P-MAN III - 5             

Ngeremlengui/VMF/F4U-1D

The second crash site, preliminarily identified on our last expedition (P-MAN II) in the Ngeremlengui State on the island of Babeldaob, was confirmed in conjunction with CILHI to be that of a specific F4U-1D Corsair. Although upon return from P-MAN III we were able to identify the aviator's name from records, we found no human remains during this preliminary ground search. As CILHI is currently evaluating data to determine the possibility of remains still being in vicinity of the crash, no further details about this aviator, his name or his unit can be released at this time. (NOTE: I held an American flag ceremony in October 2000 at this site.)

In October 2000, the P-MAN II team was taken by our local guides, Lazarus and Dwight, to a crash site that (at the time) we thought was in the state of Ngatpang. We were unable at that time to obtain GPS coordinates under the jungle canopy but we did identify the aircraft as that of a Corsair. We saw some numbers on the fuselage but, because of our reluctance to move the debris field, we could not get a set of numbers from which we could identify this particular Corsair. I subsequently reported this site to CILHI and NHC.

As part of their survey of known crash sites in Palau, CILHI decided to investigate this area with the P-MAN III team, with Lazarus once again as the local guide. On 18 November, Joe Maldangesang took us by boat to Ngatpang Bay and then up a narrowing fresh water outlet into the bay. Lazarus followed behind in his small and shallow draft fishing boat. When Joe's boat could go no further upstream, Lazarus serially transferred everyone via his small boat another 20 minutes further upstream to a landing point. With Lazarus and Joe leading through the jungle, we generally took our previous path. The weather was cooler this time but accompanying rain made ingress and egress considerably more muddy than last year.

Upon arriving at the site, I noted that the site appeared unchanged from last year. Dr. Bill Belcher, the CILHI archeologist, observed that, in his experience, the site did look like it had been scavenged, although it would be impossible to say when. As with last year, we found no cockpit instrumentation. Because Dr. Belcher had notified the Palau Historical Preservation Office of our objectives, on this trip we had more latitude in moving the debris field around. In examining the fuselage closely, we were able to make out a complete set of three painted numbers, which by convention should be the last three numbers of the Navy Bureau identification number (Bu. No.). With that number, the aviator who was flying that plane should be also identifiable. The group split into several units to expand the search field. Clem, Joe and I went approximately 150 yards to the rear of crash site; we found additional debris near the crash site, notably part of the empennage. However, no debris was evident beyond roughly 50 yards to the rear of the main crash area. Several of us made a line abreast at the rear of the crash site and walked forward through the site without finding any additional debris; however, the floor of the jungle was covered with deep vegetation which could have covered many smaller artifacts. The CILHI team was not able to find any evidence of personal effects (e.g., clothing, parachute) nor evidence of human remains on this preliminary search. Jessie Massey did find one rusted 0.50 cal machine gun with no discernible serial number in the creek forward of the fuselage. Unlike last year, both the CILHI team and I were able to obtain GPS readings of the crash site.

From last year, I suspected that more debris may have been thrown forward of the main crash site, so I spent some time examining that forward upward-sloping hill. There were numerous small pieces of debris (e.g., a cowling flap, a small radiator, aluminum tubing and other unidentified debris) in this area. My assessment is that there is yet more to be found up that slope.

As with last year, the amount of daylight remaining forced us to conclude the search. Since I had already held an American flag ceremony last year, we held a brief Explorers Club flag ceremony and headed back to the boat. Upon returning home, CILHI members and I independently were able to ascertain which Corsair this was and who flew it.

Knowing the GPS coordinates permitted me to compare our findings with coordinates of aircraft crash sites listed in a summary report written in 1947 by the US Graves Registration Unit (GRU). This U. S. Army unit surveyed the Palau Islands in 1946-7 in an attempt to ascertain the fates of many MIA airmen from WWII in that area. Of the at least 50 American aircraft (by my estimates) which crashed for all causes (not including related to takeoff/landing mishaps on the Peleliu runway) during WWII somewhere within the barrier reefs of the Palau Islands, the GRU reported 12 American crash sites with human remains associated with only two of them. Because mapping accuracy has increased since 1947, the map coordinates recorded by the GRU do not correspond exactly with today's GPS coordinates. Nonetheless, one set of coordinates they listed suggests that the GRU might have visited this site (no other known American crash sites nearby). If that is the case, then they also did not report finding human remains.

The day after this mission, the P-MAN III team took two video cameras on a flyover of Palau in a Cherokee flown by Belau Air. During that flight, I used the GOTO option on my Garmin GPS, which allowed us to get a general view directly over this Corsair crash site. From an altitude of ~2000 feet, nothing of the crash site could be seen despite a wide sweep over the area. Further, the area in which this Corsair crashed consists of dense jungle with no signs of habitation anywhere nearby.

Summary and Conclusion: A Corsair, found in October 2000 in an uninhabited area of Ngeremlengui State, was reexamined with the help of a CILHI team during this trip. The results of this extended investigation include identification of the specific model (F4U-1D), the specific aircraft and its aviator. Human remains have not been found to date. The fact that no personal effects have been found suggests at least three possibilities: 1) the aviator successfully bailed out somewhere behind the crash site (fate unknown), 2) the remains are at the crash site and have not yet been found and 3) the remains were found and removed sometime in the past. If the GRU did visit this site after the war, then the remains, if removed, would have had to be removed before their investigation. It is not certain, however, that the GRU visited the site, as evidenced by their failure to identify the Bu. No. numbers on the fuselage or the nearby machine gun, from which its serial number might have also established the aircraft's identity.

Dr. Belcher notified the Palau Historical Preservation office of these findings. Next steps in regard to future detailed searching for the aviator's remains are now under review at CILHI.