Swamp Ghost
Encyclopedia
The Swamp Ghost is a Boeing
B-17E Flying Fortress piloted by Captain Frederick 'Fred' C. Eaton, Jr, that crashed in Papua New Guinea
during the Second World War in 1942, during America's first mission there. Whilst flying over Rabaul
, it was intercepted and it had to force-land.
The plane was rediscovered in 1972 in Agaiambo
swamp, Oro Province
. It was salvaged in 2006 and moved to Lae
wharf where it lay waiting for permission to be transferred to the United States
. By February 2010, the wreck had been cleared for import to the United States.
The aircraft has been returned, and on June 11, 2010 was shown to a public gathering in Long Beach, California
that included family members of the original crew. Plans were made to bring Swamp Ghost to the Pima Air & Space Museum
in Tucson for restoration to static display. However, as of March 2011, the plane is on indefinite loan to the Planes of Fame
air museum at Chino Airport
.
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
B-17E Flying Fortress piloted by Captain Frederick 'Fred' C. Eaton, Jr, that crashed in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
during the Second World War in 1942, during America's first mission there. Whilst flying over Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
, it was intercepted and it had to force-land.
The plane was rediscovered in 1972 in Agaiambo
Agaiambo
Agaiambo is a swamp in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. The swamp was previously noted for a Pygmy race of inhabitants also called Agaiambo.During the Second World War a US Air Force Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crashed into the area...
swamp, Oro Province
Oro Province
Oro Province, formerly Northern Province, is a coastal province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Popondetta. The province covers 22,800 km², and has 133,065 inhabitants ....
. It was salvaged in 2006 and moved to Lae
Lae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
wharf where it lay waiting for permission to be transferred to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. By February 2010, the wreck had been cleared for import to the United States.
The aircraft has been returned, and on June 11, 2010 was shown to a public gathering in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
that included family members of the original crew. Plans were made to bring Swamp Ghost to the Pima Air & Space Museum
Pima Air & Space Museum
The Pima Air & Space Museum features a display of nearly 300 aircraft spread out over 80 acres on a campus occupying 127 acres . Located in Tucson, Arizona, it is one of the world's largest, non-government funded aerospace museums...
in Tucson for restoration to static display. However, as of March 2011, the plane is on indefinite loan to the Planes of Fame
Planes of Fame
Planes of Fame Air Museum is an aviation museum located in Chino, California, and Valle, Arizona. The museum has many flying and static aircraft, along with multiple rare examples under restoration.-History:...
air museum at Chino Airport
Chino Airport
Chino Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located about three miles southeast of Chino, a town in San Bernardino County, California...
.
Crew
- Pilot - Captain Frederick 'Fred' C. Eaton, Jr.
- Copilot - Captain Henry M. "Hotfoot" Harlow
- Navigator - 1st Lt. George B. Munroe, Jr.
- Flight Engineer - T/Sgt. Clarence A. Lemieux
- Bombardier - Sgt. Richard E. Oliver
- Radio/Gunner - Sgt . Howard A. Sorenson
- Waist Gunner - Sgt William E. Schwartz
- Waist Gunner - T/Sgt Russell Crawford
- Tail Gunner - S/Sgt. John V. Hall
External links
- The Swamp Ghost, Retrieved on April 10th 2009, http://www.theswampghost.com/history/index.html
- Pacific Wrecks - B-17E Serial Number 41-2446 (aka 'Swamp Ghost'), Retrieved on April 10th 2009, http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2446.html
- Swamp Ghost website
- Google Maps satellite image of the Swamp Ghost
- Aero Archaeology video of Swamp Ghost]