Any chance of seeing some pictures of the recovered aircraft, i am glad these are finally being recovered as i have long been a fan of the Japanese aircraft from the second world war………..Martin

Martin,

I believe and don’t quote me on this but there is going to be a article in Classic Wings I do know that some photos have already been shown on the Web. I’ll ask my source if they plan on showing the photos right now I think they are waiting to get everything unload and look at first.

Ahh, here it comes again… 😀 Took you a bit longer than anticipated but I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me…

I think I know what to give you for upcoming Christmas 😉

What a piece of Crap nothing like having a bunch of Anti-American writing abook why the So-Called World Hates us Americna. Hey Bright Boy answer me this why do more people try to come to America then any other Country in the World huh you can’t.

The book is full of half truths and out right Lies, Sardra is on record for being very Anti-West and Anti-American. As for Davie nothing like a Welsh become an Muslim that is like me an American become an a Black American get really the book is crap.

So by your definition, an Abram tank, apache helicopters, F-16s/18s, patriot systems are also WMD’s?, that was a weak set of items you have listed there. And those discoveries of a handfull of shells with Siren/mustard gas are not able to cause the casualties your administration was drum beating about. Now had you of known Iraq had less than a handful of these and used this for justification for war you do realise how ridiculous you would make yourselfs.

Yes they are all system that can deliver WMD or did you miss that part ofmy post or do you just don’t understand the concept of a Weapon System. It was more than just a so-called handful of shell try around 250 with Siren and another 100+ with Mustard then there were another 100 + with Bio Heads all that could be fited to SAMs and the Silkworms that were found had Bio and Chemical Heads.

Ok lets have a quick look at what you did do, topple an elected government in the 50’s, shoot down a civilian airliner, aid and abet saddam in the 10 years war he had with Iran, that makes your hostage crisis look like a picnick. And FYI I have no problem with americans at all, heck my partner is american, and this may be a shock to you but her father is involved in big defence projects in the states. Besides i shouldnt have to justify myself to you or anyone else you can make your own conclusions but as I said earlier, dont take a criticism to mean “oh he hates america” because thats very ignorant.

Oh so you want to bring up real old History then find I can do that how about the fact that the whole Middle East mess wouldn’t have happen if it wasn’t for your Brits and the French in creating your little Nations like Iran/Iraq/Jordon ect. ect. as for the 50 Coup yea we did it but so did the Brit in the Middle East but then again we didn’t hold them hostage for close to a year now did we. Civilian Airline well hmm if they weren’t using it to let a F-14 follow in its wake then it wouldn’t have happen, but then again the Russian shot down all sort of stuff during the Cold War including a 747 if I recall. Yes we provide Saddam with some help but nothing compare to what the French/Germans and English provide him care to check out those items before you make a post. I’m glad you feel that holding Americans as a Picnick so the next time one of you Brits are held as a hostage we can say get over it nothing like a little picnick correct.

The war with iran was supported by the west, so please dont play angel here.

Yes it was support by the West but it was also supported by most of the Middle East Countrys along with Russia and China but you seem to forget that one now don’t you.

And about the clear road to baghdad, read my post again why that would of not been exactly “kuwaiti liberation” now would it.

Read what I post first Sir I said if we want to take the Oil Fields then we could have done it after Kuwait was Liberated but we didn’t so like I said it wasn’t about Oil like you keep claiming just face the fact sir your out of your league on this one

Im not bitter about the UK not being the police of the world im glad actually they arnt, but why should anyone be the policeman of the world shouldnt all countries act together properly, and not station thousands of their troops and bases in parts of the world for commercial interests. Nobody asked america too invade iraq in 2003 but she did that by her self and when you get criticized for it be man enough to handel it. If america and britain included minded their own business maybe we wouldnt be having this discussion.

Nice idea and in the Perfect Univer. this concept would happen but it isn’t a perfect concept and when any time there is some sort of World Crisus no matter what it is the World in General Call on the United States to step in and help. Your right now one ask us to invade Iraq in 2003 but the World had since the end of the Gulf War had been warning Iraq that if they didn’t follow the rule of the Gulf War Cease Fire then there would be problems hmm seem to forget that Saddam was in violation of the Gulf War Treaty but that is alright with you correct. So the next time some sort of World Crisus happen how about this we Americans tell the World to get stuff oh we can’t do that either because then all you Anti-American folks will cry that we aren’t helping you can’t have it both way.

Gentilmen, please do not throw your teddies out of the pram over this. The two of you (doc and scopion) have different opinions, ok. It has been civilized so far:D

Reading this thread, I think the best post so far has to go to Mark_pilkington.

Well Galdri I told Mark12 I would be a good boy now and so far I’ve bitten my lip. I suspect you know who I am and you might also know my involvement in said project. I don’t have a problem with Doc its more of s problem with Justin then anyone else.

Hmmmmm..

The Solomon Star Online:

“Home
Ballalae warplanes shipped to Australia
Submitted by drupal on Mon, 2008-01-07 14:39. Headlines
BY EDNAL PALMER
WARPLANE remains controversially removed from Ballalae Island then held in a Ports Authority shed in Honiara have been quietly shipped to Australia.
The four World War Two Japanese planes were removed from Ballalae in the Shortland Islands but trouble then erupted.
Ninamo Otuana, who claims registered title over the island, said he was pursuing the matter in court. He said he had sought an injunction to stop the planes being shipped overseas from Honiara.
Mr Otuana alleged a small group of high profile people benefited from the deal under the name of the FAMOA trust board.
However, a Solomon Islands Ports Authority source confirmed the warplanes were shipped to Australia last month in two containers.
SITE
Ballalae was the site of a big Japanese airbase during World War Two. Hundreds of British prisoners of war were used by the Japanese to build the Ballalae runway and then massacred there.
After the war the island was said to contain one of the largest collections of Japanese World War Two planes still intact.
The latest removal stirred anger amongst people who said the continuing removal of planes from Ballalae is stealing the area’s heritage. It was also taking tourism benefits away from future generations of Solomon Islanders.
The then Opposition – now the Sikua Government – also voiced concern about the deal and whether it benefited the country. However, the plane removal is believed to have had support within the Sogavare Government.
An Australian by the name of Craig Turner is the person reported to have been spearheading the project to get the war relics overseas.
In 2003 Mr Turner was said to have been appointed senior advisor and director of the project by the then Tourism Minister, Alex Bartlett.
LICENCE
As part of his remuneration package, he was said to have been granted an exclusive licence to remove 11 World War Two aircraft from Ballalae.
He was said to have been required among other tasks to assist with the development of a satellite museum at Ballalae and to train Solomon Islanders in conservation techniques.
A reliable source said Mr Turner said he had been director of an aircraft salvage museum. But the source said there was no evidence that this place existed.
The source said that the appropriateness of granting an exclusive license to export items of national heritage to an advisor as part of his salary should be questioned.
The source said the planes and plane parts removed from Ballalae have been used in aircraft restoration overseas. This has generated millions of dollars for the overseas restorers when the planes are bought and exhibited.”

And:

“http://www.solomonstarnews.com/?q=node/16369

Home
Aliens fined $4,400 for entering illegally
Submitted by drupal on Wed, 2007-12-19 11:33. Headlines
By DOUGLAS MARAU
FOUR foreigners were each fined $4,400 for illegal entry under the Passport Act and Immigration Act at Gizo Magistrate Court over the weekend.
The accused are Rodney Lochore from Australia, Daisy Elaih from Papua New Guinea, Justin Richard Taylan from USA and Yoji Sakaida from Japan.
They pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court heard that on 3 November, the foreigners arrived at Ballalae, Shortland islands on board a vessel called “Barbarian”.
At Shortland harbour, outside Nila Station, the court heard that the accused snorkelled and dived the World War Two relics.
The court heard that after that they also went to Balalae and tried to smuggle pieces of the relics on the island.
The court heard that it was then that the immigration, Custom and police officials at Gizo were alerted and flew over by a RAMSI plane and arrested them.
Chief Magistrate Leonard Maina when sentencing the four foreigners said Solomon Islands is a nation with laws governing and protecting its resources and people.
“The country has laws that protect its resources and historical things such as the World War two relics,” Mr Maina said.
He told the foreigners that like any other countries, foreigners who wished to enter the country must have proper traveling documents and must be cleared out from the last port of departure.
The foreigners during the court proceedings told the court that when they went to the port of entry on 3 November, there were no customs officers there to clear them.
However, Mr Maina said in such cases, the foreigners should have proceeded to the next port of entry.
“I warn foreigners who wish to come into Solomon Islands that it is an offence to enter the country without proper clearance,” he said.
“Failure to comply with the country’s immigration laws will result on heavy penalties imposed on you.”
The prosecution was represented by Crown Prosecutor Malaki Ungui.
Public Solicitor Ms Paulson appeared for the accused.”

Not quite a 108,000USD fine…..

Thats 4,400 AuD which turned out to be a tad over 100,000 USD that is according to what Jungle Bob reported. either way Justin claimed he was only fined 108 USD like I said he was lying about this. Also what isn’t reported in the Newspaper article is that this was the second time that Justin had been caught come to the Solomon Illegally.

Also please note that as I said that while you might think it was not a true up and up recovery show me one in that part of the World that is, they did have the correct paperwork and the blessing of the Present Government Also I know of Craig Turner and yes he is a well know aircraft recover person from Australian has been involved with a number of projects thru out the greater Pacific Islands.

As for Mr. Otuana this isn’t the first time he has try to claim ownership over the Shortland Island back in 1999 and then again in 2002 he try to have his Land claim except by the International Courts and both time he was turned down with the courts ruling that the Shortland Island are part of the nation of The Solomons.

Oh and for the record all of the aircraft have left the Solomons by now and should be if all things go right start being work on. As for the Museum project well as I said in my past post this is one of the agreements that the Government put on the recover some of the money that is going to come out of the resale of some of the aircraft will go towards the building of a very nice museum were allot more of the Solomon War Time History will be put on display and there is plans to help them build a restoration shop also.

Now if this was some Western Museum none of us would be jumping up and down because we all would say that nice save some aircraft and since we have to sell off some to help build up the Museum than thats fine also. But since its the Third World Pacific Island most of you all jump up and down saying us folks who are doing the recovery’s are taking advantage of the poor Islanders far from it. Lets just say this two years ago some of the very same folks were thinking to let the Scrappers from China to come in and CLEAN UP THESE JUNK PILES I’m so glad that someone told them that these were worth more then scrap prices. But then again if you think like Justin you rather see them just turn into dust in the Jungle:rolleyes: .

[QUOTE=DocStirling;1207666]Without wishing to descend into the usual flame war, you have not provided any proof that Justin is lying:

No problem with me I’m just posting what I know and since i’ve been sort part of this thing for along time I might have some inside information.

1)Just because the project has been going to 20 years does not mean it is legal. The Swamp Ghost saga might have been legal, until another court decided it was not.

Ah so I guess when MAM went and got he P-61 which took close to 15 Years then I guess that wasn’t legal? As for Swamp Ghost if you like I can start another thread on the whole saga from the time when David receive permission to recover stuff in the 70s up till now. As for this operation this was a very long give and go stuff and yes it take time to do stuff in the Pacific.

2) Some one is not telling the truth about the size of Justin’s fine. Impossible to know from the information provided.

Check out the Solomon Newspapers online there is the whole out come plus Jungle bob posted it on Wixs, and if that not your cup of tea then answer me this why has ever chance for Justin to speak up he hasn’t responded to anyone not even on his own website Forum. Truth Hurts

3) The chief is quite plainly unhappy about the removal of the planes – there is very good evidnce of this from the video. The second cheif is choosing his words very carefully, being wary about openly criticising the government, but doing so. He was also unhappy.

Not really its called good Tv they both are very happy but are trying to get the National Government to hurry up the money promised. If they are so unhappy then why did both of them take the group to three other locations and showed them more aircraft including another two complete Betty’s on landing Gear.

4)Your point about Swamp Ghost is well taken.

Thank You I only wish that Justin and his Followers would see this as it has been pointed out many times. A few aircraft that have been lost off the top of my head, B-24D,3 Zero’s,Betty,2 Jills,Tabby, 3 Beuforts,2 P-40s,P-400

5)I would be very happy for all the facts to come out about this recovery. So far we have none, except for the youtube video, which I have interpreted quite differently to you.

I expect that in the next few months we will see allot on this storie come out in the News. But for now be happy that we have 11 airframes that will be are going to be restored which you and I must agree is for the best.

6)Justin’s website and associated activities have made an incredible contribution to bringing the history of airwar in the Pacific to a world wide audience. He is respected and admired by a good number of people. He obviously cares passionately about the subject – and this might lead him into rash actions at times, even threatening his person safety, and in doing so he has obviously made some enemies, and is at risk of alienating his friends. This is unfortunate.

True Justin website has done a very nice job of highlighting the Airwar in the Pacific but with that his views have done nothing but hurt him where he could have had allot more help mainly with-in the Warbird Community.

Now here are some of my personal thoughts on the whole Pacific Operations, first I think we who are in the Warbird Community should find ways to help the various Pacific Island with the preservation of their War Time History some of my idea are to get permission to do recovery with some going back to the Island and help them start a WWII Museum. Also some of us have the ways and means to invest in these Island and help develop an ongoing Tourist Business. I for one could see a Pacific Battle Field Tour sort of like what goes on in Europe I think it would help.

And lets not forget the DC-3 wind tee up north…Yellowknife if I recall correctly?

Yep I have a photo of it someplace I’ll see if I can dig it out and post it.