The jungles of Papua New Guinea are littered with the wrecks of Allied and Japanese aircraft in varying stages of disintegration. Aircraft types that went down on land or sea of West New Britain include the B-17E Flying Fortress, the P-38H Lightning, the P-47D Thunderbolt, the B-25D Mitchell, the P-38G and P-38H Lightning, the B24D Liberator and the A-20G Hvoc. Japanese fighter planes were also downed and the Japanese Zero at rest in Kimbe Bay, has become a popular dive site since its location was confirmed and recorded a few years ago.

Many vessels were also lost including destroyers, landing ships, barges, motor launches.

The Pacific Wrecks database, available online at www.pacificwrecks.com has the following information about war wrecks in West New Britain.

As part of a plan to advance Allied air bases closer to Rabaul, Americans had seized and established bases at Arowe and Cape Gloucester on the west end of New Britain and at Hoskins on the north coast.

Northern Coast

Wilhelm Peninsula

Southern Coast

There are several wrecks accessible by visitors to Lindenhafen, as the Gasmata area was heavily bombed by the Allied who lost aircraft including the B17, B-24D Liberator and B-25G Mitchell.  There are two plane wrecks accessible by road to visitors to West New Britain, near Talasea, a small government station on the east coast of the Willaumez Peninsula.

B-25H Mitchell 43-4513

The North American B-25H at Talasea, in West New Britain, is believed to be the last of this version left in original configuration.  B-25H Mitchell USAAF S/N 43-4513 was built at the North American factory at Inglewood, California. It was accepted by USAAF on January 21, 1944. After receiving modifications for overseas flight and South Pacific duty the aircraft was dispatched to the South West Pacific theatre under the code name of Epic and assigned to the 79th Air Force. Later, it was transferred to the 42nd Bomb Group of the 13th USAAF. In 1944 the 42nd BG operated from Stirling Island in the Northern Solomons.

Along with two other aircraft, 43-4513 took off on the morning of 3 September  1944, armed with 14.50 caliber machine guns, a 75mm cannon with 21 rounds of 75mm ammunition and a bomb bay loaded up with Para-frags and incendiaries. The group lifted off the Coronus airstrip and flew low and fast along the west coast of Bougainville Island. Near Buka Island the Mitchells turned towards New Britain Island, but the weather was deteriorating as they closed on the island.  Heading west along the coast, the three B-25H Mitchells flew low, following close in along the coastline towards Cape Orford and beyond Palmalmal, where they would turn and head for home.

Beyond Cape Orford a string of dark shapes on the inner edge of a passing squall were spotted:  a Japanese tug with a string of barges in tow.  Caught in the open with no hope of running for cover the tug crew could do little against the feared B25s as they carried only two 7.7mm machine guns.  After the tug was destroyed by a 75mm cannon shell, its barges were systematically destroyed by the combined cannon and machine gun fire of the flight .  The remains of two barges that drifted ashore can still be seen, as well as the still intact 43-4513.

Just after this encounter  with the barges, one of 43-451's Wright R-2600 radials failed and the remaining engine also started to give trouble. The captain made a decision to fly across the island to recently recaptured Talasea where an emergency airstrip was available. The aircraft landed at high speed and blew out the nose gear tyre with consequent collapse of the nose leg. The aircraft skidded to a stop on its nose but no one was injured. An inspection of the B-25 revealed moderate damage to the airframe so she was written off then dragged to her last resting place just off the airstrip. Today, the airstrip is overgrown with kunai grass and the jungle has reclaimed the old campsites and maintenance area. An overgrown track now passes through the length of the old strip and there, just off to the left some 30 metres from the track before it re-enters the jungle, can be seen B-25H 43-4513, still standing on her main undercarriage.

Lockheed Ventura NZ4522

On the 9th September 1944, Flight Lieutenant Fred Tomas captained NZ 4522
on a mission to bomb and straf the Japanese held position of Kerevat airstrip near Rabaul, in what is now East New Britain Province. The mission originated from Torokina, Bougainville Island where the No 3 BR Squadron was based.

On arrival near the target, the Lockheed completed two runs.   On the second run, after the two remaining bombs were released, the starboard engine cut out.   In this situation, flying on one engine, Fred knew he could not return to his base in Bougainville or reach a base over the mountains in New Ireland. He decided to head for friendly territory on Willaumez Peninsula, Talasea.

It was believed the chances of a successful ditching were about 1 in 5. The fear of being taken prisoner in enemy territory and its consequences were in everyone’s mind. In preparing to ditch, the door and canopy were jettisoned. Later, the turret guns and ammunition were thrown overboard along with other items.
With this desperate situation, and losing altitude, Fred opted to try to ride the thermal updrafts under cumulus clouds. This proved a successful strategy going from 100 feet above sea level to climb 900 feet on the first occasion and reach 800 feet on the second attempt. They continued on, fuel now running low.

Almost 2 hours after bombing Kerevat, they approached the Talasea strip, on top of a 320 feet ridge.  After determining the strip was serviceable, they landed on the strip which was only 600 yards long and 45 yards wide. Soft ground was a contributing factor in slowing the landing run.  On inspection, they found a 20mm shell had severed the fuel line to the starboard engine. It was something of a miracle there was no fire.