The engine is in snorkeling depth(<8m) and there is no airframe present. I’d suggest that it was recovered by the 4th ADG at the time of the loss. I have dived a deeper(15m) P-38 wreck at Port Moresby which was also recovered(only props, oil coolers and smaller items present). I also have an accident report for a 80th Fighter Squadron P-38 that ditched at Port Moresby that ends with,”water depth too deep for recovery.”This one is in 35m of water, so it wasn’t uncommon for the Fifth Air Force to recover underwater wrecks close to their major bases. I have a wartime pic of this falcon at Townsville’s Garbutt Aerodrome, if some one wants to post it for me? I can email it to the poster.

Mark, Weren’t you expecting a site visit and update a couple of days ago?

jim Jobe, The F-5 wreckage is still on Siar island in Madang, however there is considerably less of it now. Mainly just the inverted centre section that is buried in sand, right on the tide line. The Lilly above Sialum is still there, and is less interfferred with because of it’s remoteness, however it has been written up in several magazines and websites in recent years. Alexishafen still has some wreckage, and you can take a day tour from the Madang resort Hotel, the Helen is the principle piece of wreckage remaining. A tree fell on it’s rear fuse a couple of years back, further damaging it. Oh yes, about 13 years ago, some enterprising locals cut the outer wings off and sold them for scrap. I can no longer find any Oscar wrecks there, but some Ki-61 wreckage still remains. Finchhafen has had some legal aircraft recoveries in the last 10 years, with a couple of P-38’s, P-40’s,P-39’s(I think),P-47’s and a B-25
being exported, so this is a positive outcome. Your photos from that era are only going to get rarer and more valuable with time.

Captivelight, The B-25, “Bar Fly”, 22nd BG is still at popendetta Airport, near the terminal building. The B-24 is still there, although I dont think the cockpit interior is as intact. There is a post on Youtube of it from one of the PNG trekking companies. The P-47 Fuselage is completely restored with HARS at Illawara, and the wings are making rapid progress, it will fly.
So The “Leave it where it is” people should be happy, and the “recover it and make it fly” people should be happy too.
Win, Win!

The airspace over this historic field, is now predominently occupied by the National Airline of PNG, Air Niugini. A sad/proud fact that does not go without notice from the PNG pilot body.

They were men, we have not forgotten them.

Andy/Mark,
If the opportunity arises, tell them the full story will come out when the RAFM download the black box.;)

Buzz,
Can you confirm what you said about the stamping in the lower left longeron not being the constructors number applying to all Curtiss P-40s(H-87’s)? I only have experience with “N” models, and have always believed this number to be the CN. Also you mention a USAAF IRC form what is this? Are you refering to the “Individual Aircraft History Card”(IAHC) held at The National Air & Space Museum?

Andy,
That’s a very good point about the engine serial number being on the front of the cylinder bank. I have a -115 model and I can confirm there are numbers stamped into those blanks in front of the cylinder block, however I’m going to have to take a pencil rubbing because they are very dificult to read. The Engine Data Plate and Modification/Overhaul Plate are on the rightside of the crankcase, the mod/overhaul plate is forward of the data plate. Being brass, I’m certain they would make great souvenirs.

There is a “Radio Call” brass plate missing from roughly 2 inches behind the canopy crank instruction placard on the upper right longeron. The only unstealable Identity designator will be the Curtiss Constructors number stamped into the upper surface of the left lower longeron(between frames 3 and 4….I think).
Mark(Shepsair) any feedback from the latest visit?