Pilots Missing in Action
Lieutenant Billy Ray Ramsay and Sergeant Charlie J. Sciara were on the plane when it crashed on January 14, 1944.
Source: Michael Barera/Wikimedia Commons
As no one knew where the crash had happened, both pilots and the plane were declared Missing In Action (MIA). A year after the crash, they were officially declared dead, as neither the pilots nor the plane had shown up.
Stories of the Plane Crash Told Throughout History
The plane crash of 1944 in Papua New Guinea was widely known, to the point where those involved in searching for the plane said that their grandparents had often told them the story of the missing plane and pilots.
Source: SDASM/Wikimedia Commons
However, no one who told this story knew where the plane could possibly be or what became of it and the pilots flying it. Researchers decided they had to do something about this.
Rumors of What Happened to the Pilots
As with many stories being told throughout history, there are often rumors about what could have possibly happened to the pilots. These rumors can sometimes have an element of truth to them.
Source: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons
It is believed that Sgt. Sciera managed to escape the crash but was taken as a prisoner of war by Japanese forces at the Tunnel Hill POW camp before he eventually passed away on February 22, 1944. It is also believed that Lt. Ramsay died in the crash as he was unable to get out of the plane.
World War II Plane Found in the Jungle
Due to the plane’s disappearance, despite rumors of it having landed somewhere in Papua New Guinea, it wasn’t known where exactly the plane had ended up.
Source: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons
Explorers were able to locate the plane after a two-day trek through the jungle. They found that the serial number on the side of the plane, 35971, matched the number of the missing plane.
Plane Broken to Pieces
When the plane was eventually found, it was discovered to have been broken to pieces, something the explorers were expecting. The engine, propeller and the rest of the plane were scattered across the jungle floor.
Source: Stefan Krasowski/Wikimedia Commons
In addition to the plane wreckage, human remains have also been discovered near the site of the crash. However, it is currently unknown whether these remains are in any way related to the plane crash or not.
Douglas SBD Dauntless
The plane has been confirmed to be the Douglas SBD Dauntless, which was a World War II American naval scout and dive bomber that would fly into enemy territories.
Source: predecessor/Wikimedia Commons
Knowing the type of plane it is that crashed helps to inform historians and experts of the history behind the plane and how it was involved in the war. It also narrows down would could have happened to cause it to crash.
How Did the Plane Crash in the Papua New Guinea Jungle?
During a time when social media was non-existent and video-recording technology was nowhere near the standards of today, knowing how planes during the war crashed tended to be down to rumors alone — especially if no one saw the crash happen.
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Wikimedia Commons
It is believed that the plane had its tail shot off by anti-aircraft fire and had last been seen in the sky over Saint Georges Channel. But it was only recently that it was known exactly what happened to the plane after this moment.
Another World War II Plane Crashed in Papua New Guinea
Major Richard Bong was the top flying ace for the United States during World War II and has been credited with 40 aerial victories against Japan.
Source: Self/Wikimedia Commons
Even though he wasn’t expected to perform combat duty and had been assigned as a gunnery instructor, Bong still carried out his duties and was awarded a Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur in December 1944. Sadly, his plane also crashed in 1944 in Papua New Guinea but was being flown by another pilot. Major Bong died a year later.
A World War II Submarine Has Also Been Discovered
The two planes aren’t the only World War II vehicles to go missing, as a diver discovered a submarine that had gone missing in 1942.
Source: @Aylont1/X
Kostas Thoctarides, the diver who came across the wreckage, had been researching where it could possibly be. After studying its history, he located where it was likely to be and ended up being successful.
World War II Stolen Artifacts Have Been Discovered
It wasn’t just war vehicles that ended up being lost, only to turn up decades later. Some Okinawan artifacts that were stolen during World War II were discovered in a Massachusetts attic.
Source: @MarcuswevansSr/X
These artifacts were discovered when a family was clearing out their deceased father’s attic. After finding the artifacts listed on the National Stolen Art File, they decided to hand them over to the FBI so they could be returned to the rightful owner.
The Department of Defense Is Working on It
Reports of the plane wreckage have since been reported to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), which is a part of the U.S. Department of Defense. The department works to recover American military personnel who are prisoners of war or MIA.
Source: Unknown Author/Wikimedia Commons
While it hasn’t happened yet, the department has said it will be sending out a team of investigators to the crash site as soon as they can to look further into the crash and to confirm whether all the current reports are true.