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New
Guinea Native Storyboard

The native
storyboard above was done by a native tribesman on the north coast of New
Guinea.  New Guinea is known to have over 700 different tribal
languages and few of them are written.  A common factor among the
remote native tribes is the strong tradition of verbal history or story
telling to “record” significant events, tribal battles or other incidents
that have taken place in the family or tribe.  These carved
storyboards are a means of recording events.  The carvings are
sometimes on other items and I once admired very old, hardwood carvings on
the sides of log drums in a native tribal longhouse that a museum would
love to display. One other thing about the storyboards is that they work
best as an outline reminder of story elements … when you already Know the
story.

Our great
and accommodating dive operator hosts, Lesley and Tim, had this native
storyboard made for us when we were in Papua New Guinea filming the WWII
wrecked P-38 for “Injury Slight, please advise ”.  You may already be
aware that producer Josh Baxter’s film title originated from the brief
message sent weeks later by the WWII pilot following his crash and escape
from natives after shooting a tribal leader with his .45 to avoid becoming
dinner.  It is an incredible survival account.

During our
remote jungle trek in to the P-38 wreck site we shot an additional Hi Def
video interview with a native who had been a boy in the village near the
WWII crash site.  The amazing accuracy of the verbal tribal history
tradition became apparent when the elderly native told the story with
details that matched EXACTLY with what the surviving pilot had
recounted.

(Both Josh
and I had made it a point to follow the guidance of an anthropologist on
the area and pretended not to know the pilot or the story. We did not want
to contaminate the story, and we did not forget the pilot had almost
been…. dinner. )  I would argue that parts of New Guinea continue to
be the wildest places in the world.  Tribal wars, at times with bows
and arrows, continue to be fought over important things, like stolen pigs,
gardens or even …women.  Almost 2 out of 3 we would not, or not
often, do in the “civilized” world.

Even our
translator was surprised when the native’s story included his comments, …
and they found his boots, “like his” – he said, pointing to my hiking
boots as we shot the interview in the rocks and sand of a river’s
edge.  We knew the pilot has removed his boots in hope of making less
noise as he was chased during his escape from the natives.  It was
but one aspect of the verbal history that confirmed the details of the
pilot’s escape and the location.  (To learn the added details, view
full length documentary, “Injury Slight…Please Advise”.)

The
storyboard shows, at upper left, not just an airplane, but a twin engine,
twinboom square tailed P-38 fighter, our request of that detail was
followed by the native carver.  It was shown flying above native
huts, then crashing near the river into trees and grass.  Note the
second image of the P-38 fighter, to the right of the first image, is into
the trees and has a broken right propeller, thus a crashed plane.
The American “soldier” with the helmet goes near the river, with fish, and
makes initial contact with the native tribe.  He later contacts the
Australians that are depicted with helmets that have cap bills – an effort
lost in the translation that Australians wore cowboy style bush hats with
turned up brims… Oh well – close enough that we “got it”.  Later
still, out of view in the photo, he goes to a western style “box”
house  as symbol of his return “home”.  Conveniently, not
included in the storyboard, is the part where the pilot was jumped by the
natives and forced to shoot his way out at close range with his .45.
Initially chased/tracked  into the jungle and surviving for
weeks.  Although there is substantially more to the story … we got it
from the tribal view and despite the native carver’s distance from the
crash site and chase region… it is politically correct and the natives do
not lose face...or tribesmen.

More
information on Baxter’s production made in close collaboration with the
ace pilot who is the featured character of the WWII documentary is on the
“Injury Slight” page at www.injuryslight.com.

Go Remote
runs adventures… This storyboard account is just one aspect of the unique
experiences and memories that Go Remote adventures offer.  Don’t take
another “everyone’s been there” vacation.  Go Remote for a real
adventure. (Some
adventure applications require outdoor skills, but most require only good
health and an adventurous spirit.)

39th Fighter Squadron at
Maxwell Air Force Base

It was recently my privilege
to attend the 39th Fighter Squadron Assn. Reunion and to introduce
producer Josh Baxter and the reenacted HD video documentary of the
incredible New Guinea jungle survival account of the historic squadron’s
own ace, Captain Sullivan. (See the added photos on the Go Remote main
page or on the “Injury Slight, please advise” page at   http://www.injuryslight.com/ for
details.  Some readers are already aware the title of the WWII P-38
fighter pilot’s film was repeated from a part of the brief radio message
“Sully” sent to the 39th FS from an Australian radio outpost after
escaping natives and 30 days of jungle survival, with no
boots.)

Josh and I noted that no one
left the large banquet room during the entire showing. Our jungle footage
must have been “old news” to the vets in the room but we were pleased to
have captured some of it.

Josh and I gained a whole
new outlook for the New Guinea jungle difficulties when we made the
difficult 14 hour jungle trek in to the rediscovered crash site of the
P-38 to film it last year.  Of course, we had a translator and local
native guides with permission to make the trek.   Josh has added
the footage of the wreck to the account. During that trek we located an
elderly native who witnessed “Sully” in the village and recounted his
escape through a translator in startling detail.  Although natives of
New Guinea don’t often have written languages among their more than 700
different languages, their common practice is accurate verbal tribal
history.  We had followed the advice of an anthropologist for the
area and made no indication we knew the story … or Sully. We knew what
almost happened to Sully.

The banquet evening at the
Maxwell Officers’ Club was made more unique since I was seated among both
currently active members of the 39th (based in Texas) and the WWII vets
who flew various fighters – including P-38’s.  It was a once in a
lifetime event for me – as a retired Army guy and VN vet.
There I was, seated at a table with current “Cobra in the Clouds” squadron
instructors of pilots  and with Blue 2, call sign of Lew Lockhart,
the WWII P-38 wingman of ace “Sully.”  Table conversation was the
current pilot quizzing of the vets about air engagement tactics, airplane
capabilities, Japanese targets… etc.  Given the age of these
veterans, it is not an event that will often be repeated before both
topics and the vets fade into history.

The evening was a history lesson –
current and past – I wish that every American would
experience.

Bomber Search to the Southern
Philippines

It isn't often
that a WWII bomber search team includes the surviving pilot of the bomber
that crashed. The next Go Remote search effort has that good fortune.
Perhaps we are too optimistic about our odds of locating the bomber in the
water after all these years—and potentially cause Department of Defense to
do their own underwater site investigation to recover a crewman who did
not escape from the bomber before she quickly sunk due to a combat load
and damage from the water impact.

Thanks to the veteran pilot of
the ill-fated bomber, decorated for saving another crew member's life, he
never forgot the lost crewman or the crash.  His dedication drives
our search.  That same pilot continues to be grateful to his fellow
pilot and crew who were willing to risk their own lives by continuing to
fly over them and "discourage" Japanese shore boats from making their
capture and near certain execution.  The surviving crew members hung
on to a life raft until a Navy flying boat crew also risked their lives to
make the water landing rescue.  Hollywood could never write all the
amazing parts of this "war story" and crash.  Hollywood could never
accurately portray the two humble American patriots and Greatest
Generation pilots that I have been honored to interview and to know.
Unfortunately, not all the veterans of this story have survived.  The
co pilot – was on his first mission and narrowly escaped the sinking
plane—but he was later killed as a pilot in command along with his entire
crew. The "overwatch" plane was later lost with a differing crew when
attacking a Japanese destroyer.  Others have also been lost as the
Greatest Generation fades into history.

We've done our homework and
research has been made almost too easy with some assistance by the vets
and by our helpful Philippine contacts and vets in the remote Philippines.
The paperback book and true accounts of a Philippine guerilla fighter,
"Ordeals of War" by Lt Jose S. Villacin, have added to the insight on the
hardships and risks taken by local guerillas in support to the Allied
cause.

Regardless of the search outcome
– we're going back to look for the bomber and potentially the missing
crewmember that is among the 78,000 BNR – body not recovered - of
WWII.  It is a search that has never been done… and if nothing else –
we'll document the amazing story including some of the veterans who lived
it and honor them as well as those who were lost.

Details of this search are
withheld to avoid contamination of the search effort.

No additional search team
members are being added to the trip.

The search area is not risk
free.

If you have interest in this
search and later information about it, please contact [email-masked]

A Golden Knight with the U.S. Army lands
near the Blue Angels at the Huntsville, AL air show.

Army Parachute Team, The Golden
Knights -
point landings in gusty
winds

B-25, WWII
warbird

AH-64D,
(Apache) with M230, (machine gun) Hellfire and Hyra 70 (missiles/rockets);
Three target acquisition systems - approx $18 mil ... without
munitions.

The newest CH47 "F"
Model

U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Demonstration Flight Team
Who's upside
down

This is my friend, Ken Freund, at
Sears Point Raceway on a Go Remote Green
2008 Kawasaki ZX-6R, MSRP
$9,099 - capable of a top speed of about 160 MPH (not on this
track).

TSA Prohibited Items
List

Here's a link to TSA's
ever-changing Prohibited Items List - some things may surprise
you.
Remember, these items are for domestic, not international,
flights. Be sure to check
the length of your
screwdriver.....

http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Local Man's Story Hits
Big Screen

Standing before
a packed room in the Holy Cross Village , 92 year old Charles P.
O'Sullivan introduces a documentary all about him.

O'Sullivan
says, "It's very gratifying because it give me an opportunity to try
and get across the dangers and the fears and excitements that I
had."

The documentary follows his crash into a swamp after
being shot down by Japanese fighter planes.

From there he
encountered island natives who were friendly at first, but then
turned hostile.

O'Sullivan says, "I hated to think that
something might happen to me and no one would know what
happened."

He stumbled upon some Australians which meant he
would be able to tell that story today using his light hearted
personality.

O'Sullivan's son Peter
Sullivan says, "It's a dramatic story of survival but he makes it
funny. It seems like it's funny and his humor in the documentary
really comes out the way he is."

An example of his humor
comes from what he said to his wife after confirming he was alive,
"Send the money back to the insurance company."

O'Sullivan
says, "I don't want to come off as too serious and it's sort of my
nature."

In addition to enjoying a good laugh, he is very
humble, especially when asked if he is a hero.

O'Sullivan
says, "Most of the heroes I know are dead heroes. So I would be
known as the lucky, determined Irishman that made it and wouldn't
give up."

It was a packed room to see that documentary and
because the interest is so high, Holy Cross Villi age will be
holding another screening Saturday afternoon at 2.

You may
want to call them in advance at 245-7800 ext. 4000 to make sure
there will be enough room.

O'Sullivan says he happy to share
his story and answer questions people have.

The Smithsonian Magazine story
on an attempted recovery of the B17, Swamp Ghost, in Papua New Guinea
tactfully identifies why wrecks - often worth millions of dollars - are
not being recovered. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/swamp.html

Photo by Frederique
Oliver

The Hanoi Taxi is Retired

The Hanoi Taxi
(tail #66-0177) was retired from active service in May 2006. She was
the last of the 285 C-141s built by Lockheed to leave active service.

She flew 100 POWs out of
Hanoi
on 12 February 1973, some of them tasting freedom for the first time
in six years. Each POW put their shot-down date on the face of the oxygen
panel during their flight to Clark AB in the Philippines
.

For her retirement ceremony,
the POWs she brought home were brought back for the ceremony and one
last flight by this gracious lady.

Most of them are old men now
but their enthusiasm, emotions, and excitement were evident during
this flight and retirement ceremony. She was then flown to Dayton , OH
where she will spend her final days in the Air Force
Museum.

http://www.c141heaven.us/

P-38 Fighter
Plane Discovery in the coastal sands of Wales

If you hit this site
while searching for more information on the American P-38 recently found
in shallow British waters…alternately covered and uncovered by the sand…
you are not alone. Go Remote page hits have increased reflecting the
interest in this and related stories. The P-38  “Lightening”, SN
41-7677, was actually discovered Last year in the sands of a beach in
Wales .  The recovery is scheduled for the spring of 08.

If the aircraft is
the P-38 “F” from the 49th Squadron of the 14th
Fighter Group, 8th Air Force it was on a training mission flown
by 2nd Lt. R. Fredrick Elliott who was towing a “dart” (not the
term used then)  as a practice/tow target on Sep. 27, 1942.
Some detailed sources report that accident investigation records
reflect that Lt. Elliott failed to switch from his aux fuel tanks to his
main tanks… failed to properly recognize the cause of one engine failure
and, after turning for home, suffered the failure of the second engine on
his approach two miles out.  Unable to make the airfield – took the
“next best” flat area… shallow water or beach.  It turned out to be
shallow water.  Lt Elliott survived the crash landing and was faulted
for the fuel error.  The 49th moved to combat missions in
North Africa in October of 1942.

Lt. Elliott was first
shot down and made a forced landing with his wingman in Tunisia following
a mission with heavy flack damage ...  and both apparently made their
way back to the unit to fly again.  During a bomber escort mission,
from Atcham on December 5th 1942  in support of Operation
Torch,  Lt Elliott was with 5 other P-38 pilots when they encountered
“ten to fifteen” German fighters, Me 109s. Two days prior to that Lt.
Elliott had tangled with German fighters and been credited with “damage”
to an Me 109.  This time 5 of the 6 P-38’s failed to return to base –
two survived crash landings, two were later confirmed killed in action –
and Lt. Elliott … was never found – nor was his P-38.  The somewhat
lame explanation being it is “possible” his plane crashed in one of the
area lakes.

The rest of the story
– Lt Elliott is among the 78,000 BNR (bodies not recovered) from
WWII.

Our hope is that Lt.
Elliott and his fellow airmen are recognized at least as much as the P-38
to be placed in a British museum.  It saddens me that some Associated
Press accounts of the P-38 find have failed to mention Lt Elliott and his
history.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Check this page again
for more details on Lt. Elliott and other American
patriots.

If you want to be notified when this page is updated – send an
e-mail with “update” in the subject line.  Your e-mail will not be
shared.

Above, Left to Right: Capt.
Lewis Lockhart, Blue 2/wingman,
Steve, Josh Baxter,
Producer/Director,
Col. Charles O'Sullivan, Blue 1, subject of
the New Guinea survival account.
Photo taken at Hot Springs
Festival Reception at the Blue Moon Gallery.
Click poster below
for larger view. (will open in a new window)

The
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and the Premier of Injury
Slight. (http://www.injuryslight.com/)

Wow!
October 20th, 2007, was the premier of “Injury Slight, Please
Advise,” the incredible, documentary film that re-enacted the
account of the WWII P-38 fighter pilot, Col O’Sullivan, that crash
landed in the Remote wilds of New Guinea during WWII. (The title is
from the brief radio message sent after escaping natives, and
surviving a month in the jungle …with no boots.)

Double WoW!
The original pilot, Col “Sully,” and his wingman Capt. Lewis
Lockhart were the primary sources of the accurate first person
account for the film. They were both present for the premier
showing. It is easy to see why they are from the Greatest
Generation.

Passport
Requirements for U.S. Entry:

Go Remote
Adventures outside the U.S. have always required a U.S. passport or,
if holding a foreign passport, a multiple entry visa.

If you
apply for a U.S. passport – or passport renewal -- be sure to pay
attention to the photo requirements … to withstand heat… which
pretty well eliminates printing your photo, even when properly
sized, on a local printer.

The link is http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html
And the fee ... does heavy damage to $100.

Nikon service ...
or the lack of it for Nikonos V

Most underwater
photographers know that Nikonos V cameras are no longer available
from Nikon, although Nikonos V cameras were "the" underwater camera
for many years following its 1983 introduction, Nikon has
discontinued the camera as soon as they began to get a bit of much
needed UW camera competition. For those of us like Go Remote
Adventures that have invested about $1,000 or more in strobes, lens,
cases, etc. it is not good news since the availability of required
replacement O Rings has apparently (almost) gone too. Yeah, I know
it ain't a digital camera.

These comments offer some
information on Nikonos V O-ring parts replacement and ... Nikon lack
of service.

After being unable to
locate replacement O-rings at various national camera suppliers –
searching the internet and a search of the Nikon home page turned up
…Nothing. I finally phoned a major camera repair firm and begged for
the Nikon parts office phone number. They gave me a number- not the
right number since Nikon had changed it – but after only 5 or 6 more
calls and about an hour I was connected with the parts person. (Note
I did not say parts “lady”, in California.)

I requested an
O-ring set for a Nikonos V and was promptly told they no longer sold
Nikonos V O-ring sets. In a state of disbelief, I asked where I
could get O-rings for a Nikonos V, now worthless without them. She
then asked what the parts numbers were… and gave me a clue that all
was not lost. After some unfriendly bickering – she troubled herself
as the parts person to … go the extra mile .. and to look up the
O-ring numbers. I then began to describe the locations of the
O-rings while she again was troubled to note my request of all five
rings plus …three for the SB Strobe. Asking for the total price …
knowing only that I had previously paid vendors about $15 plus
shipping for a set – the parts person was really over taxed… and
told me SHE didn’t have a total price…some rings were different
prices ring number such and such was $1.87. Since I could tell I was
already in to this person’s nap time – I gave her my cc number and
address for mailing and hoped for …some O rings.

This wasn’t
my first rodeo with Nikon service, if “service” is the word. My two
prior ones over the years were concerning replacement of their
faulty strobe synchronization cord and later – the mandated recall
of the early model UW strobe lights with the minor problem of
EXPLODING due to gas build-up and ignition. Say what you will about
the U.S. bureaucracy – they protected the consumer on that one. I
was among the many that got a replacement, improved, strobe for only
the cost of shipping.

The secret Nikon parts number I used
is 310 414 8107 - feel free to give them a call – not during their
nap time, to get Nikon customer support that is as friendly as a
rattlesnake.

PS - I’ve reconsidered getting that Nikon D-50
or D-70 digital SLR

PPS – I got the O-rings but no pricing
or phone number on the packing slip – I guess I’ll know how much
when I get the bill from the cc
company.

Lesson Learned with a Digital Video
Camera

On a recent security check in
Houston, IAH, my digital video camera, got lots of security attention and
a “table check” for added inspection and chemical wipe test. I had removed
camera from the bag for the belt since I knew it was required.  But
the focus for added inspection was still on the camera after it ran
through on the belt. The lesson learned ?  I was happy I still had a
good charge in the battery – since the TSA inspector wanted to see the
camera work.  I would have been hard pressed to demonstrate it … with
a dead battery or lacking a changed spare battery… that I did not have
with me.   I admit there have been times I wanted to put a
charge on the camera and blow it in place… but not because I suspected it
was explosive material.   Hmmm If TSA keeps your camera … and
you fail to recover it … is your insurance good?

Don't take another "Everybody's been there" vacation

Steve Cushman, President and Adventurer

USA (800) 824-8628 Anytime

[email-masked]

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