In June 2006,
TIGHAR conducted
an archaeological survey of four Japanese WWII aircraft on Yap
Island in the central Pacific. Craig Fuller, the principal and
founder of AAIR, and a TIGHAR member since 1993, was selected
to be one of the four members of the TIGHAR expedition team.
The survey was conducted under a US
National Park Service Grant for the Yap Historic Preservation
Office (HPO). Yap falls within the Federated States of
Micronesia. As a former US Trust Territory it is still supported
by the US National Park Service. The primary purpose of the
survey was to provide the Yap HPO with enough information to
come up with and decide on a management plan for the WWII
aircraft. Specifically we were to document:
Location relative to the
airport runway in absolute geographic terms, using global
positioning technology.
Overall appearance, documented
photographically, videographically, and in sketches and
sketch-plans.
Condition, with special
attention to evidence of recent vandalism or other forms of
physical damage.
Evidence of damage incurred
during WWII.
A visual conservation
assessment of the exterior and, where possible, the interior
of each aircraft for the deterioration resulting from
oxidation or other natural process of degradation.
5)Due to budget and
time constraints we were asked to focus on four specific sites.
After completion of the four site surveys, we found time to
document three more sites in less detail and briefly visit
several others.
I want to specifically thank Pat
Ranfranz for supporting the team with background information on
Yap. Pat’s uncle was shot down in a B-24 over Yap. In the
process of his research of the incident, Pat has come across a
tremendous amount of information on Yap during WWII which he has
graciously shared with us. Pat publishes the website
www.MissingAirCrew.com. Rather than restating information
from his site, I recommend visiting it for further information
on Yap.
The Yap Field Team. Back row, left
to right, Craig Fuller, Gary Quigg, Walt Holm, and front left,
John Clauss. Front right, John Tun, Yap Deputy Historic
Preservation Officer.
Below are hyperlinks to photos of
the sites visited by the team:
