Thread: bunkers ammo dumps

Just the one post would have done it, Bob, as a new post will come up on our lists no matter where it is.

Tell us more about Beauty Betty. I haven't heard of her. If you're wanting to look for aircraft that haven't been found, you are going to have to do a lot of research before even stepping foot in the field.

The aircraft i am referring to is 'Beautiful Betsy" an American B24D that went missing on a run from Darwin to Brisbane on Feb 26th 1945. It was found on the Aug 2nd 1994 near Monto, Biloela.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraf.../42-40387.html

full history of aircraft here.

There may be several reasons for the missing components.
they were recovered at the same time as the remains of crew and passengers by the aircrafts original owners. USAF.
The aircraft may have been discovered earlier.
Or removed by the national park before they were pilferred.

Originally Posted by scarface

i am more interested in going looking for planes that havnt been found

The reason they haven't been found is because it is not known exactly where they crashed. Considering 60 years of post-war aviation research there are hundreds of researchers who pour over every file in the public domain, especially in the Australian National Archives but work out the possible routes, mission etc, and possible crash site.

I'm afraid if you want to find "unfound" aircraft wrecks, especially on mainland Australia, you will have to do the same and start by getting a good working handle on the Archives. You need to get a record of all crashes, work through each one against the official records to see if it was found, then search through all the records of post-war recoveries, and then see which ones are still missing.

It is not something that can be done in a few days or weeks. Some people have been undertaking such research for decades.

yes i realize this i was hoping maybe i would meet 1 of those people that have been doing it for a long time someone that would know a bit about the local area as i am from Victoria

Firstly welcome to the forum.

I am now going to add to Kyt's words of warning for you. Downed aircraft are a dangerous hobby to go looking for, especially in your area of the world. You state elsewhere you are a keen bushwalker. However accidents do happen so please, if you are going off to find a crash site, do all of the usual. Leave detailed information of your route and projected time of return with a reliable person. LOTS of water and food, as the walk may take you longer than expected.
Second this is a crash site. That means wreckage, which can be partially hidden by now, creating a hazard to all investigating it. I know many in this area of the world who have tripped over partially hidden airframe and injured themselves. Be damned careful.
As they are crashed aircraft the land around them will still be polluted with aviation fuel, and this stuff is lethal. It does not evaporate, it merely sits there in the soil until it is reignited. Add to this little time bomb the multiple bombs and bullets that she may have been carrying: wartime = LIVE AMMO. Just because the site may have been 'tidied' at the time there is most likely still going to be ammo around, and after so long in a corrosive environment like the outback is going to be highly unstable.
And lastly as it was a crash it is about a 80% chance it was a fatal crash. There may still be human remains in the wreckage, and as such should be treated as a war grave, regardless of whether the bodies were recovered or not.
Essentially I strongly suggest you DON'T go looking for crash sites in the outback, as the risks are far too high. You and your brother are not a viable search team, it needs to be a large, organised experienced group doing this kind of thing.

The same is for bunkers, you should never ever enter a bunker that has been lying neglected since the war. There can be any number of unsafe structures or wartime remnants that can hurt you. And if it goes wrong in a bunker then rescue is made harder.

I really do suggest that if you wish to teach your little brother about the war, then visit local museums and memorials. Leave the serious stuff until you are both older and involved with a more experienced group.

yes i understand all of the above and i understand your caution but if no body went looking for planes no body would find them and it definetly beets sitting on the couch waiting to get fat and die that way! so we will still go and have a look i know all of the things that we need to do anyway thanx for the input!

Scarface

all the things that we have said have been for one reason - your protection. If you had turned up on a climbing forum and said that you wanted to climb Everest you wouldn't expect anyone just to give you a route map and tell you to get on with it.

Things like aircraft and bunker searches requires knowledge, research and training. searchers need to know exactly what it is they may find - be it at a wreck site or in a bunker. Have you ever done any potholing? Or have you ever entered a dilapidated building? Well the dangers are multipled in bunkers by corroding containers that may contain corn beef or they may contain mustard gas. You have no idea of knowing because the labels will have rotted away. Just browse the forum on the threads about chemical weapons stored in abandoned bunkers if you want to know about the dangers.

Resarch is just as important. A wreck may have been left in situ as a memorial to killed airman. There may not be any signs indicating that fact.

Training. If you still insist on undertaking this type of research then go find your local aviation socity or archeological society. They will teach you the best way to find, and most importantly, treat such finds.

Finally, members here are wary of any new person who states that they wish to go looking for such wrecks etc - the fear that that individual will take pieces and try to sell them. Auction sites are full of such nighthawks and they are despised by most of us. If you decide to continue with this venture then please do not take anything away - even as a sovenier. It is disrespectful to the memory of the serviceman/men who flew that aircraft, and in some cases it is illegal.