Historic WWII bomber returns to PNG in time for 50th Independence

After vanishing in the jungles of Papua New Guinea during World War II, the Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber has finally returned home, fully restored, just in time for the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

The historic aircraft was offloaded this morning at Motukea Wharf by an Australian Defence Force crew aboard the Australian Defence Vessel Reliant and will be transported to the National Museum and Art Gallery, where it will be permanently displayed.

The Douglas A-20 Havoc is an American-built, twin-engine light bomber and ground-attack aircraft used extensively during WWII by the U.S. Army Air Forces, Royal Australian Air Force, Soviet Union, France, and Britain.

The wreckage of the aircraft was first recovered from the PNG jungles in the early 1980s and transported to Australia. Since 1996, it had been displayed at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, awaiting repatriation.

Now, after nearly a decade of meticulous restoration by a specialist Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] team, the aircraft has finally returned to its rightful home.

Paul Ashbey, Deputy Director of the Australian Defence Force Heritage Fleet, said the restoration was not only a technical achievement but a powerful symbol of the long-standing historical and military ties between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“This aircraft was salvaged in the early 80s, restored in Australia, and officially handed back to PNG in 1996. Today, we're proud to return it permanently,” Ashbey said.

“We'll be in Port Moresby for about two to three weeks reassembling the aircraft at the National Museum. It’s been a long journey, but it belongs here, where its story began.”

The aircraft is now a static museum piece, no longer airworthy, but has been carefully reconstructed with original and replica parts. Ashbey explained that some components, including cockpit instruments, had to be replicated using 3D printing due to radiation concerns in the originals.

A Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] was signed between the Australian Air Force, PNG Defence Force [PNGDF], and the National Museum, outlining ongoing support for the aircraft’s care and maintenance.

“We’re here to help PNGDF personnel and museum staff learn how to preserve historical aircraft like this one,” Ashbey said.

“Most of the warbirds here in PNG are ex-ADF aircraft, so their preservation is a shared responsibility. Your heritage is also our heritage.”

The Douglas A-20G Havoc, renowned for its ground-attack capabilities with forward-facing guns, will be a centerpiece at the museum, representing the enduring wartime legacy and the deep partnership between PNG and Australia.