Briefs
Advertiser Staff
ARMY
Team to return to WWII crash site
A search and recovery team from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawai'i, will deploy to Papua New Guinea this week to excavate the crash site of a B-24D Liberator bomber that went down in 1943 with nine service members aboard.
A team was working at the site in May but the effort was halted for three months following a fatal helicopter crash.
On May 9, an Australian pilot was killed and several U.S. Army personnel injured when the helicopter taking them to the site crashed into the sea just off the northern New Guinea coastline.
Villagers swam out and helped rescue passengers.
Pilot John Twitt, who was trapped in his harness, died underwater.
The 11-member team heading back to the mountain site includes a team leader, team sergeant, two medics, two forensic anthropologists, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, a photographer and several mortuary affairs specialists.
The crash site of the B-24, believed to have belonged to the 43rd Bomb Group, is at 10,800 feet.
AIR FORCE
Thunderbirds to headline show
The Air Force's red, white and blue Thunderbirds will show off their close-quarters acrobatic skills at Hickam Air Force Base this weekend.
With 100,000 people expected for the two-day Friends and Neighbors Weekend, the base is asking that the public car pool to the event as much as possible.
The base gates will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. for aircraft static displays, food and exhibits.
The Thunderbirds' six F-16C Fighting Falcons will be in the skies over Hickam from about 4 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
"Although we're providing ample parking for all of our visitors, parking space is limited," said Lt. Col. Dave Schroeder, 15th Operations Support Squadron operations director. "As a result, we ask visitors not to bring barbecues or tailgating equipment like tables, chairs or umbrellas."
Schroeder said pets are not allowed on the show grounds.
There will be 26 aircraft from across the Air Force, a "tent city" to show deployment living conditions, and military memorabilia, including vintage weapons and vehicles.
More information can be found at www2.hickam.af.mil/cs/fnw.htm, or by calling 449-6367.
