27th Jan 2019, 13:21 - Wikipost
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A thread where ex PNG geriatrics lapuns and long longs can live in the dim distant past.
Where tall stories are accepted as fact. War stories are applauded. Grab a Brownie, pull up a story and join in a trip down memory lane!!! 
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PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok
Salamaua
I've read everything & anything relating to Salamaua, (my father-in-law was with 2/3rd Commando who deplaned under fire at Wau,then went over the Black Cat track to Salamaua). The strip was bombed heavily from 1943 onwards, and re-opened in 1945 for service aircraft - but there is no record of its' civil use after then. I first overflew it in 1962, then again several times between 1967 and 1970. It looked to be abandoned and very wet.
happy days,
I've read everything & anything relating to Salamaua, (my father-in-law was with 2/3rd Commando who deplaned under fire at Wau,then went over the Black Cat track to Salamaua). The strip was bombed heavily from 1943 onwards, and re-opened in 1945 for service aircraft - but there is no record of its' civil use after then. I first overflew it in 1962, then again several times between 1967 and 1970. It looked to be abandoned and very wet.
happy days,
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Aseki uphill go-round after landing
Hey Tinpis,
Yes that was Ben.
Wouldn't have tried that in a loaded C206 or even empty in the Bonanza 36 MKF.
MKG was empty after the fourth shuttle to Wau with coffee outbound from Aseki for the Sai Watut Co-Op., but no more freezer goods et al, inbound back to Aseki on that trip.
For the old hands who've been to Aseki, they'll remember the quite high mound of earth both at the top and also along the southern boundary, which I missed by very little, turning left & diving into a wide ravine to pick up flying speed for another try.
OMG indeed.
Over a few beers at the SP Aero Club, Lae - many words were spoken by many people & often misunderstood or taken out of context, as seems the case mentioned by Basker.
Ben
[email protected]
Yes that was Ben.
Wouldn't have tried that in a loaded C206 or even empty in the Bonanza 36 MKF.
MKG was empty after the fourth shuttle to Wau with coffee outbound from Aseki for the Sai Watut Co-Op., but no more freezer goods et al, inbound back to Aseki on that trip.
For the old hands who've been to Aseki, they'll remember the quite high mound of earth both at the top and also along the southern boundary, which I missed by very little, turning left & diving into a wide ravine to pick up flying speed for another try.
OMG indeed.
Over a few beers at the SP Aero Club, Lae - many words were spoken by many people & often misunderstood or taken out of context, as seems the case mentioned by Basker.
Ben
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Gibbesy's book
Hey P2 WDL,
Have quite a few books on TPNG covering everything from the early days, including Gibbesy's story Sepik Pilot - marvellous what's out there. Great photos by Paul Raasch.
Being ex-military have also got James Sinclair's Pacific Island Regiment history TO FIND A PATH, Vols. 1 & 2.
Visited Bobby Gibbes at his Harboard home back in the nineties - and Blackjack Walker was also due to come but couldn't in the end. Bobby gave me a copy of his video on building & flying his tiny twin-engined homebuilt, which I put on DVD.
Gibbesy was a director of Macair in my time, & once I had Blackjack on board the Beech 36 MKF, Lae to Goroka. Blackjack once stayed with us at Mt Isa whilst ferrying a BN2A Islander from PH to PM.
Cheers.
Ben
[email protected]
Have quite a few books on TPNG covering everything from the early days, including Gibbesy's story Sepik Pilot - marvellous what's out there. Great photos by Paul Raasch.
Being ex-military have also got James Sinclair's Pacific Island Regiment history TO FIND A PATH, Vols. 1 & 2.
Visited Bobby Gibbes at his Harboard home back in the nineties - and Blackjack Walker was also due to come but couldn't in the end. Bobby gave me a copy of his video on building & flying his tiny twin-engined homebuilt, which I put on DVD.
Gibbesy was a director of Macair in my time, & once I had Blackjack on board the Beech 36 MKF, Lae to Goroka. Blackjack once stayed with us at Mt Isa whilst ferrying a BN2A Islander from PH to PM.
Cheers.
Ben
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Mindik, Huon Peninsular
Hey Skywagon,
Yes mate, that's Mindik, with Pindui just a few kilometres to the east. Many a time into both, plus of course Kabwum, Wasu & Yalumet, with the odd trip into Konge (like landing on an aircraft carrier there, windshifts like you never saw, but overshoot was easy - just drop into the valley to the left). Indagen wasn't far away from Konge on the other side of the valley.
Cec Randall disappeared somewhere between Wasu & Yalumet in a Crowley Aztec, and was I believe a former DC-6B captain with TAA.
On some trips out of Mindik in the Bonanza, as you fell over the side, it was gear up and nose down for speed!
Yalumet tried you out - you were committed at the junction of the two canyons whilst approaching between the cliffs of the Timbe River from the sea. Before even entering the gorge, you'd have a look up as far as you could to see what was happening weatherwise.
You may remember a pink C185 VH-ELF, based at Kabwum with Kabwum Trading Company, owned by Ian Rowles, now deceased. Another ELF pilot, later TAA, (Crumblebum) and I almost met over the beach at low level in bad weather. The "Elf" heading east for Finsch - me heading west back to Lae. He at 100 ft. - me at 50 ft. luckily, and straight over the top of me! Couldn't raise him on the VHF.
Another one to chalk up!
Thanks for posting the shot.
Cheers.
Ben
Yes mate, that's Mindik, with Pindui just a few kilometres to the east. Many a time into both, plus of course Kabwum, Wasu & Yalumet, with the odd trip into Konge (like landing on an aircraft carrier there, windshifts like you never saw, but overshoot was easy - just drop into the valley to the left). Indagen wasn't far away from Konge on the other side of the valley.
Cec Randall disappeared somewhere between Wasu & Yalumet in a Crowley Aztec, and was I believe a former DC-6B captain with TAA.
On some trips out of Mindik in the Bonanza, as you fell over the side, it was gear up and nose down for speed!
Yalumet tried you out - you were committed at the junction of the two canyons whilst approaching between the cliffs of the Timbe River from the sea. Before even entering the gorge, you'd have a look up as far as you could to see what was happening weatherwise.
You may remember a pink C185 VH-ELF, based at Kabwum with Kabwum Trading Company, owned by Ian Rowles, now deceased. Another ELF pilot, later TAA, (Crumblebum) and I almost met over the beach at low level in bad weather. The "Elf" heading east for Finsch - me heading west back to Lae. He at 100 ft. - me at 50 ft. luckily, and straight over the top of me! Couldn't raise him on the VHF.
Another one to chalk up!
Thanks for posting the shot.
Cheers.
Ben
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Deceased pax
Hey Caneworm,
Apart from later RFDS days, where carrying bodies was de rigeur, I remember coming back from Wasu to Lae in a C206, empty, other than transporting a frozen body wrapped up in white cloth. The poor guy had been unloading a coastal trader at Wasu wharf and had fallen in the drink. The boat caught a swell and crushed him against a pylon.
I was about halfway back to Lae over cloud, when I could see some movement from the cabin. The body had started to thaw a little and was appearing to rise up slightly. I thought that I had seen a ghost! However it didn't continue much further and it was time to find a hole anyway. Gave me start though!
Cheers.
Ben
[email protected]
Apart from later RFDS days, where carrying bodies was de rigeur, I remember coming back from Wasu to Lae in a C206, empty, other than transporting a frozen body wrapped up in white cloth. The poor guy had been unloading a coastal trader at Wasu wharf and had fallen in the drink. The boat caught a swell and crushed him against a pylon.
I was about halfway back to Lae over cloud, when I could see some movement from the cabin. The body had started to thaw a little and was appearing to rise up slightly. I thought that I had seen a ghost! However it didn't continue much further and it was time to find a hole anyway. Gave me start though!
Cheers.
Ben
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Macair pics 1969
Hey Skywagon,
Have located a few images from the old days up there - but for whatever reason can't seem to upload them properly - although I know that I'm not alone here.
Perhaps if you sent me an email I could send them direct to you and you could post them? Only an idea.
Thanks.
Ben
[email protected] au
Have located a few images from the old days up there - but for whatever reason can't seem to upload them properly - although I know that I'm not alone here.
Perhaps if you sent me an email I could send them direct to you and you could post them? Only an idea.
Thanks.
Ben
[email protected] au
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Soapy O'L
Sixtiesrelic,
Saw your reference to Soapy and there could only be on in the aviation world.
In the mid-seventies, was flying DC-3's from Essendon with Forrestair & later Setair - Soapy was there too.
Cheers.
Ben
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Saw your reference to Soapy and there could only be on in the aviation world.
In the mid-seventies, was flying DC-3's from Essendon with Forrestair & later Setair - Soapy was there too.
Cheers.
Ben
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G'day Kabwum,
Yep, repatriating formerly live people to their wantoks was an every day event.
I recall one charter to Sialum via Siwea. No dead person on this particular day, I had just one pax, the Siwea longlong man who'd been down to the Angau Hospital for a tune-up, and several boxes of stubble coolers for the inimitable owner of the Sialum Resort.
The first thing I noticed was the (relatively) exuberant performance of the 206 having just stubby coolers on board instead of 500kg of tinpis. After dropping longlong man off at Siwea, it was always a peaceful flight down the hill to Sialum.
Joining the circuit I noted a large crowd of folk in the parking area. Upon engine shutdown the (conspicuously abject) wailing began. As I started unloading the boxes of stubby coolers a local came over checked out the back of the 206 and declared that "no body" was on board and the wailing immediately stopped. A colleague then landed shortly afterwards, (he had the body) and the wailing was restored.
Yep, repatriating formerly live people to their wantoks was an every day event.
I recall one charter to Sialum via Siwea. No dead person on this particular day, I had just one pax, the Siwea longlong man who'd been down to the Angau Hospital for a tune-up, and several boxes of stubble coolers for the inimitable owner of the Sialum Resort.
The first thing I noticed was the (relatively) exuberant performance of the 206 having just stubby coolers on board instead of 500kg of tinpis. After dropping longlong man off at Siwea, it was always a peaceful flight down the hill to Sialum.
Joining the circuit I noted a large crowd of folk in the parking area. Upon engine shutdown the (conspicuously abject) wailing began. As I started unloading the boxes of stubby coolers a local came over checked out the back of the 206 and declared that "no body" was on board and the wailing immediately stopped. A colleague then landed shortly afterwards, (he had the body) and the wailing was restored.
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Vale Noel Fuller
Hello MFB 2,
Recently joined up with Pprune and just read your post about Noel's passing. My condolences to his family.
My home town of Cootamundra had an agricultural flying outfit called Airland with whom I had a long association from school days. Noel was flying with Airland in the late sixties/early seventies and also built a couple of loaders for them. I got him the job with with Cedric Chee and was able to check him out for the Morobe District, after Cec Sly gave me approval. We flew two C206's and an Aztec. Noel got into PX and flew the F-27 whilst I was in Germany. Later he flew survey Nomads both here and abroad (Iran). Lost track of him after that. Sorry to hear the news. May he RIP.
Ben
[email protected]
Recently joined up with Pprune and just read your post about Noel's passing. My condolences to his family.
My home town of Cootamundra had an agricultural flying outfit called Airland with whom I had a long association from school days. Noel was flying with Airland in the late sixties/early seventies and also built a couple of loaders for them. I got him the job with with Cedric Chee and was able to check him out for the Morobe District, after Cec Sly gave me approval. We flew two C206's and an Aztec. Noel got into PX and flew the F-27 whilst I was in Germany. Later he flew survey Nomads both here and abroad (Iran). Lost track of him after that. Sorry to hear the news. May he RIP.
Ben
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Patair's Beaver AAQ
Hey Dogcharlietree,
You could only be speaking of Joe S. whom I knew well, having flown DC-3's together. I sent him the only slide that I had of this Beaver at PM and have long tried to dig out more since then, but to no avail. It was only there for a short time. Hopefully someone else may have helped you out.
Cheers.
Ben
[email protected]
You could only be speaking of Joe S. whom I knew well, having flown DC-3's together. I sent him the only slide that I had of this Beaver at PM and have long tried to dig out more since then, but to no avail. It was only there for a short time. Hopefully someone else may have helped you out.
Cheers.
Ben
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Porgera Gap caribou prang, ?AUG1972.
I thought there were 5 original survivors from the rear of the AC? But 4 survived the trek to find help? - In any case, they reported that most of those forward were severely injured by rifles and packs which each Cadet (as did I as a grunt on that plane coming into Lae for the last time, held between his thighs and on laps, being catapulted forwards on impact. The survivors recalled that the aircraft began burning, and could only help try ans save a few, but were so shocked that they only got 1 cadet out. This is as much as I can remember, as I have been affected by Asbestos during my time as a fireman in the RAAF (after leaving the PNGVR - CMF Army Reserves) which must have had asbestos fibres enter parts of my brain cortex. (Medical assumption they called diagnosis). 
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DHC4 Caribou A4-233 crashed 28 August 1972 in the Kudjero Gap, a long way from Porgera. Four crew, three RAAF Members, one Army officer and 25 PNG Cadets.
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About the wailing customs for the dead in PNG - endemic
dead wailing... yes, I was in PNG for about 10 years early 1968 to late 1975, and came across it a lot. It was customary, and seems to cover every South Pacific Island people, and other than the immediate family and relatives (they all live close by and gather almost instantaneously on an event) - will display their emotions or customary support by wailing with the tune. Others will wail merely out of respect for the dead friend / friend of friend etc., to show their sympathy. I rather like this support system in customary behaviour, and people who have had a tragedy or loss of any kind, will always get help from their neighbours or close friends, and not merely wailing... but in real terms, like kaukau or casava or grin-lip and even help in restoring a garden, or house (grass/bamboo etc.) ... things that see is necessary. No homeless persons there, ever! I have come across many varied customs on punishment though, over a large area of PNG, from mild to severe forms, but that is another story (My booklet "Lavai" on the Orokolo people, Lavai Ipi clan, yet to be printed, but a copy given to the Brisbane Museum at Southbank, as it relates to northern tribes near Kowanyama FNQ.)
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Caribou Crash details update, and precise... thanks!
Caribou Crash details update, and precise... thanks! - When I heard it on the NEWS - They thought it had been found at Porgera... but you know media, got my name BOB confused with Roberta! - many thanks for the more precise info! - was my recollection right about the no. of survivors? - that was the part (2 years mem) that escaped my memory during parts of the asbestos damage to the brain LTM cortex. But I WAS at Tatana Island outside of Port Moresby, when the news was being broken to the relatives of Cadets on board... hence my earlier post about WAILING PNG people. That was really eerieeeee stuff, I could hear the crying from across the lagoon, after each stop of the Army Landrover at Baruni village, and it continued when the Landrover came over the causeway to Tatana Village, eventually stopping at my place, amongst the wailing for the lost! again, eerie. still my memories of that day make my hair stand up on end around my neck!
Great to see a bit of action on this thread again
Ben [Kabwum balus] asked me to post his photos...
Bonanza 36 MKF
C185 CME YMT [think this is the one in the corner of my previous pic]
B36 - Ben @ Kabwum
Ben [Kabwum balus] asked me to post his photos...
Bonanza 36 MKF
C185 CME YMT [think this is the one in the corner of my previous pic]
B36 - Ben @ Kabwum
Last edited by skywagondriver; 19th Mar 2013 at 05:55.
Macair VH-MKK 1973 C206
Hi guys. It is now approaching forty years since this tragic accident. I was on course with RS (the younger) and am still close to his family. Would anyone have a photo of this aircraft or any other info/photos which I could pass on. Years ago, I did have a copy of (I guess) the DCA report into the accident, but cannot find it now. Thanks.
You could only be speaking of Joe S. whom I knew well, having flown DC-3's together.
