Two P-400 Recovered From the Jungle by RAAF

[MIflyer]

Youtube video on the recovery of two P-400 that crashed in the jungle in 1943. They show a C series engine in one photo but other aspects seem accurate.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma2IMkLKR9g

 

[bauple58]

This occurred more than four decades ago, in 1984.

 

[MiTasol]

What happened to those wrecks?

 

[bauple58]

Pacific Wrecks - P-400 Airacobra Serial Number AP347

On August 15, 1943 took off from Port Moresby piloted by Lt. Thomas R. Huff on a mission to escort C-47 Dakotas to Tsili-Tsili Airfield and force landed at Bulldog Airfield.

pacificwrecks.com

 

[MIflyer]

What happened to those wrecks?

I recall reading back in the 1980's of two P-39 found in AUS, bellied in when they got lost. They were going to be recovered but found out that the 37MM was still loaded and decided they would have to blow up the ammo before hauling off the wrecks.

This one is in NZ.

 

[CHAD VEICH]

It was restored in New Zealand but it belongs to American Jerry Yagen and resides at his Military Aviation Museum in Virginia.

Bell P-39F Airacobra | Military Aviation Museum

Designed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation, the unusual, mid-engined P-39 Airacobra holds the record for the highest number of enemy aircraft victories attributed to any U.S.-built fighter in history. The lack of an efficient turbo-supercharger for its engine meant that the airplane did not...

www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

 

[MiTasol]

Regarding the Cape York aircraft that were fully loaded with ammo. In relation to the one that I know of:

Syd Beck who salvaged it requested the Aus military to disarm it for him. He watched as the "armourer"set up a ladder and went over with his tool pouch to work on it. Seconds later the "armourer" jumped of the ladder and ran like hell because the "tool pouch" was actually an explosive satchel pack.

Somewhere I have photos taken minutes apart of before and after and also of Syd and his collection of the full set of unexploded 37mm rounds, not one of which went off. The aircraft was recently sold to the USA.

Those photos are at our new Brisbane home but we will not be there for a few months yet as we have to wait until SWMBO's chemo and radiation treatments are completed and she recovers before we can continue the move.