After making their way through the difficult swamp terrain, they finally reached the mysterious site—a crashed plane that locals had nicknamed the “Swamp Ghost.” To their surprise, it turned out to be a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, a World War II bomber that had been abandoned and left untouched for decades. But the most incredible part of their discovery was what they found inside the long-forgotten aircraft.
The crew survived a death-defying crash
On February 23, 1942, just months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Capt. Frederick C. Eaton Jr. flew a B-17E Flying Fortress over Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, which had recently been overtaken by Japanese forces. During the mission, the bomber was struck, damaging a wing and causing a critical fuel leak, making it impossible for the crew to return to their base in Port Moresby.
With no other options, Eaton attempted an emergency landing in what appeared to be a wheat field. The crew survived the impact, only to quickly realize they had landed in a crocodile-infested swamp. Despite the dangerous surroundings, they managed to escape and were rescued by local villagers, who treated them for malaria. Once they recovered, the crew continued their service through the remainder of World War II.
The legend of the “Swamp Ghost”
After the crash, neither the B-17E’s crew nor the U.S. Air Force made any serious attempt to recover the bomber. The wreckage stayed where it was, visited only now and then by local villagers. Over time, strange stories started to circulate, and many came to believe the site was haunted. People claimed that unusual things happened to anyone who got too close.
According to local legends, some who visited the wreck never returned, while others came back suffering from malaria or with strange mental issues. Because of these unsettling tales, villagers began to avoid the area, treating it as a mysterious and sacred place that was better left alone.
After the war, Papua New Guinea became a popular destination for relic hunters looking for lost planes, abandoned weapons, and crumbling wartime structures hidden deep in the jungle. Among all these discoveries, the “Swamp Ghost” became one of the most famous and sought-after finds.
Salvagers spotted the B-17E Flying Fortress in the jungle
When the Australian airmen spotted the B-17E in 1972, they were astonished by their discovery. The wreck was in remarkable condition, with thermoses filled with coffee poured by the original crew still intact!
In the 1980s, following news of the find, renowned aircraft salvager Fred Hagan and his partner, David Tallichet, embarked on a mission to locate and salvage the wreck. They were astonished to see that the “Swamp Ghost” remained in such excellent shape. Although most of the weapons and mechanics had been taken by locals, the interior was still impressive.
Hagan and Tallichet initiated the reconstruction of the heavy bomber to ensure it was strong enough for transport. However, setbacks delayed their efforts for several years. Ultimately, in 2006, the salvage mission was completed, except for one last hurdle: locals were resistant to its removal. After a ceremony to honor the spirits of the swamp, the aircraft was finally allowed to depart its resting place for the first time in 65 years.
Where is the “Swamp Ghost” now?
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Once it was fully restored, the “Swamp Ghost” was put on display at a ceremony in Long Beach, California that was attended by many family members of the original crew. It has since been permanently moved to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Hawaii, where it’s undergoing restoration.