SWAMP GHOST TO COME HOME

Air Classics, Aug 2006

After years of negotiations, a Flying Fortress is being saved

Boeing B-17E USAAF 41 -2446, which has become known as Swamp Ghost, crashlanded in a New Guinea swamp on 23 Fehaiary 1942 during the dark, desperate days ot WWII is finally coming home. Back in the 1980s, negotiations started with the primitive government of that country to recover the bomber. Anything of interest to Americans immediately becomes an object of great value to the PNG government. The Travis Historical Society made a great effort to recover the plane, but was finally stymied by the government. As the plane became more vandalized, a number of individuals claimed they had the rights to the aircraft and were going to recover the Fort. Nothing came of these plans. Finally, spearheaded by David Tallichet, a massive recovery effort was undertaken and Swamp Ghost was airlifted (in components) by a Russian helicopter. When it arrived at the docks, the government made another attempt to stop the bomber from leaving, but it appears that their attempt was not successful and Swamp Ghost, after over six decades is being returned home.