Two WW II planes found in Irian

SORONG, Irian Jaya: A fisherman has found the fuselages of two World War II bomber planes belonging to the United States Air Force, in Way Island, Irian Jaya.

Willem Soor, 53, a fisherman from the Arei village said one of the planes, located at a depth of 37 meters, is still intact while the other has been damaged by the sea and by scavenging divers.

The planes are believed to have been used by the Americans during the war to attack the Japanese fort in Samte, Salawati, the Antara news agency reported. The Japanese troops were defending the Jefman Island in Sorong.

Soor, a retired employee of a Dutch oil and gas company, said he has reported the findings to the Salawati subdistrict head, Indah Arfan.

He said he accompanied two American tourists to the location. The two are World War II veterans who wanted to see their former military base. (22)