A Good Story

Bruce

If pictures are good, maybe Maxwell, P & W or Wright might identify
them and you could find the type of aircraft they were on??? With that
you can search for the units with that type of Aircraft and look for
losses at Rabaul and back into the info you want?

Also people at AF Meusm at Wright Patt might be able it identify the
type of engine and aircraft they were used on if other sources fall
through??

Still think Jap records may be a good source.They kept lots of records
during the war which were sent to HQ in Japan and many survived to
today.

Big John


On 1 Sep 2003 15:51:20 -0700, (butch burton)
wrote:

Did get pics but the only thing left of the US aircraft was the
engines-large P&W radials. Salt is very corrosive and most all of the
aircraft was gone. The engines were impacted into the port side of
the destroyer. It was a very small destroyer-more like a large armed
escort vessel and the skipper of the vessel ran it into very shallow
water in an attempt to save it. Will dig out the pics and contact the
AF HRA at Maxwell. Really like to know the name of the pilot-a battle
probably long forgotten-kind of gives you an idea of the stuff these
people were made of. Will let you know what I find.

Big John wrote in message . ..
Butch

1. Did you get any pictures? They might be trading material with the
Air Force or DOD or could go in Museum at Wright Patterson?

2. Contact:

Air Force Historical Research Agency (Located on Maxwell AFB, AL)
Phone (334) 953-2395
or


If they can't help you they should be able to point you to further
sources.

Were there any traces of airframe left to identify the aircraft type?
The A-20 (twin engine) was also used in Pacific. Don't think the A-26
made it????


Not just sure how you can get the Jap info of when the ship was sunk
but that would give a mission date and narraow the search in our
records.

Jap records also migaht account for the aircraft type that impacted
the destroyer?

When you talk to Maxwell, ask them about Jap records. They may have
gotten them after the War or may still be in Japan and they would know
where they are and how to get access?

Rabaul ended up as a 'milk run' after we bypassed it. It was used to
give new aircrews training after they arrived in theater as I recall.

Good luck. If you strike gold let us all know.

Big John
P-40, P51, etc, etc.


On 30 Aug 2003 18:44:09 -0700, (butch burton)
wrote:

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While diving in the Rabaul Harbor, discovered a Jap destroyer sunk
with 2 large US made radial aircraft engines. Looks like some US
pilot flew a Mitchell bomber into this destroyer. Always been on my to
do list to try and find out something about the pilot/crew of this
aircraft. Anybody got any suggestions. A few years ago the volcano
at the edge of the harbor erupted completely filling the whole area
with ash so the wreckage is probably beneath yards of volcanic ash.


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