Latest news with #Madang
ABC News
5 days ago
- ABC News
World War II bomber Hell'n Pelican II sets sail for Port Moresby after 10-year restoration
Eight decades after it was last in the sky, an American bomber known as the Hell'n Pelican II is making its way back to Papua New Guinea, where it crash-landed during World War II. On Thursday, the Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber was loaded by crane onto the Navy's ADV Reliant ship, after being transported by truck from the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley near Brisbane. It will take three days of sailing to get the plane to Port Moresby, where it will take pride of place at the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery. Colonel Boniface Aruma, from the PNG Defence Force, said it was a significant moment. "It's emotional, but it's also a moment of happiness," Colonel Aruma, who is posted to the Australian Army's 3rd Brigade as Deputy Commander said. "I'd like to say that the aircraft is going back to its final resting place." In April of 1944, the Hell'n Pelican II and crew — Captain Charles Davidson and Sergeant John McKenna — crash-landed when a weather event hampered their return from a mission. "They were struck by a weather event, and that caused the aircraft essentially to run out of fuel, and they were forced to land in the Madang province," Warrant Officer Craig Smith, from the RAAF's History and Heritage division, said. Warrant Officer Smith said the two American airmen were "essentially behind enemy lines" and evaded Japanese infantry as they trekked for 15 days through the jungle to safety. He said the downed plane had been "strafed" with bullets by Japanese Zero planes in an attempt to kill the downed airmen. The bomber was found in 1976 by war historian and author Michael Claringbould. In 1984, it was removed by Mr Claringbould and a team from the Australian Defence Force, which used a Chinook helicopter to lift it from the bush. It was brought by sea to Brisbane, and over 10 years was painstakingly restored and eventually displayed at a museum at the Amberley air base. For Colonel Aruma, the task alone to retrieve and restore the aircraft speaks volumes about the relationship between PNG, Australia and the allied forces that defended the Pacific. "If it wasn't discovered, it will be left to ruins in the middle of the jungle in Madang, but selfless effort by those that went before us to restore this aircraft, to bring it back to life [will prevent that]," he said. "Madang is very mountainous and rugged … the hardest conditions, steep ravines, high mountains, deep valleys, and so I wouldn't be surprised if that aircraft was sitting in the middle of a ravine or in thick tropical jungle that you have to cut through to pull that aircraft out." Remarkably, the bomber was found in good condition, which Warrant Officer Smith said was all thanks to the unforgiving PNG jungle. "Where it actually finally came to rest was in swamp land and, essentially, the mud and the environment preserved a lot of it," he said. Variations of the Douglas bombers were used widely across all fronts of World War II, with an estimated 7,500 Douglas A-20 Havocs manufactured. "It was a light bomber aircraft, and that was its main purpose in life," Warrant Officer Smith said. "The Australian and UK also operated an aircraft very similar to this, and we called it the Boston bomber, but it was essentially the same A-20 aircraft." The aircraft was also used by the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and the Soviet Air Forces. "I know that approximately six were retrieved out of New Guinea to reassemble this one, and there's a second aircraft that's been reassembled and restored and is now on display in Point Cook," Warrant Officer Smith said. He said the pelican painted on the side was the emblem of Second Lieutenant Charles Davidson, who flew the aircraft. "This is the first one to go back to Papua New Guinea," he said. "There's a historical aircraft shelter, a brand new shelter, that's just been built over there." Colonel Aruma said the return of the aircraft was a historic occasion. "This gift not only demonstrates the relationship between the ADF and the PNG, but it goes above and beyond the two forces, and it's so significant," he said. "I'm sure there will be hundreds, if not thousands of people in the capital of Port Morseby lining up to have a look at this aircraft that has been so nicely put together. "It really speaks to the history we share."
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 28 May
A man has died after pirates reportedly boarded two boats off Madang, PNG, and forced people into the water The passengers were travelling from Madang Town to Saidor Station. Photo: Google Maps A man has died after pirates reportedly boarded two boats off Madang, PNG, and forced people into the water. NBC PNG reported the passengers were travelling in two 40-horse powered dinghies from Madang Town to Saidor Station. Operator of the search and rescue boat Leonard Kudud said a distress call was received from deployed police personnel, reporting a pirate attack near Tabalip Point. He said during the attack, the pirates forced all passengers overboard and ordered them to swim ashore. One male passenger, unable to swim, drowned. The survivors were transported to the Basamuk Plant Site, where they received medical attention. Fiji's deputy prime minister Biman Prasad said it's up the President to release information on the Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of the anti-corruption office head, Barbara Malimali. The Fiji Times reported Prasad saying the inquiry was called for and appointed by President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. He said it's the president who should be asked about former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry's claim that the inquiry cost taxpayers over FJ$2 million. Prasad also defended Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's failure to make the report public. He said Rabuka is an experienced prime minister who knows what is right for the country. US President Donald Trump's executive order enabling more commercial fishing in the Pacific is being challenged in court. Environmental activist group Earthjustice said the order, which allows fishing in some protected zones in the Pacific, will have region-wide consequences to marine ecosystems. AP reported Earthjustice calling the order "piling lawlessness on top of lawlessness" and a threat to "a wide variety of scientific and historical treasures". The protected zones encompass various US-owned territories, including Johnston Atoll near Hawai'i. Papua New Guinea's health department has approved a ban on the use and importing of e-cigarettes. The National reported health minister Elias Kapavore saying there are concerns about the use of e-cigarettes among young people aged from 11 to 17. Anyone breaching the ban could be fined 10,000 kina - about US$2,440. Companies breaking the rules would face a fine of 100,000 kina, and this can be doubled if it's a tobacco company in breach. Kapavore said according to statistics, tobacco is estimated to cause 8.8 per cent of all deaths in PNG. The law was to come into effect seven days after its formal gazettal notice was published. Australia is giving another US$1.9 million for climate and disaster resilience for Pacific Farmer Organisations. The Climate Resilient Farming in Pacific Islands program is coordinated by Pacific Farmer Organisations, who represent a network of 30 farmer organisations and more than 100,000 smallholder farmers. Australia's High Commissioner to Tonga Brek Batley said locally tailored climate solutions are essential for a prosperous, resilient and inclusive agriculture sector across the Pacific. Australia said the program benefited 16,800 farmers in seven countries in its first year. Solomon Islands parliament has passed legislation allowing the setting up of Special Economic Zones. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the Special Economic Zones can steer the country towards sustained peace, economic recovery, and long-term development. He said by concentrating government efforts and resources in designated areas, the zones can encourage economic diversification and job creation.
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Papua New Guinea: Modillon Hospital in Madang on the brink of collapse, warns manager
Madang Hospital. Like many hospitals in PNG, Madang Hospital is also struggling with shortages. (file image). Photo: US Navy The acting manager of one of Papua New Guinea's main hospitals says it is on the brink of collapse. Workers at Modillon Hospital in Madang say there is severe mismanagement, a lack of funding, and unsafe working conditions. The hospital is meant to provide services for a catchment of half a million people. Acting hospital manager John Mark Jeremiah said Modillon is no longer functioning as a proper referral facility, and he is blaming this on poor leadership and outside interference. He told the Post-Courier that ''professional standards have collapsed". Staff have reports that essential medical tools, such as portable X-ray machines and anaesthetic equipment, are broken. They say sterilisation systems are also down, and water and electricity services are unreliable. Toilets and ablution blocks are in poor condition, and there are serious hygiene concerns. Doctors also reported being left off the payroll, while others have been evicted from staff housing due to unpaid rent. This is despite reports that five sixths of the hospital's funding goes to wages, leaving little for hospital operations.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 14 May
Photo: Jose Fontano / Unsplash Papua New Guineans have been dealing with flooding in several areas. The Post-Courier reported several parts of Zifasing village, gardens, and cattle grazing areas have been affected. Primary school head teacher, Andipas Joseph said classes were suspended indefinitely last Thursday when the flood started. He said there were concerns about the pit toilets being flooded. Kaviananga Primary School's classrooms and teachers' houses have also been affected, as has Obo Health Center, and the Wagol community within Madang Town. A second seismic monitoring station has been mounted on Mt Bagana in central Bougainville. Mt Bagana is one of the most active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea, most recently erupting two years ago, resulting in the displacement of several thousand people. A first monitor was put in place in March. The Bougainville Government said having the two seismic monitoring stations at Mt Bagana is a milestone achievement in the region's disaster preparedness efforts. A team from Auckland University has completed a mental health survey in Tokelau. The survey is part of a Pacific-wide study led by Professors Sir Collin Tukuitonga and Jude McCool. Sir Collin said more than 300 people on Tokelau completed the surveys. The first surveys were done in Sāmoa and Tonga two years ago, and found a notable prevalence of mental health distress. Sir Collin said anxiety disorders and depression appear to be quite common. The head of the Mental Health Unit in Sāmoa, psychiatrist Dr George Tuitama, said it is the first time Tokelau has participated in a mental health awareness project. He said there has been high demand for the researchers to attend groups and deliver awareness talks. The Cook Islands Investment Corporation has announced the appointment of former Pacific Islands Forum secretary general, Henry Puna, to the Board of Cobalt Seabed Resources (CSR). CSR is a joint venture between the Cook Islands government and Global Sea Mineral Resources of Belgium. It holds exploration licences in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone as well as within the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone. Puna served as prime minister of the Cook Islands from 2010 to 2020, and also held various ministerial portfolios, including foreign affairs, marine resources and energy. Cook Islands News reported him saying CSR is uniquely placed to make advances for the people of the Cook Islands. Sustainable management of Pacific tuna fisheries is a key issue in front of fisheries officials meeting in Niue this week. It's the 138th meeting of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). Officials will deliberate on several key issues, including progress on the review of the FFA Strategic Plan, the independent review of FFA, and updates on regional fisheries policies. Niue's Natural Resources Minister Mona Ainu'u is championing the Ocean Literacy Initiative. "My concern is that our people, especially our young people and children must understand how international and regional decisions affect their livelihoods," she said. "Our children will inherit the seeds we plant today. They will eventually take over from us, and so we need to invest now through our school curricula and outreach programs."
