Hi from Wigam

[Scud]

Thanks, bud, keep 'em coming!

Dave

[Gila]

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[wigam]

Well your South Seas correspondent continues his travels through the Solomon Islands.

Had a very good war tour recently and visted the sites around Honiara with a expert.

A field of dreams....Actaually a field full of over 90 Amtracs near Henderson Field.


Alligator Creek - 70 years on.


Have read alot on it but now got to walk its hills, amazing place - Bloody Ridge


This pig tail was laid by the Marines of the Marine 1st Raider Battalion in 1942.


A knocked Stuart that was recovered and is slowely being restored, dont think he will get it running.


This is "Jezabel". She was knocked out during the army's fight up the coast road by Japanese defences. Now it just sits in the jungle. Was able to sit in the turrent (minus the gun) and sit in the commanders seat.


Very humbled to meet this man, Eroni Kumana - He was one of two local coast watchers who found JFK after his PT boat went down in Blackett Straight.


Was present at the 70th Anniversary of the Marine landings too. It was attended by General AMOS (Commandant of the USMC) and Admiral HANEY (Commander of the US Pacific Fleets).

[Scud]

I'm soooo jealous. Nothing comes close to those sites here in New Jersey, although we do have quite a few knocked up Jezabel's.

Fascinating stuff from an area of the world few of us will ever get to see. Keep sending!

Dave

[Compass Rose]

Good stuff Wigam!

Thanks for sharing the pics with us.

[Vesku]

Man oh man! I'm right there with Scud, green as a jealous can be. I bet that it's a dream come true for you to tour the area.

[Weasel]

Did you notice the bullet holes in the wire stake?

[Mr Grumpy]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us, great stuff!

[Greybeard]

Hello MArcus,

Awesome stuff.. since I'm an aircraft nut, I couldn't help but notice that the Wildcat was an early F4F-3 model.. only 2 guns per wing.. the -4's increased to 3 guns.. the -3 was present at Midway and Guadalcanal with the -4's coming in to service in late '42..

The USMC used -3's almost exclusively as the USN were on the priority list for the newest gear..

from the marking and the -3 model, this wildcat was likely one of the early participants at Guadalcanal.. The red center in the US star went away during the battles of oct/nov.. too bad you couldn't show any other markings that might have been left on the fuselage. a VMF-?? would have been a USMC aircraft.. a 8-F-? would have originated from the USS Hornet, a 6-F-? from the Enterprise, and a 9-F-? from the Wasp.. the only 3 US carriers that saw action at the time in August 1942 to Feb 1943 when the USS Essex arrived on station.. Wasp and Hornet were losses..

thanks for sharing..

Greybeard

[Walrus]

That is awesome bro!
Thanks for sharing these pics with us.
You are really making the most of your posting.
Marvelous stuff.
Keep it safe eh.
Chur