Our chief researcher, Michael John Claringbould, has an impressive and long-standing association with Pacific WW2 aviation. Raised in Papua New Guinea, in 1976 he conducted numerous surveys of crash sites in Papua New Guinea when based at Lae, including discovery of intact A-20G The Hell'N Pelican II. In 1977 he conducted surveys of crash sites in the Solomon Islands.

In 1984 he was a key member of a RAAF salvage team which salvaged and recovered A-20G The Hell'N Pelican II. From 1995 to 1999 he conducted twelve surveys of crash sites in Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands whilst based in Suva, Fiji. The survey identified Grumman Wildcat F4F-4 Bu 5192 of VF-5, the first US aircraft shot down in the Guadalcanal campaign.

These surveys also resulted in the recovery of Japanese MIA aircrew from two 705th Kokutai G4M1 bombers. In December 2003 he visited B-17E Swamp Ghost, as presented on this site.

Michael was made an Honorary member of the Zero Fighter Pilots Association (proposed by the former Japanese Ace Saburo Sakai) in 1997. He is also a Consultant to the US military JPAC recovery program - and was chief guest presenter at regional US mlitary conference held in Port Moresby, April 2001.

In 2001 Michael was appointed by pacificghosts.com as chief consultant to a ground-breaking series of pacific aviation archaeology. Michael is also contributing editor and Pacific correspondent for Flightpath, the aviation historical and warbird magazine with the highest circulation in Australasia, and co-author of 'Rampage of the Roarin' 20s', to be published by International Research & Publications of Colorado in 2007.

He made numerous discoveries of more Fifth AF sites in New Guinea from 2003 until 2006. Through agreement with the U.S military recovery program managed under JPAC, we have agreed not to publish details of these sites until the remains are identified, and the nearest-of-kin are informed.

To see a range of photos of Michael in New Guinea, click here.

 

Contact us at info@aerothentic.com