You Won't Believe What Relic Hunters Found Inside This Crashed WWII Plane

In 1972, during a flight over Papua New Guinea, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) spotted an unusual shape in the swampy ground below. Among the landscape, a distinctive structure drew their interest, prompting them to investigate further. After traversing the difficult swamp terrain, their efforts were rewarded when they uncovered a wreck known locally as the "Swamp Ghost."

To their surprise, the wreck was identified as a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, which had been left behind by US forces for many years. However, the real find was within the crashed bomber itself.

The crew survived a death-defying crash

On February 23, 1942, several months after the catastrophic attack on Pearl Harbor , the B-17E Flying Fortress , commanded by Capt. Frederick C. Eaton Jr., came under enemy fire while flying over Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, then occupied by the Japanese. With its wing damaged and a severe fuel leak, the bomber faced a difficult return to the safety of Port Moresby.

In a bid for survival, Eaton decided to attempt a crash landing, targeting what he thought was a wheat field. The reality was far less forgiving; the crew ended up in a perilous swamp that was the home of aggressive crocodiles. Against the odds, they survived and were rescued by local villagers who offered shelter and medical aid, helping them recover from malaria. Once they regained their health, they continued their service until the end of the Second World War .

The legend of the "Swamp Ghost"

Following the crash, both the B-17E crew and the US Air Force made no attempts to recover the heavy bomber. It stayed in the swamp, attracting visits from villagers. Over time, it evolved into a quasi-sacred site, with eerie incidents occurring to those who dared to get close to the wreckage.

Legend has it that some who approached the aircraft never came back, while others fell ill with malaria and experienced mental issues. This prompted locals to keep their distance and respect the area as a holy place, believing it would protect them from the unusual happenings.

After the war the "Swamp Ghost" became a popular attraction

Following the war, Papua New Guinea became a popular destination for relic hunters looking for downed aircraft, old guns and infrastructure, and other artifacts the jungle had swallowed up. The "Swamp Ghost" quickly became one of the main attractions.

Salvagers spotted the B-17E Flying Fortress in the jungle

When Australian airmen discovered the B-17E in 1972, they were stunned by their find. The wreckage was astonishingly well-preserved, and they even found thermoses filled with coffee poured by the original crew!

In the 1980s, renowned aircraft salvager Fred Hagan and his partner, David Tallichet, learned about the discovery and decided to locate and recover the wreck. They were amazed to find the "Swamp Ghost" in such a preserved state. Although locals had taken most of the weapons and mechanical parts, the interior was still intact.

Hagan and Tallichet began the process of reconstructing the heavy bomber to make it stable enough for transport. However, numerous setbacks delayed the project for years. Finally, in 2006, the salvage mission was completed, facing one last challenge: the locals opposed its removal. After a ceremony to honor the spirits of the swamp, the aircraft was finally allowed to leave its resting place for the first time in 65 years.

Where is the "Swamp Ghost" now?

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Once it was fully restored, the "Swamp Ghost" was put on display at a ceremony in Long Beach, California that was attended by many family members of the original crew. It has since been permanently moved to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Hawaii, where it's undergoing restoration.