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Helicopter crashes in Papua New Guinea

HICKAM AFB, Hawaii (Army News Service, May 9, 2003) - A helicopter contracted by the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory carrying five personnel crashed into the ocean off the coastline of Lae, Papua New Guinea, May 8.

A 13-member CILHI team was in Papua New Guinea to excavate the crash site of a World War II B-24 bomber. Aboard the helicopter that crashed were three personnel from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, a representative from the Papua New Guinea National Museum and a Pacific Helicopter pilot.

The pilot was killed, one of the CILHI personnel was injured and is in stable condition at Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae, and the others are in good condition.

The helicopter had just taken off and was a few minutes into flight when it crashed. The aircraft was en route to the site of the 1943 plane crash, which the team was surveying before moving in its recovery personnel and equipment.

The weather was not believed to be a contributing factor in

the crash, officials said.

The CILHI team in Papua New Guinea consists of a team

leader, team sergeant, two medics, two forensic anthropologists, an

explosive ordnance disposal technician, a photographer, a communication

technician, a mechanic and several mortuary affairs specialists.

Nine service members were believed to have been on board the

II B-24D aircraft that went down in 1943. CILHI located the crash site in the mountains near Yalumet Village in the Morobe Province during an investigation in April 2002.

A representative from the Morobe Provincial Government Protocol Office turned over personal affects believed to be associated with the crash site in March of 2002. The representative later escorted a CILHI investigative team to the crash site that is located at an elevation of about 10,800 feet.

The B-24 bomber and its crew are believed to have belonged to the 43rd Bomb Group, 63rd Bomb Squadron. The aircraft left Dobodura, New Guinea on an armed reconnaissance mission flying over Kavieng, New Ireland and was returning to Dobodura when it went missing. A pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, and five gunners were aboard when the aircraft crashed.

Following its helicopter crash, CILHI team has suspended operations and will be returning to Hawaii.

Over the years the lab has identified approximately 110 American WWII service members recovered in Papua New Guinea.

(Editor's note: Information provided by Ginger Couden CILHI Public Affairs.)