Forumites may be pleased to know that the B17 known as Swamp Ghost incarcerated at the docks following recovery from the crash site in Papua New Guinea is now on her way back by ship to the US for restoration. This is great news. There is one Fortress left to visit in the area at her original crash site apparently, up in the mountains at a place called Black Cat Pass…harder to get to and not as complete as Swamp Ghost however.
Any news on the Harlech Lightning ?
By: Bruce - 31st March 2025 at 12:45
I understood that the Black Cat Pass aircraft had been extensively damaged in a brush fire recently.
Nice to see that common sense has prevailed. I wonder what they will do with the Swamp Ghost. Incidentally, did the aircraft have a name prior to being given this name?
Bruce
By: Newforest - 31st March 2025 at 12:45
Great news as reported last week!
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=97435&highlight=Swamp+Ghost
For earlier history on the problems relating tothe recovery, this is one of the threads.
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=84324&highlight=Swamp+Ghost
By: Newforest - 31st March 2025 at 12:44
Cannot find an original name and as the aircraft was delivered to the Air Force on 6/12/41 and crashed on 23/2/42, it is possible it did not.:confused:
By: Newforest - 31st March 2025 at 12:44
Yes, it is an ‘E’ and therefore more historically important.
By: Tin Triangle - 31st March 2025 at 12:44
December ’41? That must make “Swamp Ghost” quite an early mark. I must confess to having forgotten most of what I knew about this aircraft. Must be a B17-D or E then?
By: David Burke - 31st March 2025 at 12:43
Make a tv documentary of the recovery and restoration -change numerous parts of her and fly her . Hopefully some attempt might be made to save the B-17G on top of the gas station in the U.S at some stage!
By: Mondariz - 31st March 2025 at 12:42
Make a tv documentary of the recovery and restoration -change numerous parts of her and fly her . Hopefully some attempt might be made to save the B-17G on top of the gas station in the U.S at some stage!
The famous “Lady Lacey” is under restoration already. The nose is done, but I don’t know how much will be restored – its kinda expensive!
By: Frazer Nash - 31st March 2025 at 12:40
Make a tv documentary of the recovery and restoration -change numerous parts of her and fly her . Hopefully some attempt might be made to save the B-17G on top of the gas station in the U.S at some stage!
The last I read about Lacey’s bomber was the nose had been removed for restoration, and a display hall/hangar was planned for it. ( if not already built) The quality of the restoration work was absolutely stunning. I think the Lacey family are doing it themselves, I guess so many years / generations of mechanical experience would come into play quite naturally.
By: west-front - 31st March 2025 at 12:40
By: QldSpitty - 12th June 2010 at 23:06
Bout time…..Don,t think she was “cut apart” though..
By: roadracer - 12th June 2010 at 20:27
Home
She’s back !
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hGTFYaUqd5f-eHuBLfUcHh4i7RNAD9G994A00
By: Blue_2 - 9th March 2010 at 07:26
😀 no-one is to stone anyone until i blow this whistle. Even if they do say dataplate!
By: Bager1968 - 9th March 2010 at 03:50
OK… who’s gonna throw the first stone at Blue_2?
After all, he WAS the first to mention a certain word…
😀
By: Blue_2 - 8th March 2010 at 15:37
Restoration or Rebuild ,oh that old can of worms again 🙂
Can I advocate a stoning for the first person who mentions the word ‘dataplate’ if the thread’s wandering down that path?!;)
By: CeBro - 8th March 2010 at 14:39
Flying it?
Nuff said
Cees
By: trumper - 8th March 2010 at 12:55
Restoration or Rebuild ,oh that old can of worms again 🙂
By: timuss - 8th March 2010 at 12:47
Classic Wings reports it will be displayed at Pima and in the long term it will be restored to fly. Currently it’s sitting in New Zealand, at Tauranga docks.
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Airshows&action=display&thread=10836
Blimey a return to the sky that will be one hell of a restoration if that happens.
By: Blue_2 - 8th March 2010 at 09:03
Would be nice to see it fly- glad it’s finally being repatriated…
By: Dave Homewood - 8th March 2010 at 02:48
Classic Wings reports it will be displayed at Pima and in the long term it will be restored to fly. Currently it’s sitting in New Zealand, at Tauranga docks.
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Airshows&action=display&thread=10836
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th March 2010 at 21:15
I wonder what they will do with it, restored for static display or maybe even to fly? It looks in remarkabley good condition.
Scuttlebut has it that she will be restored and then put on display at the Pima air museum in Arizona.
Funny i would have thought the USAFM or the Smithsonian would want her but maybe they have enough B-17’s as is??
curlyboy
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February 1, 2010 at 11:56 am