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PNG Frequently
Asked Questions
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via Papua New Guinea
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via Papua New Guinea
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Please note -- Whilst all care has been taken in preparing and maintaining the FAQ's about Papua New Guinea it is not possible to be able verify every answer. The information is provided 'as is' and I can not accept responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from the use of this information.
Please verify the information for yourself from a government source, travel agent or other similar organisation.
This database does not contain information about other countries. It is only about Papua New Guinea (PNG).
History - War List of Categories
Do you have a possible inclusion for this "War history" category of FAQ? If you do then please let me know.
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- World War II Ships - Lakatoi
- World War II Ships - Laurabada
- Were there only Indian POW's brought to Rabaul by the Japanese?
- How many of the old Indian Army are buried in Rabaul?<--Indian pows-->
- When was Salamaua captured by the Japanese in WWII?
- When was the first attack on Australian territory during the 2nd world war?
- When was John Jackson’s last flight?
- When did Australian soldiers stop the Japanese soldiers advancing towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Trail?
- When did the Japanese capture the Kokoda Trail during ther Second World War?
- How long did the battle of Isurava along the Kokoda Trail last for?
- When was the Macdhui sunk in Port Moresby Harbour?
- how long is the kokoda trail? <--kokoda track-->
- Why does PNG celebrate Remembrance Day on the 23rd of July?
- Where can I find articles about World War 2 History and relics in PNG?
- Where can I find photographs taken during WW2?
- Are there any disabled World War II wrecks in PNG?
- Do you know if tanks were used during the Second World War in PNG?
- Is ANZAC day celebrated in PNG?
- Was PNG attacked during the Second World War?
- When was the Battle of the Coral Sea?
- Who was the head of Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit?
- who were the Heads of New Guinea Administrative Unit?
- Who were the U.S. Military Commanders during the secon worlld war?
- Who were the Japanese Commanders of Occupied New Guinea and Papua during WW2
- Where can I find out informtaion about Australian Soldiers that fought in New Guinea during the Second World War?
- When was the Battle of New Britain?
- When was the Kavieng Wharf Massacre?
- Approximately how many Second World War aircraft are still lost in PNG?
- What are the names of the 29 Allies lost during the Battle of New Britain?
- How many soldiers are buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
- When was the War Cemetery at Lae started?
- Where can I find a list of soldiers buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
- I hear that there are tunnels on the island of New Britain. How long are the tunnels?
- How many Japanese airstrips were located at wartime Rabaul?
- When did the Allied Air Force begin a major air offensive against Rabaul during the Second World War?
- Where did Private Edward Kenna earn his VC - Victoria Cross?
- Where did the commander of the Japanese Army in PNG surrender at the end of the Second World War?
- How close did the Japanese get to Port Moresby when fighting along the Kokoda Track in 1942.
- When was the battle of Isurava along the Kokoda Track?
- How long should a "normal" person allow to walk the Kokoda Trail?
- Whan was tha Battle of Milne Bay?
- When was the Macdhui sunk?
- How many airstrips were in Port Moresby during the Second World War?
- In what year did the allied army build Number 1 strip in Milne Bay?
- How did the Number One strip get the name "Gurney"?
- What year did the Panguna mine close?
- When did the modern day crisis begin on Bougainville?
- When was the Kangu Beach massacre on Bougainville Island?
- When was the Battle of Buna?
- Who were the "chocos"?
- When was the Buna-Sanananda Operation?
- Where was the logistics point for the savage beachhead battles at Gona, Sanananda and Buna from November 1942 to January 1943?
- Where is the start (or finish) of the Kokoda track?
- What crashed WWII aeroplanes have been found on the old pre-war emergency airstrip at Talasea in West New Britain province?
- Where can I find out about Japanese air operations over New Guinea during the Second World War?
- What are some of the planes used during the Second World War in PNG?
- What was one of the planes flown in PNG during the Second World War?
- What was the most popular P-38 Lightning?
- Where can I find out information on the Sandline crisis that brought down the Sir Julius Chan and Chris Haiveta led PNG Government in 1997?
- The name of the RAAF wirriway sqn ordered to fight zero's at Rabaul at the beginning of WW2, the co's name who made the famous quotation "we who are about to die, salute you" in Latin and the names of the crews. I think there were only 6-7 wirriways and only 2 of the crews survived.
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- World War II Ships - Lakatoi
The Lakatoi was a 179 ton boat. The boat was used to evacuate 212 Lark Force personnel and 2 civilian women from Witu in New Britain in March 1942 to Cairns, Australia.
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- World War II Ships - Laurabada
This ship was used to evacuate 156 personnel from Palmalmal on the south coast of New Britain in April, 1942. This ship had to run the gauntlet too of potential Japanese detection and attack. The Laurabada resupplied the Lakatoi and guided it through the China Straits. The Laurabada discharged the evacuees at Port Moresby, from whence they were taken by a larger vessel, the Macdhui to Australia.
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- Were there only Indian POW's brought to Rabaul by the Japanese?
No it is reported that thousands of Chinese, Indian, and British prisoners of war where bought to Rabaul as slave labour to help on the wahrves and in the tunnels.
Captured American, Australian and New Zealand airmen added to the number of prisoners.
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- How many of the old Indian Army are buried in Rabaul?<--Indian pows-->
A large number of Indian prisoners of war from Malaya and Hong Kong were liberated from the Japanese by the Australian Army during the 1945 campaign in New Britain, New Ireland, and Bougainville. A total of 619 casualties of the old Indian Army are buried at Bita Paka. (Rabaul, East New Britain)
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- When was Salamaua captured by the Japanese in WWII?
The Town of Salamaua was captured by the Japanese on the 8th of March, 1942 during World War II.
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- When was the first attack on Australian territory during the 2nd world war?
The attack on Darwin on 19 February 1942 marked the first attack made on continental Australia by an enemy force. It was not the first attack on Australian territory. On 4 January 1942, 22 Nells bombed the airfield at Lakunai, near Rabaul, New Britain, part of the Australian Mandate of Papua New Guinea.
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- When was John Jackson’s last flight?
At 11.15 am, 28 April 1942, Jackson led five Kittyhawks to intercept a superior force of Japanese bombers and fighters north of Port Moresby. Jackson and Barry Cox died fighting the Zeke escort that had the advantage of height over the slow climbing Kittyhawks. Flying Officer Peter Masters spun out of the combat, and Flying Officer Le Gay ‘Cocky’ Brereton was slightly wounded when his Kittyhawk was hit in the wings and fuselage. Jackson’s aircraft was seen to crash on Mount Lawes. When the crash site was located, the engine was found embedded two metres into the ground from the force of the impact.
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- When did Australian soldiers stop the Japanese soldiers advancing towards Port Moresby along the Kokoda Trail?
The soldiers eventually halted the Japanese soldiers at Ioribaiwa Ridge on the 26th of September 1942.
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- When did the Japanese capture the Kokoda Trail during ther Second World War?
The Japanese captured the Kokoda Trail on the 28th of July 1942.
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- How long did the battle of Isurava along the Kokoda Trail last for?
It lasted from the 27th to the 30th of August 1942.
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- When was the Macdhui sunk in Port Moresby Harbour?
During the Second World War in June 1942
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- how long is the kokoda trail? <--kokoda track-->
About 95 miles depending on what you consider to be the start of the track.
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- Why does PNG celebrate Remembrance Day on the 23rd of July?
PNG's Remembrance Day is held on July 23 in recognition of the first engagement between PNG troops and Japanese troops on that day in 1942 at Awala near Kokoda.
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- Where can I find articles about World War 2 History and relics in PNG?
This article was originally published in the Air Niugini Paradise Magazine. It has been reproduced at this web site -- www.em.com.pg
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- Where can I find photographs taken during WW2?
A good starting point would be -- http://www.pngbd.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/5485/sort/1/cat/533 and then browse from there.
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- Are there any disabled World War II wrecks in PNG?
Yes, try visiting -- http://www.niuginidiving.com/. For example you can read about the wreck of the Shanko Maru and Mini Sub at -- http://www.niuginidiving.com/japsub.html -- Another site is the Swamp Ghost site -- http://www.theswampghost.com/.
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- Do you know if tanks were used during the Second World War in PNG?
It has been reported that the Japanese were surprised by the use of tanks and had to make makeshift anti-tank defences by cutting down coconut trees to block the approach of the oncoming tanks.
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- Is ANZAC day celebrated in PNG?
Yes, it is celebrated on the 25th of April each year. PNG also has Remberance Day that is celebrated on the 23rd of July.
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- Was PNG attacked during the Second World War?
The Japanese bombed Port Moresby and other areas repeatedly in 1942, during World War II. General Douglas MacArthur, overall comander of the Allied forces, made his headquarters at Port Moresby for a time.
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- When was the Battle of the Coral Sea?
The Battle of the Coral Sea was from the 3rd of May to 8th of May 1942 (during the Second World War).
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- Who was the head of Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit?
10 Apr 1942 - 194? Kenneth Carlyle McMullen.
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- who were the Heads of New Guinea Administrative Unit?
14 Feb 1942 - 15 Feb 1942 George Wilfred Lambert Townsend (b. 1896 - d. 19..)
15 Feb 1942 - 9 Apr 1942 Kenneth Carlyle McMullen (b. 1904))
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- Who were the U.S. Military Commanders during the secon worlld war?
The U.S. Military Commanders were
1943 - 1944 Walter Krueger(b. 1881 - d. 1967)
1944 Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (b. 1886 - d. 1961)
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- Who were the Japanese Commanders of Occupied New Guinea and Papua during WW2
The Japanese Commanders were
21 Jan 1942 - 1942 Tomitaro Horii(b. 1890 - d. 1942)
1942 Hyakutake Seikichi (b. 1888 - d. 1947)
9 Nov 1942 - 13 Sep 1945 Adachi Hatazo (b. 1890 - d. 1947)
(from Aug 1944, in opposition)
9 Nov 1942 - 6 Sep 1945 Imamura Hitoshi (b. 1886 - d. 1968)
(at Rabaul in charge of New Guinea islands)
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- Where can I find out informtaion about Australian Soldiers that fought in New Guinea during the Second World War?
Sorry this is outside the reason for ths PNG FAQ's site because it is concerning Australia but have you had a look at the Department of Veterans Affairs -- www.dva.gov.au/commem/faq/faq1.htm web site? Look at this page and search to the bottom you may find some helpful links.
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- When was the Battle of New Britain?
During the Second World War from 1943 to 1944
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- When was the Kavieng Wharf Massacre?
It may have been on the 18th February 1944 but the 18th February was the one associated with the false story of the ship Kowa Maru and when the missing prisoners of war were allegedly put on board. It was subsequently sunk with great loss of life, 30 miles west of New Hanover on 21 February 1944. It was the date the men went missing, presumed dead, used by the Australian Government on the Certificates of Death issued after the war. It may have been one day in March 1944 most likely the 14th. This date was stated by the 3 most senior Japanese officers as the date of the massacre in their appeal petition dated 2 December 1947
See -- Kavieng Wharf Massacre -- http://www.jje.info/lostlives/exhib/potp/kaviengwharf.html
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- Approximately how many Second World War aircraft are still lost in PNG?
It is hard to estimate but the number has put as being over 600 aircraft. (2007)
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- What are the names of the 29 Allies lost during the Battle of New Britain?
No. 30 Squadron (Beaufighters)
W R G Binnie
J L Brooks
J J Cain
C H Chapple
P J Coates
W N P Cosgrove
W L Daniels
C P Glasscock
R A Kelly
D C Kirkwood
B A Le Griffon
G A Lucas
E B Morris-Hadwell
J R Newman
D R Stone
R V Tiballs
C E Wein
H M Woodroffe
W J Yates
G Gill (AIF)
No. 22 Sqquadron (Bostons)
H B Dawkins
J G Emerton
T J Gawne
J B Knight
E G T Riley
D G Semple
G R Thomas
L K Wilson
No. 79 Squadron (Spitfires)
L Wettenhall
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- How many soldiers are buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
The cemetery contains the graves of men who lost their lives during the New Guinea campaign whose graves were brought here from the temporary military cemeteries in areas where the fighting took place.
The cemetery contains 2,818 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 444 of them are unidentified.
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- When was the War Cemetery at Lae started?
The Lae War cemetery was commenced in 1944 by the Australian Army Graves Service and handed over to the Commission in 1947.
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- Where can I find a list of soldiers buried at the Lae War Cemetery?
Try the PNGBD web site they had (have) a listing at the following link -- http://www.pngbd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5925
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- I hear that there are tunnels on the island of New Britain. How long are the tunnels?
The pumice hills of Rabaul were honeycombed with over 500 kilometres of tunnels, including 15 hospitals (one such being 4 kilometres in length, and having a capacity for 2,500 patients). Indian P.O.W's captured at Singapore, and local inhabitants were used as labour for digging the tunnels - extreme hardships and many deaths resulted.
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- How many Japanese airstrips were located at wartime Rabaul?
At it's peak the fortress of Rabaul included 5 airstrips, a float plane base, a submarine base, huge numbers of naval vessels, and up to 200,000 Japanese armed forces personnel.
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- When did the Allied Air Force begin a major air offensive against Rabaul during the Second World War?
Tuesday, 12 October, 1943
The Allied Air Force began a major air offensive against Rabaul on New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago with the aim of isolating and neutralizing it. Almost 350 B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and RAAF airplanes pound the town, harbor, and airfields in the area; over 50 Japanese aircraft are destroyed, 3 ships are sunk and several damaged, and several small harbor craft are sunk.
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- Where did Private Edward Kenna earn his VC - Victoria Cross?
He earned it by single handedly defending Wirui Mission Hill near Wewak against two Japanese machine gun outposts on the 15th of May 1945.
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- Where did the commander of the Japanese Army in PNG surrender at the end of the Second World War?
It was at Cape Wom, Wewak at 10:15am on the 13th of September 1945, when Lt Gen Hatazo Adchi surrendered unconditionally in the presence of over 3,000 troops to Maj Gen HCW Robertson CBE DSO Australiam Army.
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- How close did the Japanese get to Port Moresby when fighting along the Kokoda Track in 1942.
In 1942 Japanese troops tried to capture Papua New Guinea¹s capital, Port Moresby, by crossing the Owen Stanley range of mountains from the north coast hoping to attack the town from the rear. They got within 35 kilometres of Moresby.
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- When was the battle of Isurava along the Kokoda Track?
The four-day Battle of Isurava in Papua New Guinea in 1942 would not, in isolation, be regarded as a victory for Australian forces. It was however vital to Australia’s security, because it bought Australian and American forces the time they needed to fortify Port Moresby and ultimately stem the Japanese invasion of Papua.
Private Bruce Kingsbury from the 2/14th, 21st Brigade, 7th Division, Australian Infantry Battalion, A.I.F was awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions during the battle on the 29 August 1942. http://chapter-one.com/vc/award.asp?vc=696
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- How long should a "normal" person allow to walk the Kokoda Trail?
What is normal? Allow 9 to 10 days if you want to enjoy the scenery. The record is under 24 hours but I am sure not much of the scenery was seen!
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- Whan was tha Battle of Milne Bay?
The Battle of Milne Bay was a World War II battle that took place between the 25th of August and the 6th of September 1942.
The Queensland, Darling Downs-based 25th Battalion were the first Allied troops to stop Japanese forces on land, at Milne Bay in 1942.
It was an absolutely vital battle for both sides. If the Japanese won control of the Milne Bay airstrip, they could have launched air attacks on Port Moresby and allied shipping north of Australia.
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- When was the Macdhui sunk?
The Macdhui was sunk in Fairfax Harbour (1942) during the Second World War.
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- How many airstrips were in Port Moresby during the Second World War?
I believe there were seven airstrips but I can not find the name of all of them. Can anyone help?
The ones I have are
Seven Mile (Jackson's)
Waigani - Wards strip
Rorona,
Bomana,
and Laloki.
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- In what year did the allied army build Number 1 strip in Milne Bay?
They built Number 1 strip (now called Gurney) in June 1942
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- How did the Number One strip get the name "Gurney"?
The strip was named after WWII Royal Australian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Captain Bob Gurney who was the commanding officer of the Number 33 Squadron. He was killed in action in May 1942. His plane is believed to have crashed near the Trobriand Islands. (in Milne Bay)
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- What year did the Panguna mine close?
The Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) forced the Panguna mine to close in 1989.
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- When did the modern day crisis begin on Bougainville?
The Bougainvillean Crisis began in 1989 and was led by Francis Ona the self styled leader of teh Bougianville Revolutionary Army (BRA).
Francis Ona died on the 24th of July 2005.
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- When was the Kangu Beach massacre on Bougainville Island?
The massacre took place in 1992. It has been reported that the Bougainville Revolutionary Army killed 18?? PNG Defence Force soldiers.
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- When was the Battle of Buna?
During the Second World War. On 15 November 1942 MG Harding issued Field Order No. 1 for the operation. On 16 November the advance commenced according to plan. On 19 November the attack commenced.
See also Sanananda.
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- Who were the "chocos"?
They were the inexperienced soldiers who fought along the Kokoda Trail during the Second World War. The nickname was short for Chocolate Soldiers - they were expected to melt in the tropical jungle of PNG.
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- When was the Buna-Sanananda Operation?
Between the 16th of November 1942 and the 23rd of January 1943. Sanananda is a few miles west of the Girua River.
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- Where was the logistics point for the savage beachhead battles at Gona, Sanananda and Buna from November 1942 to January 1943?
The logistics point was Popondetta in Northern Province (Oro).
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- Where is the start (or finish) of the Kokoda track?
The northern end of the Kokoda Trail terminates at the village of Kokoda and from here to the coast, and around the beaches of Buna and Gona, some of the most violent and bitter fighting of World War II took place. It is estimated that over 15,000 Japanese soldiers died on the Kokoda Track. The area is still littered with war relics and at Jiropa Plantation, on the Buna road there is a Japanese plaque commemorating their dead.
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- What crashed WWII aeroplanes have been found on the old pre-war emergency airstrip at Talasea in West New Britain province?
B25 - Mitchell Bomber (US Fifth Airforce)
Lockheed Orion Bomber (RNZAirForce)
Zeke/Zero (carrier based - unknown details, IJN)
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- Where can I find out about Japanese air operations over New Guinea during the Second World War?
Try -- http://www.awm.gov.au/journal/j34/shindo.htm
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- What are some of the planes used during the Second World War in PNG?
The Biscuit Bomber - Douglas C47 (DC3)
Japanese Zero
P-38 Lightning
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- What was one of the planes flown in PNG during the Second World War?
One of the planes was the Lockheed P-38 Lightning built at the Burbank Califorinia production line. It was often called Peter Three Eight for obvious reasons.
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- What was the most popular P-38 Lightning?
This question is only semi related to PNG but I will have a go at answering it. The most popular P-38 Lightning was the J Model (P-38J) as it had twin V12 1425 hp Allison V-1710 engines.
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- Where can I find out information on the Sandline crisis that brought down the Sir Julius Chan and Chris Haiveta led PNG Government in 1997?
Sandline has a website at -- http://www.sandline.com but that only deals with the company itself. It is recommended to read some other articles about Sandline in PNG -- http://www.wsws.org/news/1997/apr1997/png-a28.shtml and http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/24/081.html -- for example.
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- The name of the RAAF wirriway sqn ordered to fight zero's at Rabaul at the beginning of WW2, the co's name who made the famous quotation "we who are about to die, salute you" in Latin and the names of the crews. I think there were only 6-7 wirriways and only 2 of the crews survived.
Sorry can not answer that question.
I believe the slow trainer Wirriway fighters each using one .303 machine gun fought the Zeros on the 21st day January of 1942 near Rabaul, though outnumbered, out gunned and out classed they downed a Zero each before they were finished.
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Please note that this is not "Ask Jeeves" — you cannot type a whole sentence as your query. Enter a word, a phrase, or several words and press search.
Please remember that this is a FAQ database about Papua New Guinea.
Doing a search for PNG or New Guinea or even P.N.G will probably not return much. Keep the search simple. i.e. if you want to find out the population simply enter "population" without the quotes. There is no need to have PNG / P.N.G or whatever in the search string.
