Looking for a C5M wreck at Gasmata, New Britain
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Looking for a C5M wreck at Gasmata, New Britain
This is from a friend of mine in the UK, a Cub pilot and aviation historian. Anyone know who to contact who might know?
"I wonder if you can help me with the following request, as you've flown through that part of the world and may have an idea or contact that could help me answer one specific question.
I'm currently writing my third and fourth aviation books (it's a two volume special) on one specific aircraft, the Japanese Army's Mitsubishi Ki-15 and the Navy version the C5M.
What I'm after is confirmation that a known C5M wreck on Gasmata Airfield PNG, either does or doesn't exist any longer? It was seen there in the late 70s early 80s (see website below) but nobody has reported on it since. I know that the local communities cottened on very quickly that tourists wanted to see these wrecks so it's possible that they are simply on the airfield boundaries still, but overgrown.
Do you know anybody that could help confirm this or do you know how I could contact the airfield authorities/manager/radio operator at Gasmata?
FYI, I have photos of it in the 70, but since it's the last known survivor I simply wanted to confirm that the type was extinct or extant and get a few photos.
Regards,
Joe
https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c5m/gasmata.html
"I wonder if you can help me with the following request, as you've flown through that part of the world and may have an idea or contact that could help me answer one specific question.
I'm currently writing my third and fourth aviation books (it's a two volume special) on one specific aircraft, the Japanese Army's Mitsubishi Ki-15 and the Navy version the C5M.
What I'm after is confirmation that a known C5M wreck on Gasmata Airfield PNG, either does or doesn't exist any longer? It was seen there in the late 70s early 80s (see website below) but nobody has reported on it since. I know that the local communities cottened on very quickly that tourists wanted to see these wrecks so it's possible that they are simply on the airfield boundaries still, but overgrown.
Do you know anybody that could help confirm this or do you know how I could contact the airfield authorities/manager/radio operator at Gasmata?
FYI, I have photos of it in the 70, but since it's the last known survivor I simply wanted to confirm that the type was extinct or extant and get a few photos.
Regards,
Joe
https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c5m/gasmata.html
What's left of it is next to the runway. I've got a photo of it somewhere. The kids play on it.
The airfield authorities at Gasmata were kicked out of town in 1944.
Suggest you call Niugini Helicopters in Kimbe as they have helicopters that go down there from time to time. Ask to speak to Craig. Google will reveal their phone number.
The airfield authorities at Gasmata were kicked out of town in 1944.
Suggest you call Niugini Helicopters in Kimbe as they have helicopters that go down there from time to time. Ask to speak to Craig. Google will reveal their phone number.
Last edited by gulliBell; 31st Dec 2017 at 05:09.
Here it is. Sorry about the image quality, it's a video frame. A war crime was committed by the Japanese in March 1942 on the beach not far from where that photo was taken. Craig will have better photos and the latest information. The Kimbe hospital will have radio contact with Gasmata if you needed to contact anybody there.
It's a crying shame that this war relic has been allowed to rot on the side of the runway. Many many years ago when it was still reasonably intact there was an effort to remove it for historical preservation and display in a museum but the locals wouldn't allow it. If I recall the "compensation" they wanted for "looking after it" since the war was an astronomical number. There are many other WW2 aircraft wrecks scattered around the jungles of WNB and ENB waiting to be discovered. I was sent on a job to look for an Australian Beaufighter near Cape Gloucester. The researcher had compiled several eye witness accounts of where it crashed, so they are really confident of its position within 2 or 3km, but it's real tiger country around there and you'd have to be on the ground and step on it to find it.
p.s. You might need to wait for a moderator to OK the photo before you can see it.
It's a crying shame that this war relic has been allowed to rot on the side of the runway. Many many years ago when it was still reasonably intact there was an effort to remove it for historical preservation and display in a museum but the locals wouldn't allow it. If I recall the "compensation" they wanted for "looking after it" since the war was an astronomical number. There are many other WW2 aircraft wrecks scattered around the jungles of WNB and ENB waiting to be discovered. I was sent on a job to look for an Australian Beaufighter near Cape Gloucester. The researcher had compiled several eye witness accounts of where it crashed, so they are really confident of its position within 2 or 3km, but it's real tiger country around there and you'd have to be on the ground and step on it to find it.
p.s. You might need to wait for a moderator to OK the photo before you can see it.
Last edited by gulliBell; 31st Dec 2017 at 06:28.
Would like to see the pics.
I have pics from 1970 when the Val, Dinah and Nell were pretty complete .
Apart from the Val going to the US, I believe all else chopped away for scrap.
I have pics from 1970 when the Val, Dinah and Nell were pretty complete .
Apart from the Val going to the US, I believe all else chopped away for scrap.
A war crime was committed by the Japanese in March 1942 on the beach not far from where that photo was taken
Sorry for being off topic though out of respect for the diggers, it was claimed at a war crime trial a Zero pilot Lt Kawai didn't like the POW's billeted near his barracks. The diggers numbering about 10, were lined up an shot, buried at sea but they washed back to shore. They met their end more mercifully than what was metered out to soldiers and civilians in New Britain- beheadings, crucifictions, mass-garrottings, starvation, beatings and being burnt alive.
Kawai met his justice a few years later over Clark air base in Luzon, Philipines. He was shot down by P38's, observed to bail out but never seen again. Only surmising, but Filipino guerillas in the area were quite nasty and perhaps his war crime trial came swiftly by bolo.
Good luck to your mate and his books.
Please ask him not to glorify the mongrels who flew them . Other war crimes still simmering and the threatening north Asian peace still, were the 3000 comfort women ( often young girls ) on Rabaul . The naval personnel who maintained or flew the aircraft on Gasmata were part of an institutionalised organisation of rape and horror .
Please ask him not to glorify the mongrels who flew them . Other war crimes still simmering and the threatening north Asian peace still, were the 3000 comfort women ( often young girls ) on Rabaul . The naval personnel who maintained or flew the aircraft on Gasmata were part of an institutionalised organisation of rape and horror .
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Elevator Driver; I have a photo of the same wreck taken in early 1991 when I was in PNG doing the rounds for employment. It was slightly more intact then as well!
Will attempt to post the photo in due course.
Will attempt to post the photo in due course.
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Thanks
Hi guys, Joe here, the source of the original request.I've just this minute joined PPrune, so thanks for the replies.
Nice photos of the Dinah and Nell, but I'm really searching for info or photos on the C5M2 "Babs" and its current condition.
Judging from the determination and vandalism that has beset the other wrecks, the survival of the "Babs" seems to be a little slim, as it did not have the "popular" interest of the other aircraft.
JJ
Nice photos of the Dinah and Nell, but I'm really searching for info or photos on the C5M2 "Babs" and its current condition.
Judging from the determination and vandalism that has beset the other wrecks, the survival of the "Babs" seems to be a little slim, as it did not have the "popular" interest of the other aircraft.
JJ
Made to face the sea and shot in the back no less...there were at least three documented war crimes committed by the Japanese at Gasmata. I've also been to the site in Kavieng where the Australian nurses were butchered, and to Toll Plantation where the Australians were bayoneted. One of whom survived to tell of the crime. There are still a lot of war relics scattered across New Britain, and down the east coast of New Ireland.
