome pass.
With a twenty knotter up my arse,
I arrive at Mendi.

I taxy close to the freight shed door,
Mendi, has me in its grip of frightful awe.
Shaking right to the core.
That's how you feel at Mendi.

I'm off to Erave, my load is on,
Oh Lord save me from Coecon.
'cause invariably there's something on,
That's not from "Gov. Stores" Mendi.

Take five bags of coffee, de la Cruz would say.
But unfortunately Coecon won't pay.
Thank Christ I have the last say,
Of what cargo goes to Mendi.

The Company say's, that nothing should excite us,
But as I stare at the House Hepatitis,
I fear the woes of the world have come to blight us.
Ptomaine is rife in Mendi.

Lake Kutubu is wide and deep,
It's trade store prices are far from cheap.
But what do you expect when it's run by a creep,
Who resides in Mendi.

Now "Potsie", he knew the art,
In Neville's fat face he would fart.
He could read him like a mercator chart.
He savvied the jazz in Mendi.

Now Neville's heart is filled with sorrow,
çause of the "äntics" of one Paul Morrow.
Money he will have to borrow,
To pay for aborts on Mendi.

But now our problems are teeny weeny,
As we've been saved by "Fearless Feeney".
For the "Öptic" thought he'd like to scenery,
For two months stay in Mendi.

Though he threw his "blooming" bacon,
Our hearts for him are slightly "aching".
For in the haus cockroach he'll be awakening,
Each foggy morn in Mendi.

But when two months have finally past,
Back into Mendi we'll be cast.
We only hope that this won't last,
Bedlem in Mendi.

Now Neilson said to Glassey,
To Mendi I'll take my lassie.
We all think she must be pretty "sasssy",
For him to want to live in Mendi.

Down to the Mendi Valley Club I went,
My feelings low and my head is bent.
For Skinner, a pass across the park he sent,
That's all you get in Mendi.

Now Mendi may open to DC.3's,
Then we'll land our Cessna's there with ease.
And the twenty knotter afternoon breeze,
Won't worry us at Mendi.

Though Dave Marsh hopes it will open,
The company are sincerely hopeing.
The Twin Otter will do it's lopeing,
Downwind there at Mendi.

Though if Twin Otters and DC.3's,
Can land at Mendi with seeming ease.
We're sure "Gov. Stores" will be so pleased,
Goodbye, to Cessna's, Mendi.





I had the honour and pleasure of F/O ing, for the late Captain Paul Morrow on DC.3's and F-27's around PNG. He taught me a lot and I learn't a lot, just watching him.


I have some more PNG songs and poems about PNG, would you all like me to post them ?

Cheers

robroy

[Chimbu chuckles]

Em nau masta...yu mus kisim dispela tok tok bilong ol i kamap 60 60...hamamas bilong mipela bai kamap moa moa yet long harim dispela sumting...bloodywitepuk:} :ok:

Sumpela bloodywitepuk husat i stap long dispela tok tok ol i stap long PNG long taim bilong mi olsem...ol i kalim bloodywite lapunpuk Feeney.:E

Dispela lapunbloodywitepuk i stap long kalub balus long mosbe na tok PLANTI pekpek bilong bulmakau long algeta tete.

Na emi oraite...mipela liakim dispela USELESS bloodywite lapunpuk...hart bilong em i stap long gupela ples.:E

Na olsem Potsie..emi narapela man husat I stap yet long PeeNGee.:ok:

Chuckling Chimbu :}

EDIT: After several PMs asking for a translation of the above I hereby comply....for the less literate:}

Yes please Robroy (all white men were called masta)...you must put these poems/song on here quickly. We'll all be very, very happy to hear/read it....bloodywitepuk (self explanitory Chuckism taken from the popular style of verbal attack from drunken coo...locals)

Some of the (self explanitory Chuckism) in the song were still in PNG in my time. His name was (self explanitory Chuckism) Feeney!

This (SECism) was in the Port Morsby Aeroclub talking unending BS every day.

But he was alright...we like this USELESS (SECism) His heart was in the right place.

And Pottsie as well...he's another fella who is still in PNG!

And for those who still can't work out what the SECism is...Bloody white f'wit was a fairly common epithet from the Natives...along with BLURYCUNYU!! You bloody C***

Ah such pleasant memories:} particularly when the screamed epithet was closely followed by the sharp crack of a pistol round as it was diispatched close over their fuzzy wuzzyness:E

[robroy]

It's 30 years since I and the Grievance Committee, left PNG.

I had to get out , Father F. Mihalic SVD. book, An Introduction to New Guinea Pidgin, to get the finer points of your most elequent post.

However, I got the savvy that you would like some more of the stuff I have.

I didn't write any of the poems and songs that I will post and I hope every one, either remembers singing them or reciting them years ago at the, Aero Club, Yacht Club, Boroko RSL, where ever.

Mike Fee*** and I were based in Rabaul together, had heaps of laughs over many greenies, I believe he is back in NZ.

How about " Once a jolly Chimbu " next, but not tonight, me sparkim lik lik, tru.

Cheers


robroy

[robroy]

Changed my mind.

To the tune of "Bless Em All "

Written by QF Traffic Officers, in the Lae Mess.

Charlie "Q "

Oh , they say there's a Beaver just leaving the south,
Bound for the New Guinea shore,
Expected to do all the things that they did in Dragons and Drovers before,
There's many a frightened F/O in his seat, a frightened C.P. looking on,
But it's goodbye to the Drover, you've got to move over,
Or stay in the right seat for sure.

Chorus.

Charlie Q, Charlie Q,
Where the hell did I ever cross you,
I've cursed operations, the man with the plan,
But why did you leave me with only one fan.
Oh I know I'm the first of the few,
And I'm quite sure that one will not do,
I'd rather look over, the nose of a Drover, when one goes, your still left with two .

They gave us a manual to study and read, oh what a tale it tells,
Of fires and failures and ditchings and such, I think the bloody thing smells,
Just think of the Wampit, the Wau and the Snake, throw in a Memyamya as well,
I don't give one iota, I prefer a Tri - motor,
You can damn all your Beavers to hell.

Chorus.

Charlie Q, etc.

The Pilots decided they weren't paid enough, so they went to the courts recently,
Lawers, Barristers, Judges and such and when it was over they didn't get much,
So the company has had the last say, the Beaver is still on it's way,
So God help the boys, when they run out of noise, ' cause to walk, it's a BLOODY , LONG WAY.

Chorus

Charlie Q, etc


Cheers

robroy






.

[tinpis]

Ordered Balus 2 from http://www.pacificbookhouse.com.au/

It arrived yesterday and is in mint condition.
Thank you QSK.
Boy did Junior really do all that stuff..? :}

[QSK?]

tinpis:

check ya PMs!

[Torres]

Geeze, Mendi. The memories flood back........ The Clive Steele Club, Coecon, Ron Neville (RIP), Bernie's fish & chip shop...... :ok:

Pinky asked me where he can get copies of the Balus books. I found a site here (http://www.biblioz.com/main.php) which is advertising the Balus series, but they aren't cheap.

[tinpis]

Torres

Balus II cost me $70 from Pacific books .

I have had a few chuckles so far especialy Junior in London with Bryan G trying to buy malarial tours from immaculatley suited London city types
Talk about the original Bazza McKenzie.
:}

I am a foundation member of the "new" (1971) Mendi Valley Club.
I helped pour the foundations.
The Haus hepatitus is a term I havent heard for a while.
Acts of aviation cunning and bravery in Mendi , taking off in a Porter and turning right to climb out thru the quarry.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Robroy....tis 5 years since I left the land of the unexpected...and I'm not as fluent as I once was. Surely words like Lapun bloody wite puk are pretty easy? Olgeta tete = every day. Na can be and or but. 60 60 is 'very fast' or quickly. Pek pek bilong bulmakau is BS...:)

Feeney was the boss of PNG Accident Investigation and we spent many an hour drinking SP, all he ever drank was white wine:yuk:, together at the Moresby Dero. Also spent some time together pulling bodies from a wrecked C185:(

Pottsie was with Talair and then a partner in North Coast Aviation...and still is as far as I'm aware...with Mike Tse, Chris Miles and Geoff Thiele.

Mendi was always fun....sometimes the Tari Gap not so...flew through it every thing from 185s to Dash 7s and everything in the Talair 'stable'...wonderfull memories.

[Torres]

tinpis. The story about Junior and Bryan in London is accurate, but there's more to the story. Bryan wanted Aerial Tours at any price. Junior only wanted the assets at the lowest price as he was concerned with any undisclosed liabilities if he bought the company. Junior didn't think the assets were worth much and I'm inclined to agree with him on that. Mostly old, high time aircraft, very much a mixed bag fleet.

Talair wasn't too flush in brass at the time due to no air fare increases, Bryan's purchase of the first ICL computer ($200,000) and the three new Islanders. Bryan wanted to borrow brass, Junior wanted to limit his borrowings to preserve his debt to equity ratio.

What you read was really Junior's way of pulling out of a deal which in his mind was overpriced - and sticking it into a few Pommy suits.

I also suspect even at that early time, that negotiations may have been underway between Aerial Tours and PX, which lead to a coup for Biscuit Ears when he sold the airline and kept the staff accomodation etc., a fact PX were not aware of until it was too late.

History records PX eventually got out of that deal by putting Aerial Tours/Douglas Airways into Receivership.

[Animalclub]

Simbu man... Last saw Mike Feeney when he was with MBA (Airlines of PNG) along side Tim G and Ken M. And the times we had at the Airways... no, don't go there.

Pottsie took over from me at Talair Tabubil... now that was an event!!

[Pinky the pilot]

Once again, after reading some of the preceding posts it has in no uncertain terms been brought home to this sad individual:{ that I got to the land of the unexpected far, far too late and missed out on all the fun/mayhem (organised or not) and general really good times!:{ :{ :{ :{ :( :sad: :sad:
Life's a bitch, then you marry one, then you die!
Ah what the ****, there's always another good bottle of red around!
Thanks for the translation Chuckles. :ok:

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[OzExpat]

I wonder what future generations will say in a topic like this, when discussing "those old ECP days"? :}

[Animalclub]

I have to ask...

Wonem ECP?

[tinpis]

:rolleyes:

Extra Careful Pilots ?

[OzExpat]

Extra Careful People, more like! But, no, I refer to the Enhanced Cooperation Program which, thru the courtesy of the Oz taxpayer, is progressively putting Aussie Federal cops on the beat with their PNG counterparts. The whole program is planned to run for 5 years and will ultimately involve all major centres in the country.

If they think that Port Morbid is bad, just wait until they get to Mendi!!! :eek:

We might all havta be a bit extra careful now that the real cops have arrived! :}

[Animalclub]

OzExpat ... were you in Pt Moresby when they did a trial run on the breathaliser?

When they put the bag on you, you were given a number which was then printed in the Post-Courier with the indication of Al K. Hol in your system.

The locals loved this so much that it became a competition to see who could get the highest number!!!! Even bet money on the outcome!!!

[poteroo]

There have been some side-splitting stories come out of PNG regards booze and it's effect on the national nervous system.

I was a young didiman working in Madang Dustrict from 1961 to 1963, and witnessed - first hand - the first day of legal drinking at the old Madang Hotel. Think it was in Nov 63?

Anyway, they all lined up at the bar, had a few SP or GB starters, then proceeded to polish off the top shelf stuff - a shot of each!

Left to right, or right to left, it mattered not! They were absolutely smashed within an hour.

Then came the fun part. You have never, ever, seen the like of the performance as the intrepid lads attempted to mount their wiliwils. They were in the barets, thru the hedges and guts up on the rough coronas roads of that era. What a circus!!!

The local polis wagon was on hand, and they all gained a free ride home. It was all done without malice - nobody was locked up - just big grins! They passed out so fast that there wasn't time to fight anyone.

It was a great time to be up there.

happy days,

[OzExpat]

Animalclub, I've been here since 1984... :eek: :E

RV6-VNE... you said...
The local polis wagon was on hand, and they all gained a free ride home. It was all done without malice - nobody was locked up - just big grins! They passed out so fast that there wasn't time to fight anyone.
Trust me when I say that some things really HAVE changed! But only as regards the fights! :eek: :}

[tinpis]

God if we hadda been booked for driving "wounded" in the olden days , I would be just eligible for parole about now.

:p

[Sharpie]

Mike Feeney whom I first met many years ago after a 'dog fight' over Ngarawhahia, is certainly in NZ. Worked for a few years in Wanganui and is now back in Wellington with CAA(again).

I recall another PNG character(still there) telling me that one day(somewhere in Oz) he was cropping in a FU24-225, when he noticed an aircraft shadow which was not his. Quickly looking on 'tother side, he found a FU24 wing tucked in very close and the Feen's smiling face grinning away!

Once a Jolly Chinbu was composed by a Kiwi working for Chansett Airlines of PNG and sung in the Gateway Restaurant many many times during the late 60's - early 70's.
Later on, this lad went on to fame as the 'Woolworths Bomber' and after his release, went back to NZ.

What about Cassius. A really great bloke with the girls? and if I
recall correctly received 'Cassius' after 'dropping' his bird into the gutter outside the Lae Club with a straight right to the jaw!

:hmm:

Any ex Ansett - MAL crew out there recall the Mt Hagen based P166B undergoing 100 hourly in GKA when the gingerbeards found the belly skin quite rippled and gravel worn.

It was believed that such damage could only be caused by overshooting from a wheels-up touchdown. (Where? Mendi, Ialibu, Kopiago, Wapenamunda?)

Then of course there was a Patair hero who did actually land a Pig with the gear up at Bereina. After digging three holes, it was the intention of lowering the gear and getting a gang of local troops to pull the aircraft out.

If the lad had used the alternate pump and gradually let the gear down to check the hole sizes first, he may have achieved his object. But I think that the gear was lowered under hydraulic pressure whereby the wheels jammed.

[Torres]

RV6-VNE. I was in Port Moresby and remember when the locals first got drinking rights! Their drinking hole was "The Snake Pit" under the bottom pub.

At closing time the steel shutters were lowered (later welded in the closed position and holes cut to pass a drink through) and the fire hoses turned on! :ok:

Mention of tunes - anyone remember "You'll come a kaikai the buai with me" sung to Waltzing Matilda? That must have been late 60's and was very popular at the time.

Sharpie, here's one incident you may remember - I don't recall the details now. Shortly after the Gateway was built (either in the late Patair days or early Ansett ownership days) there was a debate between the Gateway manager and another patron regarding their cars. From memory one of the vehicles was an E Type Jaguar?

The arguement was settled around mid night with a drag down the runway at Jacksons. Caused a stir at the time.

[Animalclub]

Am trying to think of the Woolworth Bombers name... he used to sing "Kai Kai the Buai" at the Gateway in Pt Moresby - downstairs... some German name of the restaurant/nightclub.... Weinkellar??

He recorded a tape with such titles as "Streets of Mt Hagen" to the tune of Streets of Toledo, and other take-offs (excuse the pun in an aviation forum). Can't buy it now.

[QSK?]

RV6-VNE:

Check your PMs

[Torres]

Great minds think alike, Animalclub. I think it was the Weinkeller or something similar. It was under the front verandah at the Gateway.

Google comes up with:
January 13, 1981 - In Australia, the Woolworths bomber is caught in trap (http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/years/1981main.htm) - but no name.

[chimbu warrior]

I thought it was L#rry D#niels or something like that.........

[tinpis]

He recorded a tape with such titles as "Streets of Mt Hagen" to the tune of Streets of Toledo,

Streets of Laredo

Jo Bamber used to do a rendition "The Streets of Chuave"
".....I met a young Chimbu all dressed in arse grass...."

Something like that.

The WasteGate boozer was a baaaad place.

[Torres]

Bingo! :ok: Chimbu Warrior has the correct name!

[robroy]

I have already posted, " The Ode to Mendi " and " Charlie Q ", I have the words to, " Once a jolly Chimbu " , got to find them, please give me around 24 hours, I will have to go through the cartons marked, PNG, memories, assorted gutpella, wantoks, etc, etc.

Cheers,

Once a jolly chimbu, down by the Markham Bridge,
Under the shade of a betel nut tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited for a Puk Puk now ,
You'll come a kaikai the buai with me.

Cheers


robroy

[Pinky the pilot]

Speaking of songs; I remember my Chief Pilot from my Dz days singing 'Six hours to go' to the tune of the old C&W song
'Six days on the road'
Ozmate; What's the chance of you contacting AY and asking him to supply the words? I told him ages ago that I'd like him to write them down for me. He sang the song at my wedding in PNG back in 1990 and when he reached the last verse with the words
"....if you crash it do it right
as you crawl from the wreckage set it alight,
and the boss will buy you a beer and tell you
that you're all right"
Dennis Douglas gave the thumbs up sign!!
It brought the house down!!!!!!

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[robroy]

Torres, close,

Chimbu W, are you near a tree, also wantok, close.

L@rry D@nielson, the Woolies man, after a term in a NSW accommodation facility, he was sent back to nz, visa cancelled and never to re enter Oz.

robroy

[30/30 Green Light]

Torres you are indeed right,the bar underneath the Gateway was called the Weinkeller.Tinpis,I guess it depends on your point of view as to whether it was a Baaaaad place.I lived "klostu" in the late 70's/early 80's and spent a number of great evenings there (I think!!)Who remembers the Balus Bar at the old International terminal?As I recall that was a bad place!Or the 80's Saturday night discos at the POM Yachtie:) :ok:

[tinpis]

Is the WasteGate still there?In 1970 it was full on with transitting workers heading for the big Bougainville mine project (har har) a few vietnam victims so it was pretty wild at times. Sharpie and others held court in the lower bar.I recall a beer bar on the roof was there a pool?
There was a night club closer to town everyone hung out in cant for the life of me remember the name but pretty sure was an upstairs joint. One had to be very wary of the dreaded beer goggles there.:sad:
Malarial tours pilots were always friendly and provided the odd crash pad in their "mess"
Had a fair bit of time on 185's them days nearly got hired by Stol but was whisked away by Daphne Johnson to Mt Hagen and placed under the watchful eye of Von Helly.(I know ziss vether ! )
First flight I did was looking for a Baron at Nomad River. Square search for 3 hours then a square search for Nomad River! Sadly the Baron was a CFIT with the loss of 6 pob I think, hit a hill wasnt marked (remember the "unreliable data" on the WAC charts?) .
Quite few more of those flights were to come. :(

[prospector]

Any of you old New Guinea hands remember a John Bishop attempting to pass through the territory? Would have been early 70's, spent longer there than planned due to a bit of freight being found that was not on the ferry flight manifest.

Prospector

[Animalclub]

tinpis ... it was the Golden Shovel at the Comworks Mess at 4 mile (Boroko)... named after the Golden Spade at the Chevron Hotel, Kings Cross night club. A good spot.

In the 80's they built a night club at the Boroko Hotel (I got married there in 1965 when it was THE hotel of POM!!).

[robroy]

It has been just over 30 years since, the Grievance Committee and I left PNG, when it was a great place to live.

My Pidgin is a bit rusty and I have not been able to find my book of, PNG Wantoks, songs, and whatnames.

I will do my best, from memory and please, if you see a mistake, please let me know, so that we can get it right.

" Once a jolly Chimbu " , to the tune of "Waltzing Matilda "

Once a jolly Chimbu, down by the Markham Bridge,
under the shade of a betel nut tree
and he sang as he watched and waited for a puk puk now,
you'll come a kaikai the buai with me.

Chorus.

Kaikai the buai, kaikai the buai
you'll come a kai kai the buai with me
and he sang as he watched and waited for a puk puk now
You'll come a kai kai the baui with me

Down came a puk puk underneath the Markham bridge,
Up jumped the chimbu and grabbed him with glee
and he sang as his shoved that puk puk in his kai kai bag,
You'll come a kai kai the buai with me.

Chorus

Down came a Kiap riding on his wilwil,
down the Polis Bou's, wanpela, tupela, tri,
bilong huset that puk puk you've got in your kai kai bag,
you'll come a kaikai the buai with me

Chorus.

Up jumped the Chimbu and sprang into the Markham river,
you'll never catch mi alive said he,
and his dewel may be heard,
as you walkem past the Markham Bridge,
You'll Come A Kaikai the Baui with me.

Chorus.

Cheers,

robroy

[Taildragger]

Animal Club ..... I was there when the Uni in PNG did the breathalyser bit. Publishing it in the Poskuria was a baaaaaaaad move 'cos it only encouraged a "competitive" atmosphere, and there were some results that were impossible since they indicated death, or at the very least they were comatose.!!
I got stopped once on my way home from the dero, and was merely double the Aussie limit as there was no limit in PNG.
Threy had a Cop there but only to stop the vehicles at4 miles, since no Whitepuk was game enough to stop at a Red Light after dark.!!

Mike Feeney ... Could set your watch by him bursting into song (Usually Men of Harlech) at 1900 in the Temple after a flagon of white had been consumed. When Chimbu Chuckles and I had a Bingle in a C185, he was waiting for us to arrive back at the Temple, towing the said 185 along the Moitaka road, tail wheel on the back of a Police Ute, and was already into several Wines on the outside deck with Alan Craigie. After Instructing us to first call our wives (It had been on TV) he then instructed us to get a beer.
THEN the investigation began. "What happened.??" We told him. "Silly Bastards". End of investigation.!!

[Torres]

How vague memories return.........

Animalclub. Do you recall a hole in the wall bar at the Boroka Hotel? Vague recollections..........

Robroy. Markham Bridge - gone. Washed away in a flood some months ago. Think there's a temporary bridge further up stream.

30/30 Green light. The Weinkellar Bar used to have a great lunch.

Prospector. Don't remember a John Bishop, but most of us knew about a Ronald Biggs! :}

[OzExpat]

Huh? That's strange. :confused: I could've worn that the Pos Guria reported, some time ago, that the new Markham Bridge had been finished and, initially, only open to light traffic.

Perhaps I'd make a lousy witness in Court after all... :eek:

[poteroo]

Ozexpat

Did Cec Randalls' Crowley Aztec ever get found? VH-CS?

Went missing between Wasu and Kabwum about 1969....... and there was wide industry speculation about Biggsie travelling o/s via Aztec around that time also.

Cec was CP of STOL in 68, and did my Aztec endorsement there. He fitted into the Aztec OK. Remember that he hated 185's - probably the space limits!!

happy days,

[tinpis]

They never found Cec or the Aztruck.
His wife was still in Lae in 73.
I was on the search for for the 206 in Lae 73 with the Smiths on board.It was in the same area Cec went missing and the air search failed to find them.
The wreckage was found by a local hunter.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Were they the ones who had avoided contact with the 'canibals/headhunters' to the point where they died of exposure?

I heard this happened in the Kabwum Valley in the 70s...very sad if true.

[tinpis]

Chuck, yes both had survived the impact.
The passenger died soon after and the pilot walked off. His body was found some distance from the wreck in kunai grass at high altitude days after the air search was called off.
His tracks indicated he had avoided contact with villages, perhaps concussed. Would have been dogs barking etc.
I spoke to them both in Lae before they took off, admiring the pilots new camera.
If you ever thought a fixed wing aircraft couldnt be operated like a helicopter a ride with Sypho in the Porter on that search would have proved you wrong.
:ooh:
Very sad.
Dec.1973.

[Torres]

Chuck, I suspect the part about avoiding the cannibals may have been a myth - indeed, there is/was no way of proving it.

The other theory was that the surviving Smith, badly concussed, exhausted and starving, had simply wanders aimlessly until he eventually died of starvation and exposure. I seem to recall the prang happened around 9,000 ft.

They were way off track and the theory was they may have diverted to look at a crashed bomber. Had they stuck to their flight plan, they may have been found during the initial air search.

It's like the Ronald Biggs theories - and I've heard quite a few. Truth is Biggs never revealed how he got from Melbourne to South America, so no one will ever prove if Cec Randall and the Crowley Aztec were involved.

Who will ever know?

[john_tullamarine]

Ah .. Cec R ... my initial PPL instructor in the mid 60s at RACNSW. Interesting first solo takeoff as no-one had briefed me on the effect of a significant change in lateral balance on the Victa's handling .....

I thought him a good instructor, though .. we all got off first solo in only a few hours flight time through his judicious use of a rolled up newspaper attention getter ....

[Sharpie]

Larry was the name he used outside NZ, but I can not recall his christened name. I think that he was involved in some funny insurance claim after a trucking business burnt down. Maybe that is why he operated under Larry in PNG.

The E-type I think may have been 'Yellow" and owned operated by a well known builder of repute called Biscuit ears! Though there were a couple of Lamborgini's around at the same time, one owned by a restauranteer of east Boroko and 'tother by a twin engaged in engineering near posguria.

What about the hero who after a long night in the "Little Khan" took a young lady back to his office at 230am to study insurance policies.

Ended up in the real deep stuff when a few days later she cried rape. As a result his wife left him and he decided to get revenge by getting a contract taken out on her.

Real smart our hero, he paid the deposit by traveller's cheque and the Qld coppers nabbed the would be hit-man (sub contracted by the original hit-man) who went to the wrong house.

The end result of all this was our hero was put in Bomana and later managed to swallow a large amount of anti-malarial pills. Exit one heroic Darwin Award nominee.

[tinpis]

Sharpie excellent !
The Little Khan was the name of the joint I was trying to remember.

[Torres]

Brilliant memory, Sharpie! I'll be ....... I didn't realise Buscuit Ears owned that Jag!!!

I'd forgotten all about the Insurance Agent business. That must have been 30 to 35 years ago.

Last I heard both twins were still there, including the one with an auto repair business on Lawes Road, remisicent of Steptoe & Sons junk yard.......

[tinpis]

prospector

Any of you old New Guinea hands remember a John Bishop attempting to pass through the territory? Would have been early 70's, s

I think I knew him what happened?

Oh cars in PNG coulda bought a brand new Falcon GTHO phase III for about $5500 :{

Dennis Mann had one in Mendi no where to drive it but the airstrip!

[Sharpie]

Yeah! I think that I once read that there are three positive sign of the onset of Alzhiemer's disease.
The first one is memory loss and I'm buggered if I can think of the other two!

A really fantastic festive season and a wonderful New Year to you all.

Looie.

[Sharpie]

Ha! Tinpis. Reminds me of canned Tuna 777 in tomato, brine or natural.

But more so, reminds me of a fellow Kiwi of PNG note who was in the real estate game and had 'BAN 777" as personalized number plates on his Mazda 929(car still in POM).

THe PNG IRC Post Box # is 777 Port Moresby.

[Animalclub]

Had a funny incident the day after I got married in POM in 1980. My wife of a few hours visited Dept of Immigration at Waigani to change all her paperwork etc.

She came home crying saying that an Immigration Officer wouldn't return her passport...(my wife was Latvian and had breen brought up to fear Officialdom - until she met me!!)

Meanwhile I had received a telephone call from this Immigration Officer, who I knew from working at the airport, telling me that a woman had visited him masquerading as my wife (the guy knew that I was single - then). I put him right.

And my wife put me right in no uncertain terms!!!

There wasn't much to laugh about in Immigration in those days as we all know, but at least they got a laugh that day.

[tinpis]

Er....Animalclub didnt you get married in the Papuan Hotel in 1965??:}

[Animalclub]

tinpis... close, but no... but I did get married at the United Church Boroko and played up afterwards at the Boroko Hotel - when it was a good hotel.

I reckon I must be one of the few guys to get married twice in POM... 1965 and 1980!!

The Papua Hotel, before HB, was a great hotel for dinner. Silver service, the works.

[tinpis]

Animal thank you . Probably were the only bloke to get married twice in PNG, there sure was a fair bit of WIFE swapping.
;)

[OzExpat]

And wife STEALING too tinpis. That particular activity used to be very common up until at least the early 80s.

[tinpis]

Who in Gods name would STEAL one Oz?

[OzExpat]

tinpis... The answer to your question is :- anyone who is partial to silver bellies / white pointers! :E Of the instances that I can recall, the one that springs most readily to mind involved a "thief" in PX - I'm sure that Sharpie will know who I'm alluding to... :D

[tinpis]

Oz not one those blighters from Aotearoa?

:} :E :ooh:

[Sharpie]

Ozexpat, I'm afraid that I need a little more information to decifer whatever you are alluding at.

I certainly never borrowed one let alone steal one.

[Sharpie]

Who remembers Dunko's Diner situated on the corner of Boroko's Taurama Road and Chinsurah Street. A Mobile Pie Cart that served friendly food at ungodly hours of the morn to weary crew meanderig their way home from the Dero Klub, the Jet Bar, Club Bar, Little White Bull, Little Khan or wherever!

Well, who remembers the time a weary young Chansett pilot weaving his way home, stopped at Dunko's, pulled out his Chansett ID, informing th poor Sepik lad Cook that he was from the Department of Health and closed the show down for health reasons.

The irate expat owner sought the 'Health Inspector's ID' for many many days but to this day, to be Frank, he was never found out.

[Torres]

Shoulda sent him to Bernies Fish Shop, Mendi. That place was different. :E

I remember Dunko's Diner. Great place to grab a pie, to soak up the p!ss, before taking on the challenge of Three Mile Hill after a heavy night at the Comworks Club.......... :}

Geeze, you're old Sharpie!!! := Is ya Bro still at Mendi?

[tinpis]

The aforementioned AN pilot went on from Health Inspector to a rather good Monsignor role and once had everyone in a resturant kissing his ring.
Sadly passed away I believe.
Was Dunkos the pie cart run by DCA chap using victuals kindly donated from the DCA mess ?:rolleyes:

Who remembers the Moreby ATCO and his hottsy girlfriends lovemaking that kept the whole accommodation block awake nights.
Some wag recorded them hard at it one night and bunged it on the Moresby ATIS first thing in the morning.

"Moresby information alpha...
P***r ! P***r ! f**k me! f**k me !...OO! ..OH !! oh...oh..oh..ooo "

[mutiny]

Ah, the DCA Mess :mad:

If the "victuals kindly donated by the DCA Mess" were anything like the victuals served by the Mess in the late 1960's :yuk: then I don't think Dunkos would have had too many customers!!!!

mutiny

[Howard Hughes]

Now where is that key?

Cheers, HH.

:ok:

[OzExpat]

Oops, sorry Sharpie, I never intended to imply that it was you. Maybe a suitable hint would be "Diwai"?

[robroy]

Before the bishop arrived in POM, he was based in Rabaul.

One night he was having dinner with young lass at the Kuhlar Lodge ( cannot remember how "Kuhlar" was spelt, but sounds the same ). Anyhow he ordered a bottle of red wine, the wine was delivered to the table by the drinks boi already opened and with no CORK.

One of the senior F/O's was also having dinner there and saw and heard the lecture the drinks guy received.

Well "Corky ", went to town, about, selection, age , type, etc, etc , then demanded the CORK be brought to the table immediately.

The CORK arrived at the table poste haste, where upon CORKY continued to display his great lack of knowledge of wines.

The drinks boi had grabbed any CORK, the nearest Cork, then presented it to the table, trouble was that CORKY didn't notice that it was a white wine CORK !!

Rob McG, nearly broke up, so early next he contacted, the local DJ, whom we all knew and asked him to play a special request around 1000, dedicated to the well known AAPNG f/o, fra**", CORKY,
madd**n.

The song was sung by Dean Martin and named,

LITTLE OLD WINE DRINKING ME

CORKY, nearly went ballistic, whilst the rest of us where rolling around the floor in fits of laughter and tears in our eyes.

Once again, well done Rob.


On an earlier post, mention was made that the Health inspector, Bishop, CORKY had passed away, I haven't heard that, could someone please elaborate


Apinun

Cheers

robroy

[tinpis]

Robroy I'd like to be wrong but a poster some time again mentioned the health inspector had moved on.

[Animalclub]

OzExpat Johnny Diwai and the Splinters were a good band in Lae in the sixties... did a good job on Beatles numbers.

Who was the weather man at Lae airport in the sixties who played piano? Remember he played piano for Sue Becker (of ABC fitness fame) when she sang about Ansett and TAA at the TAA Ball at the Lae RSL. Does anyone have the words to her ditty?

[30/30 Green Light]

Ozex,I simply can't imagine anyone would rob another person of his wife ?
Cheers:E

[robroy]

re. the comments on the h.i's demise.

I made a notation at the end of my last post re the matter and started contacting ex PNG guys, no one had heard any thing, I received a call back late last night from an ex PNG guy down the coast. He phoned the h.i's number, no physical answer, but the voice on the answering machine was that of the h.i.

An actual contact was made this morning, the health inspector must have done a quick health inspection of himself and he pronounced himself, fit.

Cheers

robroy

[tinpis]

Good news I musta been given duff gen.
Either that or he pullin one of his stunts :p

[Sharpie]

The 'bishop' is still alive and frank;ly, far from the maddenning crowd, he visits PNG fairly regularly calling on all his old popey mates from Vanimo to Moresby. Still has a few ales or red's with the boys and presented me with a basebal cap a little over 12 months ago.:D

[OzExpat]

Animalclub, mate! Sorry, but it wasn't anything to do with Lae or the 60s. Different variant of "diwai".

30/30... you've got the right idea! :ok: :E

[TwoDogs]

The E-type I think may have been 'Yellow" and owned operated by a well known builder of repute called Biscuit ears

Sharpie, to the best of my knowledge I owned the only yellow e-type to ever grace the streets of Morbid. I believe there was a white 4.2 there before mine arrived on the scene but don't know what happened to it.
I lost mine in a game of cards and last saw it sitting sadly roting away under a tree in Boroko.
A couple of years ago I started talking to a chap in a bar in Honkers who told me that he new the car and it had been saved, restored and now resides in Melbourne.

[tinpis]

There was an ATC bloke in Hagen had an Alfa Romeo.

[Torres]

Sharpie. I don't think Biscuit Ears was involved in the drag down the runway at Port Morbid, following a p!ssy debate at the Gateway.

Whilst it is vague in my mind, I seem to recall the vehicles involved were an early Datsun/Nissan sports car - possibly owned or driven by the then Gateway Manager - and an E Type Jag. I have a vague recollection Larry Danielson may have been involved?

I also think there was more than one E Type in Moresby - didn't Ernie have one at the back of his workshop in Lawes Road? It's 20 years since I've been to POM, but I recall the car dealer at the the corner of Hubert Murray Highway and Taurama Road (can't remember the name) imported a few "exotic" cars from time to time, including Jags and Plus 8 Morgans.

[Sharpie]

TORRES,

Bisbuit Ears definately had a E Type Jag, and agree there was a second one floating around late 60's early 70's but cannot recall the owner. Larry worked for Chansett Airlines at that time and I do not think the remuneration package would allow an 'E type' in the garage.

Two Dogs, memory may be fuzzy, but from my discussions with Biscuit, he said that he had brought the first E Type into PNG(POM) and maybe erroneously, I thought that it was the yellow peril. (I did see it mobile a few years ago after restoration and before it went south)

The Lawes Road man owned one of the two Lamborgini's in town at that time. Ernie's one was 'stored'? under a pile of corregatecd iron at his workshop for many moons after blowing the engine. I think that 'Big Nick' the mechanic unsuccessfully fixed it. Later the car was at Ernies house and may by now be in Oz as a collectors item.

The other Lambo was owned (and dragged) around town by ?? Phillips - the owner of the Little White Bull at East Boroko.

There was another car dealer (would you buy an used car off this man) next to Kriewalts Building on HM Highway. Lamb was one of the partners(later went into the clothing game in RP)

:ok:

[OzExpat]

Torres...
I recall the car dealer at the the corner of Hubert Murray Highway and Taurama Road (can't remember the name)
Does New Guinea Motors ring a bell? :D A bloke by the name of John Warrington (now long since deceased... RIP) worked for them and flew their aeroplane, once upon a time.

[Animalclub]

I think it was the Mazda dealer originally owned by Alan Morris... and I believe it was called PNG Motors. I believed now owned by Kenmore Investments or something similar.

OzExpat I know you live there and you'll correct me if I'm wrong!!

[tinpis]

Ozex ,John Warrington thats the bloke shy retiring sorta guy:rolleyes: used to have a yard in Port Augusta.

[Torres]

OzExpat, not New Guinea Motors (which originally belonged to Carpenters I think) - wasn't that opposite the picture threater at Boroko? Animalclub is on the money I think - PNG Motors in Alan Morris's time, at the Taurama lights, Mazda dealer, imported Jags and at one time, four or five Morgan Plus 8's.

At the time of the drag, Larry had his band at the Gateway. I have a vague recollection he was a driver of one of the cars, but may be wrong. I realise Larry didn't own or earn too much, hence his request for a loan from Woolworths! :}

John Warrington's move on? I wouldn't have thought he was that old.

I called Jim and Jan Sinclair a few days ago to advise them of Ian's accident. They are both very well, Jim is busier than ever writing.

Many of you may remember Tom Leahy, Markham farmer, pre self government Chairman of the Executive Council, brother of Sir Dan, cousin to Richard and previously a Director of both Talair and Flight West. I see or talk to Tom at least weekly - fit and well, mid 70's, cattle property near Dalby and a long serving Local Government Councillor in Australia.

[robroy]

Sharpie,

Please check your PM's for urgent message from me.

robroy

[OzExpat]

I've been confusing those two mobs for the last 20 years. Can't, for the life of me, understand why! :}

tinpis... I don't think that I ever knew much about the late JW's life prior to PNG. All I really knew about that was he came from South Oz.

Torres... the memory has been dulled from too much G/T and saki over the years. All I can tell you is that, as you suspected, he did not die of old age, or in an aeroplane.

[QSK?]

tinpis:

check your PMs again

[robroy]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great sadness that I make this post.

Last Friday, January the 7th,

Lorna Jarrold, nee Gunston, passed away.

Requiescat in Pace

The service for Lorna will commence at 1pm Wednesday 12th,
January at St. Margarets School Chapel in Ascot ( entrance via Lapraik Street ). A short service will be held at the Pinaroo Lawn Cemetery at Albany Creek, at 3pm.

VALE






robroy

[TwoDogs]

There was an ATC bloke in Hagen had an Alfa Romeo.

Late 60's is a bit early for me. The other e-types had gone by the time I arrived in 73. I brought mine in in 76

When was the Alfa in Hagen? Geoff Court had on in Lae and Moresby early - mid 70's. I seem to remember it going thru a fence on "Skid Row".

I also had one of those Morgam +8's for a while - another yellow one!!! Borrowed it from the ex's boss and it took him months to get it back. That was a fun car.

ps Wasn't New Guinea Motors the Isuzu dealer back then?

[tinpis]

When was the Alfa in Hagen? Geoff Court had on in Lae and Moresby early - mid 70's. I seem to

1970
Pretty sure it was a new green 1750GT belonged to an ATCO
Wouldnt swear to anything nowdays tho.
I remember them being about 5 grand to buy .

Bet no one remembers my HR Holden I bought in Lae for $130. :}

[Sharpie]

Captain Garry Honour commands his last SIA-400 flight today(13th) prior to his retirement and amassing in excess of 30,000 flight hours. Gary says that he still has a few more hours left in him and would like to bust 40,000 before finally hanging up the leathers.

Gary was Territory Air Lines Mount Hagen in 1965, he later joined TAA and then in 1973 joined Air Niugini when it was formed. Later left to join SIA.

Gary had the distinction(?) of being the commander of the inaugural Air Niugini 707 flight to Honolulu that resulted in an epic poem about "Joe's Jolly".

A fantastic effort Gary and we wish you the best in retirement.

[OzExpat]

Can't actually say that I know him Sharpie, but have an idea that I've met him. Was he, perchance, a 707 skipper with PX in 1984?

[Animalclub]

OzExpat

Garry was.

Cheers

[tinpis]

Congrats to Gary.
I bet he can recall most of all the day a 185 went all quiet on him near Chimbu and he did a fantastic job of force landing it.
:p

[OzExpat]

Thanks for the confirmation Animalclub. It's been quite a while since I've heard the name Gary Honour so I wasn't real sure it'd be the same bloke. He must've left PX sometime around 1986-7?

On an unrelated matter, some of you may recall my undertaking to check on the current BGT requirements and, if necessary, try to change them. Well, I tried... and failed. :{ The decision has been made to keep the same arrangements in place for the BGT exam.

[Torres]

"Can't actually say that I know him Sharpie, but have an idea that I've met him."

OzExpat, if you'd met Gary you would remember him. Top bloke!!! Probably the only Pixie Driva to ever get caught with a stowaway! :}

I wish him well. :ok:

Incidentally, someone must have the poem of the stowaway to Honolulu?

I forget the question re BGT, but if you are confirming PNG will retain a BGT rating as a pre requisite to endorsement on turbine aircraft, congratulations are definately in order. Sadly the 1.5 hour type endorsements are creeping into the lower end of the Australian turbine market, mostly C208 type aircraft and the lack of pilot turbine technical knowledge will become very apparent in time.

[TwoDogs]

I think Anon spelt Gary's name incorrectly, as the Post Courier did to Joe (see article at end)

This poem commemorates the first stowaway in the history of Air Niugini.

The incident occurred on the inaugural service of Flight PX501, Port Moresby to Honolulu on Saturday July 7th, 1979, under the command of Captain Garry Honour.

Mr. Joe Arazi, Department of Transport Airport Director of Jackson’s Airport and Officer in Charge of Airport Security was discovered on-board after the flight was airborne.


JOE'S JOLLY

The Boeing looked magnificent
A sight for all to see
And by this time tomorrow
She would be in Waikiki.

Festivities were under way
The conversation loud
And no-one saw the small and furtive
Figure in the crowd.

And who could have suspected
As they tossed the bubbly down
He soon would have the title
"The Most Famous Man in Town".

For this was Joe Arazi
Known from Wewak to Manumu
The man who would make history
On the flight to Honolulu.

The terminal was brightly lit
With posters it was plastered
A desperate plan formed in his mind
"I'll get on board this bastard".

Bert Wickham with his gun and club
Looked like a former Nazi
Our hero muttered to himself
"He won't stop Joe Arazi".

As Joe munched on his chicken wings
And drained glass after glass
He mingled with the revellers
And pinched a boarding pass.

Joe had long desired this trip
And didn't wish to spoil it
To guarantee his privacy
He'd travel in the toilet.

Perhaps he would have pulled it off
And nothing found amiss
Except for people screaming
"Christ! I'm busting for a p1ss!"

Now Garry when he heard the news
He nearly had a chunder
For he was horror stricken
At Bert Wickham's latest blunder.

"A Stowaway" he cried in rage
"This surely is a stunt"
"Here take the stick, I'm going back"
"To kill the little crunt".

Joe was frog-marched down the aisle
His face a mask of bliss
"You really must forgive me Sir" –
"You see I'm full of piss".

So Joe came back to PNG
His character with stains
He said "Don't go economy"
"You do the trip in chains".

Joe was marched in under guard
To face the great Joe Wal
Said he "I'll go with Qantas next -
Your rooms are much too small".

So tourists all, when next you fly
No matter where you go
Don't stuff around with airline staff
Be sure to book through Joe.

ANON

From the Post Courier
‘Lay charges’
The Civil Aviation Agency has recommended the Justice Department lay charges
against the director of Jacksons Airport, Mr Joe Arazzi (sic).
Mr Arazzi. who stowed away on the Air Niugini Inaugural flight to Honolulu was found in one of the aircraft’s toilets after take off from Jackson’s.
US immigration officials declared him a prohibited immigrant when the flight reached Honolulu, and Air Niugini was fined $US500
The Controller of Civil Aviation, Mr. Joe Wal, said he made his recommendation to the Justice Department yesterday.
A spokesman for the Public Prosecutor's Office said they had not received a request from CAA to prosecute Mr Arazzi.
But the Public Prosecutor, Mr Kevin Egan, had held discussions with the Transport and Civil Aviation departments on the matter, the spokesman said.
The Secretary for Transport and Civil Aviation. Mr Kubulan said Mr Arazzi has been charged under Public service regulations.
Mr Arazzi has been suspended and given seven days to answer the charges, Mr Los said.

[Sharpie]

Woof woof Four Dogs,

Did Joe 'do time' or get promoted?

Ozexpat.
Remember the old saying- "When all else fails, read the question!"

I said that Gary was the commander of the inaugural PX 707 flight to Honolulu. so he was a captain on the 707.

[Animalclub]

Bit of trivia... Met the aforesaid inaugural flight and missed the official welcome by the Hawaiian Clergy et al because of Joe. It cost PX Joe's accommodation and two guards outside his room... and a whole lot of sweet talking to keep him out of jail also avoiding charges.

We had a group of tour wholesalers/travel agents on the HNLPOM sector - and I hoped they didn't recognise another captain (not Gary) fast asleep on the bar at the Ala Moana (I think) at 0200. Take off was 0800 or 0830!!

One of the reasons that killed that service was that pax had to overnight HNL en route from the West Coast of USA to POM. What might have been!!!

[OzExpat]

Thanks for that Sharpie, I am duly chastised for forgetting the golden rule of RTFQ! :8 I wasn't aware of the incident on the inaugural HNL flight - it happened almost 5 years before I got to PNG. And about 5.5 years before I nearly killed meself for the first time! :}

[tinpis]

I paxed POM - SYD in 83 on the 707 would that have been close to when it was retired?

[OzExpat]

My first trip SYD-POM was in a 707, late March 84. Others will have a better handle on this, but I have an idea that the last one left sometime early 85, with the advent of the leased A300.

[30/30 Green Light]

Right on Ozex,the last commercial flight of the 4 holer was the end of January (30th,I think) 1985:{ P2- ANA and P2-ANB were delivered to TRATCO in Belgium just after Easter 1985,via Singapore and Bahrein,which was pretty familiar territory for the old girls.One of the Captains even had a welcoming billboard outside BRU-- "American Express Welcomes You":} I won't say Which one it was though !Good to see you on the boards Sharpie, "Pull the yellow thing!":ok:

[tinpis]

and I hoped they didn't recognise another captain (not Gary) fast asleep on the bar at the Ala Moana (I think) at 0200. Take off was 0800 or 0830!!

I knew Garry when he was TATAAs twotter skip and he was an orange juice man
Dont tell me he has fallen?
:eek:

[Animalclub]

tinpis... it was another long time PNG pilot (again I say not Gary) head down on the bar blisfully snoring. He always turned up on time for duty as bright as a button. Now a resident of QLD... that will have one or two thinking that it can't be them!!!

[Sharpie]

30/30.

Yep. Still trying to get the crews to pull the right thing whether its blue, white - red flecked, black, or whatever. My tagolog is nearly non existant but they get the picture, when told to pull the yellow thing! NOT that yellow thing the other yellow thing.

Still, two races last weekend (in Platu 25) for a first and a third. Not too bad for an old codger like me.

Wont make the RP SEAG teams but fun trying to keep some honest.

[Animalclub]

A few of you may remember Marcia Bastow of Smugglers Motel Madang fame. She lives near me and has asked about details of a DC3 tour of PNG which is scheduled to operate this year... she has a yen to return for a looksee.

Does anyone know of any details and contacts?

Cheers

[Philthy]

Chaps,

The Civil Aviation Historical Society which operates the Airways Museum at Essendon Airport is putting together material for a special exhibition at the end of the year on Civil Aviation in pre-Independence New Guinea.

If you served in civil aviation in New Guinea in any capacity in those far-off, halcyon days, we would like to hear from you - recollections, photographs or whatever!

Please go to our website at www.airwaysmuseum.com (http://www.airwaysmuseum.com ) and follow the link from our homepage.

Cheers,

Philthy

[tinpis]

Who remembers the Moreby ATCO and his hottsy girlfriends lovemaking that kept the whole accommodation block awake nights.


Please go to our website at www.airwaysmuseum.com and follow the link from our homepage.



:rolleyes:

[Pinky the pilot]

OK Tinpis; In my best Queensland Nasal type accent..
"Please explain??":confused: :D

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[tinpis]

*waits for lapun ATCO to click*:E

[Taildragger]

Anybody remember Biccy's Girlfriends Pig, it's violent demise, and it's promotion to F/O on an islander for a cook out at Woitape.??
Verto Dlaguos and Goud Vlenaneti MAY have had a hand in it...
the deed...NOT the Pig. Said girlfriend lost her loved one in that fracas.

[Sunfish]

ANy of you greybeards rememer an AN bloke by the name of Ron Bush?

[Woomera]

This PNG place sounds like it must have been a lot of fun.

Anybody up for a TV series or are most of the "characters" still alive. :E

A sorta PNG "Home and Away" with the Dero Club replacing the Coffee Shop.:} anything would have to be better than "Home and Away" :ok:

Nah wouldn't work, that's why they seal Cabinet files for 50 years. :p :eek:

[OzExpat]

Hmmm... might be interesting to try to nominate actors to play the various roles! Quite a few of the characters would be a real hard act to follow! :E

[Sharpie]

Cannot recall a Ron Bush, but what about Ron Kuch. Last heard of with a little set-up in Cairns.

As far as actors Ozzie, there may still be a few real-life 'Walter Mitty's' around that the producers could call upon!

[Torres]

Sharpie, think Kushie's charter company at Cairns went under some years ago.

I knew of Paula the Pig, who was a guest at her own BBQ. Didn't know Bikkie's girl friend was similarly cremated. Must have been a bluddy ugly pig to be attracted to Bikkies.......... :}

[tinpis]

Last saw Kushie in Cairns in 1981.He had a little charter biz then.

[Animalclub]

Woomera ... nobody would believe any of the stories... like the one where Graham Dunnage's shop front at Taurama cross roads was repainted (whilst he was on holiday) to Jack Clunn Real Estate.

The Govenor General telephoned on Graham's direct line to speak to "the boss". "You are talking to Graham" says GD. "Better look at the name on the shop front" says the GG.

Barry Jay suffered for that. His brand new merc had it's doors removed whilst it was parked outside his place of work. I presume they were recovered??!!

[Sharpie]

Dunnage, Jack Clune, Clockwork Orange, 4 mile club and many a night being entertained by those two and the rest of the band.

Who can recall Max Merritt and the Meteors lead singer? ( before Max went to O?)

Jack passed away last year and I think that Dunno is still down Yorkies Knob way with his big cat ( multi, not the wife!)

Ever visit Dunno's place at Jacksons, where after a few sherberts, he'd ride a pushbike off the roof into the pool below?

[Animalclub]

About once a year a variety show used to visit the Islander Hotel at POM... one was from New Zealand...

1. Dunnage got caught by the Napier Brothers, walking on the beach on one of the POM islands, with the joke about the weekend BBQ and someone's wife/husband/grandma been cremated on the same day. If you don't know it let me know. I got caught with the same gag by Hughie Campbell and said Dunnage at a Rotary meeting.

2. The Napier Brothers (or some other male double act) were on stage taking the p!ss out of orientals by demonstrating the kiwi version of karate and other such actions and speech, when... out of the wings a local chinese identity (Stan Hui - who is a black-belt) jumps out on to the stage in a classic flying kick - much to the surprise of said Napiers. One Napier dropped his false teeth and fell down... and the other one all but wet his pants - and the whole act went into melt down. Stan did not touch either of them!

Needless to say Stan received a standing ovation. The audience reaction was so good that the Napiers asked Stan to repeat it in subsequent shows - he didn't.

It appears this act had been all around the Far East without any adverse reaction.

What was that PNG saying "Expect the unexpected!"

[tinpis]

Sharpie never would have picked you for an old rocker.
Max Merrit was the singer for his group he may have had Dinah Lee on tour with him in PNG?
I cant find any articles saying he ever toured PNG


http://esvc001245.wic014u.server-web.com/liveonthepeterposashow.jpg





Who was manning Madang tower on a day in 71-72 when a severe earthquake struck?
The tower broadcast "All aircraft in the Madang area , Madang is experiencing a severe earthquake all communications maybe lost!"

Meantime me on the threshold

"Er...CMY cleared for takeoff?"

"CMY.... NEGATIVE ! we are experiencing a severe earthquake ! "

"Yeah I can see that but I'd rather experience it from 500 feet "

[Sharpie]

Tinpis.

I think that my fractured Kiwi accent may have confounded a few.

The lead singer with Max Merritt BEFORE he wandered over the Tasman was no other than Graeme Dunnage. ( or so he said)

Me in stove pipes, slicked back hair, pink socks&shirts under a black zootsuit. No. I wore a leather jacket and frequented Curries Milk bar in Auckland's Queen Street in those days.


Edited 8 Feb: A quick search of the Christchurch cronicles indicate that mate Dunno was NOT lead singer for Max at the time stated. I think that he must have been on River Avon grass at the time. Mi Sori Tumas.

[TwoDogs]

Tinpis...

I wasn't there in 72 but I was manning the tower in 76 when a big guria (7.6 on the Richter if memory serves me correctly) hit, centred in Astrolabe Bay.
At first I thought a truck had hit the tower but once I realised what it was I headed down the stairs in a hurry only to have an AirYugimi F28 call at 30 miles inbound. Being young and foolish in those days I headed back up to tell him what was going on. Apart from a few minor wobbles it was all over by the time i got back up.

[tinpis]

Sharpie sorry didnt RFQ.

No Dunnage mentioned here (http://esvc001245.wic014u.server-web.com/maxmerritt.html)


Ah yes Gurias in Madang were pretty common. Was a cracker one night in 72 knocked over everyones water tanks and lleft a few shops in the business area laying on the footpath.
I tried to get out of the bedroom but couldnt walk across the floor to the door.

[Sharpie]

Wasn't the Madang quake in 1969 and happened during the period AFAP NG Branch Ansett & TAA pilots were on strike?

Did not part of the Astrolabe Bay drop some 500 feet and very lucky for Madang, was not closer to town.

[tinpis]

Seems to be large guria tsunami events are pretty common in Madang no matter when you search.
We were lucky to not be flushed off the place.

Sharpie did you ever dung dust in Thames? I seem to recall meeting you there once I dunno what we were doing so far North (Adastra)

[Sharpie]

Tinpis, Yes.

Did a few years with Uncle Fred and James Cragg initially in Dargaville and then Warkworth before joining Alkie Mal at TAL.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Don't think I ever experienced a guria in Madang but by christ I did in Rabaul...including several rippas while inside the Hakai Maru at around 160'...the deck above creaking and groaning, huge sheets of loose metal covered in overgrown wires and coral swinging back and forth:(...yes we swam clear rather sharpish...and got about 4 more while doing deco stops at 40'/30'/20' and 10' over the next 45+ minutes.

That evening we got a shedload more...almost constant shaking by midnight...when we got sent home to sober up by our esteemed boss...and of course the next morning we were front and center for the big ash flinging display...:uhoh:

[Taildragger]

Is Alan Craigie the well known Tommy Adderley or the other way about.?? His chin seems smaller.!! Sorry Alan.

[prospector]

Tinpis,
Were you with Adastra when Paul Rowe was loading for Dave Barker? They were working for the most part out of Hamilton.

Prospector

[tinpis]

Prospector I knew both gentlemen very well.

Eeep..I just realised we're talking 40 years ago? :sad:

[prospector]

Tinpis,
Yea, tis a bit of a worry, must have run into you somewhere back then, I was with James, camped in the hut behind Robbies hangar, Ken Fenwick was CFI, Freddy Douglas 2 ic at the aero club, Mike Feeney also frequented the bar at that time.

Previous query re John Bishop, did an Aztec rating with him in Gisborne long time ago, last heard he was in a bit of strife in PNG, something about undeclared goods in a Piper? he was ferrying. Would like to know where he ended up if you had heard anything when you were up there.

Prospector

[tinpis]

prospector the dreaded hut behind Robbies hangar..heehee virgins deflowered etc . Stewey and Ian were there them days. RIP Ian.
Ron Woolford cut a fine figure in the old dero bar on sundays as did Feeneys sister and hubby George. Gawd Jim Lester and the Doctor !And of course all the boys from Robbies and James.
I do remember JB maori chap right? but cant recall his exploits in PNG tho something rings a bell.

[kestrel539]

Just found this site;like an earlier poster, I miss and would love to return to PNG. Out in the mid 80's, went from ab-initio to Upppl with SPAC under John Close.
What I learnt in those days has stayed with me, lots of good memorys.
Can anyone update me on what has happened to SPAC since 1990?

[tinpis]

There is a connection I think between NZ ag company Adastra and PNG.
Wasnt Scotties Yellow Submarine in Hagen one of several Snows imported into Kiwi by Gary Toulson?
Did anyone ever see Scotty actually fly it?
Im pretty sure Capt Waddles ferried it south.

[prospector]

Tinpis,
Ref John Bishop, would have been late 72 early 73 he would have had his problems in PNG. May have had a portion of Maori blood, but to the best of my knowledge all his flying prior to 72 in Gisborne. Your memory cells must still be working well, Ian Forbes was my flatmate in the hut at that time. Cant place you yet, but would your initials be BKW.???

Prospector



BKW = Bl--dy Kiwi W-nker? Yup. I like that :ok:

Sounds like tinpis ....... but it isn't the initials his Mummy gave him all those decades ago when he was hatched! :E

Woomera

Sorry Tinpis, that was not the interpretation of the initials I had, but Woomera must have had razor blades for tea.

Prospector

[OzExpat]

kestrel539... I was working (part-time) with JC in those days, so you and I probably know each other. SPAC exists in name and memory only these days. When the new domestic and international terminals were built, it occupied the whole of the north-west end where previously had been PNGDF, SPAC, PNGAS and Pacific Helicopters.

PNGDF relocated to the opoosite side of the aerodrome (that's a whole other story too!). SPAC and Pacific relocated to the far south-east end of the field. SPAC ran into financial problems as a result of that (a long, sad story) and the premises ultimately became a bar. It's still the place where many folks gather at the end of each day, but it doesn't have the atmosphere or style of the old temple! :{

JC has long since retired to the Sunshine Coast. Last time I saw him was 2002 and he and Missus C were still in remarkably good health.

[kestrel539]

Thanks OzExpat,
Good to hear about JC.
Les was the other instructor at the time I seem to remember.
Came across the "wings" JC awarded me after I got my UPPL,dont suppose there are many of those in the UK.
It was also drummed into me that it was South Pacific Aero Clubs,not club.
Miss it, miss it miss it.(especially on a cold winters day, towing gliders in a pawnee with the heater u/s)
Cheers
Ian K

[Taildragger]

Kestrel.... I got a set. Will sell them to pay the heating Bills.!
JC...last time I had contact was repairing furniture for elderly persons. Lapun Aussies in fact.!

[tinpis]

Woomera was correct them aint my initials
I had me brains removed and become an aussie many moons ago:}

[OzExpat]

Yer absolutely spot on there kestrel, South Pacific Aero Clubs! So called because, in it's heyday, it operated in several other parts of the country. I wasn't around in those times so don't know the full story, but I'm sure that someone else (like sharpie perhaps :D ) will be able to fill in the details. :ok:

[Pinky the pilot]

As if I needed any more indications of the fact that I got to PNG far too late and missed out on the real fun!!:{ :{
However, when I was there it was still a good time and reading about the SPAC.....in my day (1990/92) there was still a good time to be had on a Friday night with the BBQ organised by Graham (who owned/ran a sawmill) and his lovely National Wife Kathy.
Ozmate; or anyone who knows; what has happened with those two good people?

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[Taildragger]

Pinky .... It was DENNIS Hilditch and Kathy. They went to Cairns.

[Torres]

SPAC became "Clubs" (plural) after the demise of the Lae and Rabaul flying groups/clubs and the amalgamation of Port Morbid, Lae and Rabaul clubs. I remember the amalgamation, but it's all in Jim Sinclair's book, Balus III.

Talking of SPAC, how's my old mate RT, the Prime Minister of Albania? Still playing around with Aerostars?

[tinpis]

I had to fly some extra night hours for the issue of Aust Cpl
I see by my log I flew with D.Mckenzie in VH SAC and R.Berry in VH EOM at the SPAC Port Morbid 1970.

Kiwis werent required to do night flight for issue of CPL., probably because theyre nocturnal.

:}

[tinpis]

prospector check your PMs

[prospector]

Tinpis,
Checked. When reply sent tells me your mailbox full.

Prospector

[tinpis]

Soz cuzzy try again :O

[Woomera]

This thread has 220 plus posts, 10,700 views. I'm amazed - I didn't think there was so many literate airline employees, ex PNG! :}

I seem to recall some problem if a thread goes beyond approximately 100 posts. Will check with The Boss and if so, may need to start a new thread.

Lukim yu! :ok:

Lapun Woomera

[Pinky the pilot]

Taildragger; Thanks for the correction and info!:ok:

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[Animalclub]

Woomera

Some are still there... and enjoying it I hope!!!!

[robroy]

Woomera, wantok bilong mipela,

Shame on you, when I asked you to start , PNG TOK TOK, I knew that I, hadn't gone longlong, so there had to be, wan, or tupela wantoks out there, besides yupela na mi , that still had plenti tingting.

Tongue in cheek, of course.

I too, am surprised at the response!!!

Please, do whatever it takes, to keep the thread going.

I started in PNG around the same time as SHARPIE, and it is magic to rehear the old stories and the new ones, that is, those wantoks that were there after 1974.

Once again, PLEASE keep the thread going

apinun

robroy




"I started in PNG around the same time as SHARPIE..."

Geeze Mate, ya must be OLD!!!

:}

Woomera

[Animalclub]

There appears to be a lot of young fellas on this thread. I'd love to hear some stories from some of the guy's of my era - 1960's!!! Ok, so I'm old... but not finished (as I've been told!!)

[Taildragger]

Animal Club. 1960s.!!!!????? In yer dreams pal.
Save that for the Sheilas who are short sighted.!!

[tinpis]

Taily if you can bear to tell how about relating what happened to you in the Dero all those years ago?

http://photos.airliners.net/86189652a77bb99ee05d70030b65aa1b/42129b3c/middle/7/6/8/162867.jpg


Is this the fletcher operated by Dave Miles in Vanimo?

[Animalclub]

Taildragger I like talking braille to ladies!!!!

tinpis Couldn't see your picture. Why?

[Chimbu chuckles]

Yeah, well I don't know about young...I just turned 43...Animalclub I was being potty trained in the early/mid 60s...my PNG era began 20 yrs later...albeit in a 1963 model C185, P2-BAF:}

Just got back from London where I enjoyed catching up with Taildragger...I watched him go down at the Dero:ugh: and we share one or two other adventures...in fact on another occasion we went down together...near the Dero:} :{ :ok:

[OzExpat]

Here ya go tinpis, this might help to tell the story of Taily's near-death experiences. :uhoh: :ooh: :eek:
Taildragger's Photo Album (http://www.fototime.com/inv/7A375716AEB8944)

I'll bet that Taily had forgotten that this was still online... :}

[Animalclub]

Chimbu it's a pity Taildragger has stopped drinking "The McCallum". He's caught me in Dukes at Cairns more than once!!!

P.S. I used to be in PNG in the 70's 80's and 90's so we could have crossed paths.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Oh joy Ozex....I'd almost forgotten too:E :(

And we didn't hit a pole or swerve all over the highway...how we didn't land upside down on the highway is quite a different matter...Melanesian workmaship is all I can put it down to.

[Woomera]

Yu kam bak long entap!

:}

[OzExpat]

The old Dukes Restaurant in Lake Street was a favourite of mine back in the 80s Animalclub. The ony place in Cairns where you could get a full service meal at 3AM! :ok: I guess you also knew John Hughes and Manuel David eh?

Weren't you in Lae most of the time? If so, that might account for why you and Taily mightn't have crossed paths too often. He was almost a fixture at the old Temple tho! :}

Yes Chuck, you really lucked in there mate. Image the outcome if you hadn't found that perfectly surfaced, macademised road - complete with kerbing and guttering! :}

[sixtiesrelic]

Well wantoks, I had this thread sent to me by a work mate who was it a couple of the PNG towers in the sixties and seventies.
Nice to see some of you are still alive.
I was the mug with the camera who got mentioned back on some of the early pages.
I go under this handle on a couple of surfing sites so it's easier to use it than forget a new handle I come up with... gettin' old and a bit forgetful although not as bad the ex hostess I married.
I was talking to John Mc Cormack last year and had a bunch of photos of us when we were fearless and he said, " We used to tell you to put the bloody camera away back then... thank God ya didn't listen to us.
I seem to have photos of nearly every one in Ansett in those days yet Sharpie might have gotten through the net and missed out.
I see Lorna Jarrold's demise got a mention. She was a close mate of the "ex hostie", they talked about every second day. It was quick. Ken is slowly getting over the trauma and I'll see if he wants to get on here some time in the future.
Sixties

[Chimbu chuckles]

Got an email tonight suggesting IDL was possibly sabotaged...cut control cables...that'd mean ol' Ian David Leslie was murdered...Mal been experiencing some of the same with his choppers...was a time not so long ago that the natives wouldn't dream of touching a balus.

I guess PNG just keeps sliding down hill...we can hang on to our memories of what fun we had in our misspent youth but PNG is a different place.

EDIT: No Oz...lucked out would have been no power substation right where I needed to land...or being close enough to make Jackson's...we were very lucky the hook bent straight on the cable anchor...ever seen the road surface from 30' up pointing straight down? I do remember the PMV, which was approaching rapidly headon before hitting the cable, skidding off the side of the road in a cloud of dust after being presented with a plan view...so I guess that makes hitting the cable lucky too...better than a head on with a PMV full of highlanders.:mad: :E :ok: :} How we had enough airspeed after hitting the cable for me to still get it down on it's wheels is something that has exercised my mind from time to time. :ooh: :uhoh: ...but must maintain a sense of humour about these things:}

[tinpis]

Sixtiesrelic nice to see you here.
Em nau..
Madang way back then
was it really 30 odd years ...kerist!

Thank you for taking all those pictures those people literally jumped out of time for me.

I was a lout flying for TAL in Madang at the time.
Last saw you in the crew room in BNE in 89.

[Woomera]

Geeze - 17 pages of bull sh!t, 240 posts, 12,126 views.........

We'll keep the thread going here and see what more cr@p and war stories gets dragged out of the woodwork, found under the Dero bar or the bottom of Sharpie's old flight bag........

OzExpat, interesting post by Chuck but not sure we should be going there in PPRuNe until the accident report is in the public domain.

I assume Bernie is the investigator, does PNG CAA publish it's accident reports, and where?

Woomera

[tinpis]

Bernie still gotta fish 'n chip shop?
;)

[OzExpat]

W... PNG CAA has no authority to publish those reports. That's the domain of ASIB, which is attached to the Dept of Transport. I daresay that there was never a formal investigation of the incident, hence no official report.

I'm aware of a somewhat informal investigation that was conducted at "the temple" on that same afternoon tho! :} It's the PNG way! :D

However, it is well and truly in the public domain, having been reported in the Pos-Guria et al, all those years ago. Besides, as Chuck was the captain, I believe we're safe to discuss it. Indeed, taildragger was the other occupant and he has already the incident, some time ago - on a previous PNG thread.

The URL I posted contains a photo of the front page report in the P-C.



OzExpat ... I was referring to Chuck's comments re P2-IDL - not his attempt to join the Moresby Gliding Club.........!

Woomera

[tinpis]

Er...was Woomi not referring to Ian Leslie?

:confused:

[wendyemc]

This is actually a slide taken by my husband, Bob Clarke, who was in PNG with the Commonwealth Bank from mid '64 to April 1967. Don't know how it found its way onto this site; I've posted it to PNG Forum's photo gallery and to my own web site along with lots more PNG photos. The plane is indeed Bobby Gibbs' and could well be a Saab Saffir as he remembers it as being Swedish - and no, he doesn't know the name of the little girl who wandered across in front of him just as he took the photo. It was 1964, however, at show time, not 1959.

http://www.wendyclarke.com/Adobe%20album%20New%20Guinea/pages/Goroka%20Show%20%2764%20-%20Flying%20in%20for%20the%20show.html

[HANOI]

Hey Sixtiesrelic

The " ex-hostie" isn't that madwoman Jenny Thompson , is she.
She was a great mate during Lorna's Gunston days.
Amazing how far a Rok-Rok could go with a good seven iron.
Talking of Sharpie's nav bag...didn't it once contain a "Playboy" mag , which together with the donated aircraft bar stocks got him out of a threatened impounding at Djayapura when the DC3 arrived ex Vanimo without the correct documentation.

[tinpis]

So it was Sharpie that started that off?

Had a visit on the tarmac at Sentani by the Bupati police chief telling me I was naughty boy for not having a clearance from Jakarta.
(could anyone understand Sentani tower?)
This was repatriating political border crossers.
He suggested that I would have no problems in future if i bring Playboy and Penthouse next time.
:rolleyes:

[Animalclub]

It cost me US$ at Merauke!! Mind you that was a long time after Hollandia.

Remember the Merpati DC3 that landed at Gusap much to the chagrin of Customs (the "Boy B*****d - Rod Kelly I believe - no not the one who used to be with Ansett). Couldn't make Lae on the non-stop Hollandia (or was it Sukarnopura then?) Lae flight.

[robroy]

Woomera,

re your comment, 64 years young!!!!!

I think I can say, on behalf of SHARPIE and I,

LAPUN MASTA's BILONG DRAIVIM BALUS.

What say you SHARPIE.

Apinun,

robroy



:ok:ok: :ok: :D :D :D