Swamp Ghost (B-17)

The Swamp Ghost is a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress piloted by Captain Frederick 'Fred' C. Eaton, Jr, that crashed in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War in 1942, during America's first mission there. Whilst flying over Rabaul, it was intercepted and it had to force-land.

The aircraft was rediscovered in 1972 in Agaiambo swamp, where it earned the nickname Swamp Ghost. It was salvaged in 2006 and moved to Lae wharf where it lay waiting for permission to be transferred to the United States. By February 2010, the wreck had been cleared for import to the United States.

In 2010 the aircraft was shipped to the U.S., and on June 11, 2010 was shown to a public gathering in Long Beach, California that included family members of the original crew. Plans were made to bring Swamp Ghost to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson for restoration to static display. After arriving at Long Beach, the aircraft was on indefinite loan to the Planes of Fame air museum at Chino Airport. The Swamp Ghost was received by the Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl Harbor on April 10, 2013. As of August 2013, the museum plans to restore the aircraft for static display in Hangar 79 on Ford Island.

Crew

 * Pilot - Captain Frederick 'Fred' C. Eaton, Jr.
 * Copilot - Captain Henry M. "Hotfoot" Harlow
 * Navigator - 1st Lt. George B. Munroe, Jr.
 * Flight Engineer - T/Sgt. Clarence A. Lemieux
 * Bombardier - Sgt. Richard E. Oliver
 * Radio/Gunner - Sgt . Howard A. Sorenson
 * Waist Gunner - Sgt William E. Schwartz
 * Waist Gunner - T/Sgt Russell Crawford
 * Tail Gunner - S/Sgt. John V. Hall