RAAF Hudson found in PNG

From this Australian Defence announcement, I see nothing which speaks of recovering the wreckage, but confirms the proposal to carry out a thorough survey with a view to recovering remains.

SoG

As a foreign observer, I find that the British tabloids seem to enjoy their “shaming” campaigns. Would that be an option?

I’m pretty sure the MOD are not actually proud of leaving an airman unrecovered, but as long as no one kicks up a stink, they are happy to save the money.

I’m also pretty sure, that the majority of Brits would be appalled, if they knew the current stance on recovery of British millitary personnel. In the modern political system, where politicians fight to appease and be popular, i doubt anyone will publicly support such a decision.

I simply can’t imagine anyone saying “We no longer care about those men, they can stay where they are”.

Just an idea (maybe it has already been tried).

Respect.

Of course I hope everyone would agree with me , this would be nothing to do with aviation archaeology , more the case of recovering a Missing Pilot,something that should have been done many years ago

Hi Chris – Don’t worry on that score – I don’t think there is anyone connected with this hobby who would see it any other way – where missing aircrew or human remains are concerned all other interests give way.

Yes this should have been dealt with officially and even if recovery difficulties were an issue at the time, then with todays equipment this is no longer likely to be a problem – some form of mechanism should be in place to deal with it now – But we are all realists and know the MODs stance on this 🙁

Here, in the UK, you can drive along a major Motorway in the West of England and just about see the crash site where, just postwar, a Tempest was lost with its Flt Sgt pilot who is still missing. Recovery would be quite simple. Its not in a jungle like the subject of this thread, and where the existence of a still missing WW2 aircrew is understandable, but instead is not many miles from the UK’s MOD HQ where “missing” casualties are dealt with. I’m not trying to be controversial here, but just highlighting an ironic contrast of the two cases and the policies of respective governmental organisations.

Yes I know Tangmere,

I think this site being one of the most deplorable travestys in the UK, I live only a few miles from the site, and i am sure with correct procedure and respect shown, with a coroner and maybe even the services on a dig to recover this Poor Sgt ,it could be done, the land is only wasteland anyway,
it infuriates me, I may contact the MOD , and see if things have changed regarding this sort of issue,
Of course I hope everyone would agree with me , this would be nothing to do with aviation archaeology , more the case of recovering a Missing Pilot,something that should have been done many years ago,
I notice the MOD are looking to find the last BOB pilot , I wonder if they may (Re-Consider) this poor devil,
Its hard to believe in this day and age that one of our lost servicemen who died for his country can be left in a field, by the Govt he served for,
I think maybe a petition or something should or could be done to promote his recovery, so at least he finally can rest in piece ,

You only have to look at the burials of recovered crews in france, etc. The allies send representatives, members of their forces, politicians, etc, whilst we send next to ****** all because it costs money.

tim

There’s a bloke buried in the local cemetary here who was killed in flight school (Polaris Flight Academy). I believe he was Jewish/American, but volunteered for the RAF. At the time they didn’t make a fuss but early last year they got with the program & we had a fly over of a T6, USAF representatives from Edwards AFB & some RAF/RCAF chaps turned out in full dress uniform as they were on detachment to Edwards at the time. The Mayor gave a speech, local high school band member played Taps.
My parents were over on vacation at the time & I gave em the “jump in the car, we have to go someplace” routine 😉
(step dad is ex RN, mother lost her brother at Anzio on the Penelope). They couldn’t believe the turn out compared to what happens back in the UK. I posted something on here about it at the time, Feb or March ’07. There had to have been easily 80 people there & a slew of them were Brit ex-pats from the local area.

No, the UK politicians send “next to ****** all” because they have no respect for any military person… or the military in general (so very few of them having actually served).

The UK policy is deplorable in my book, like the case of the 2 RN Firefly’s that collided in Port Phillip bay near Melbourne in 1945 or 46
Left to rot in less than 20m of water, farken woeful:mad:

:confused:

….it’s typical of our uk government & the politicians! We spend millions of taxpayers money on general crap, but we can’t be bothered/won’t do a simple thing as this. Yes, i can understand if the a/c is buried 80 odd feet down, but i can’t understand why there isn’t a civilian contractor employed by the MOD to undertake recoveries such as this!

I can remember the scrap compound at RAF Brize Norton in the late 80’s where we had new a/c tyres, NBC suits, mess tins, aircraft seats, etc, (enough modern spares & obsolete spares to start a 3rd world air force) waiting to be collected by the scrapman. Everything was brand new, still sealed in wrappers, boxes, etc, but when it came to getting a pair of socks changed with holes in, i was told i’d be billed for damaging government property!

Hospitals are being closed down all over the country due to underfunding, but they still somehow find the money to buy sculptures/bronzes for putting outside the entrances to ‘brighten’ the place!!

You only have to look at the burials of recovered crews in france, etc. The allies send representatives, members of their forces, politicians, etc, whilst we send next to ****** all because it costs money.

tim

This is a policy I never understood.

US/Australia: bring them home

UK: abandon in place

Sorry, but I’d rather not give the location at this stage, although other forum members may well do so although I rather hope they don’t….although there are those who frequent this forum who know what I am talking about and where.

Here, in the UK, you can drive along a major Motorway in the West of England and just about see the crash site where, just postwar, a Tempest was lost with its pilot, Flt Sgt Steele, who is still missing. Recovery would be quite simple. Its not in a jungle like the subject of this thread, and where the existence of a still missing WW2 aircrew is understandable, but instead is not many miles from the UK’s MOD HQ where “missing” casualties are dealt with. I’m not trying to be controversial here, but just highlighting an ironic contrast of the two cases and the policies of respective governmental organisations.

Whereabouts is that?

Here, in the UK, you can drive along a major Motorway in the West of England and just about see the crash site where, just postwar, a Tempest was lost with its Flt Sgt pilot who is still missing. Recovery would be quite simple. Its not in a jungle like the subject of this thread, and where the existence of a still missing WW2 aircrew is understandable, but instead is not many miles from the UK’s MOD HQ where “missing” casualties are dealt with. I’m not trying to be controversial here, but just highlighting an ironic contrast of the two cases and the policies of respective governmental organisations.

Great news.

Hopefully the missing crew will be found, and bring some form of closure to their families.

Congratulations to the RAAF for what seems a rapid and sympathetic response following this discovery.

Forgive my ignorance about such things, I live in a very simple world, but I wonder why that article supposes that the wreckage is to be recovered. Don’t they mean that any remains of the crew will be recovered? How on earth will they recover wreckage, and would that be a ‘worthwhile’ thing. I don’t know what ‘worthwhile’ might mean in this context.

God Bless Australia!

SoG