Monday, July 13, 2009

US and Wreck Hunters Race to Find World War II Planes

The June 1st San Francisco Chronicle had an article about the growing conflict between the United States government and wreck hunters over the locations of downed US World War II planes. The government wants to reclaim the remains of the pilots and the hunters are after the money that can be made for recovering these aircraft whose value is fast-rising. There is great demand among wealthy American collectors.

In recent years the US has found the remains of nearly 500 American flyers, about half in Papua New Guinea, site of many air battles between Japan and the US.

A P-38 Lightning was recently offered for $495,000 and a rare twin engine P-38 Lightning goes from $3.8 to 7 million.

Treasure and wreck hunters are flocking to PNG, as Papua New Guinea is called, where there are 2,200 missing American World War II flyers.

Let's Hope the Treasure Hunters Do the Right Thing and Turn Any Remains They Find Over to Authorities. --Cooter

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