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I have just finished viewing the BOMBER REEF War in the Pacific DVD and for anyone interested in war history it is a good buy. I approached the company who produced this DVD, namely Seawest Productions based here on the Gold Coast and they have agreed for me to offer it to you the public through our website.
I was introduced to Walter Deas when he came to PNG with an ex trekker Mark Priest who walked with us during April 2004.
What is so impressive about this DVD is the amazing underwater documentation of the wreck, and past dives on it, including one diver who penetrated inside the wreck, and made a surprising discovery. Deas is an expert underwater videographer, and brings the viewer to every part of its natural and historic features.
The Bomber Reef is a tribute to this lost crew, and B-25 operations in New Guinea. Also, it is significant in documentation of a remarkably preserved aircraft wreck that is enjoyed by divers who visit the Madang area.
Interested, if so PLEASE CLICK HERE to purchase:
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The Bomber Reef DVD is now out in both PAL and NTSC. Approx 52 minutes. $39.95 + $5.00 postage/packing/handling.It is located in New Guinea during WW11 and will take you on a voyage of historic discovery. This revealing story is about a North America B-25 Mitchell bomber which was downed in 1943 on a mission over Madang, to destroy a fleet of Japanese barges. Hit by ground fire, the blazing bomber plunged into the sea.
Five of the crew survived and swam to a nearby Wongat Island and were eventually captured by the Japanese. After days of maltreatment, four including another B-25 crewman were bayoneted to death. The lone survivor Major Cox was shipped to Japan and remained in captivity until the end of the war.
Today, the B-25, lying in 20 metres below the surface, is a diver's dream and has become an integrated part of the ecosystem. The underwater exploration is interwoven with the history of how the B-25 came to rest on the sea floor and who discovered it."
Comments from people who have purchased the DVD:
"I really like your Bomber Reef DVD. It proves to be surprisingly moving – I think it is a great human story, so meticulously researched, it is excellent. It also provides an insight into the role of the Mitchell Bomber during the Pacific War which gives the DVD a much broader scope than the "Bomber Reef" title would suggest." Peter Ludlow. Historian.
"WOW – What an accomplishment. I am so impressed and feel honored by the story covered." Robert Herry, nephew of the downed pilot.
Fantastic, although I flew in countless missions in a Lancaster bomber on terrifying raids over Europe I found The Bomber Reef and its Pacific story a interesting and fascinating tale in a part of the world that few knew about. Ron Rodgers. Bomber Aircrew.
"It is an amazing & huge story you have documented… congratulations and good work. YOU HAVE MADE A VALUABLE contribution to WWII Pacific history, PNG tourism and WRECKS. Great intro…. you should really send this around the PNG tourism circles… they will love it, as the first 5 min really functions as a great PR piece… for both national tourism and specific to Madang, Hansa and so forth." Justin Taylan, Pacific Wrecks website.
Review of "The Bomber Reef" for the 38th Bomb Group's Newsletter "The Sun Setters".
For the several of our members who have in some way assisted Walt Deas in the production of "Bomber Reef", the good news is that this much anticipated DVD is now ready for sale and distribution. Your names are listed in the credits. Walt and his wife, Jean have independently, out of their own pockets, produced a beautiful video DVD that should interest a wide audience. On reviewing the DVD, it is hard to understand why big money was not interested in helping to producing this video. It truly is a 38th BG documentary. There are beautiful scenes of the people and their celebrations and of the places we flew over as they appear today. There are several scenes of B-25s flying in formation and strafing targets. The parafrags are shown drifting down behind bombers. The story of 7 December, 1942, is there. The Doolittle raid is there. The flight of the 38th across the Pacific, the story of the five planes that arrived over Grafton after dark on Aug. 14 and their end are shown and told. Ground shots of the crash areas tell their own story.
The story of Capt. Robert Herry's ditching off Madang is shown and told. The following capture and brutal end of the survivors, except for Col. Madison Cox, is told. His transportation to Rabaul, then Tokyo and his final release is there. Significant moments show many of our own people, face to face. If you don't let the beauty of it all throw you into a trance, it is easy to see what a nightmare of a place to wage war New Guinea really was. That thick, impenetrable jungle draped over steep mountain sides is there. The story leads up to several minutes of undersea photography of the ditched plane and its discovery. Many scenes of its coral encrusted form as it has become a colorful coral reef are there. The underwater photography of corals and fish is fascinating, with fluid beauty.
The narration voice-over is done by an Aussie. But you will quickly get the hang of it again and get all the message. But then, that will give you a reason to look at it again. It wears well; a second or more viewings will be enjoyable. Walt and Jean have woven together historic archival film with their own beautiful landscape and under sea film to bring the viewer not only a pleasurable time, but one of remembrance for us.
Just to see and hear all those B-25s taxiing and flying throughout the video is, for me, sufficient reason to buy the package. Because there are very few of the early B-25 models and color film of them moving on the ground or flying, Walt has been forced to use B-25J footage for some segments. But there is a lot of archival footage of the early versions at work in the southwest Pacific.
We owe Walt and Jean a debt of gratitude for this great memorial to the 38th. For everyone, it is a record of historical significance. This couple have received much recognition and many awards for their excellent underwater photography. Their ground and aerial photography is also meritorious. Their various works have be shown on worldwide television.
Walt is currently endeavoring to set up a State-side duplication and distribution source for the DVD to minimize the cost of shipping. We will keep you posted as to availability date and costs.
David J. Gunn. Editor.
Bomber_Reef.jpegWar In The Pacific: Years in the making, The Bomber Reef was worth the wait. This documentary explores the history of Papua New Guinea, and the wartime history of the 38th Bombardment Group, 405th Bombardment Squadron that served there, flying the B-25 Mitchell at low level as a strafer.
The DVD begins with an overview of the history of Papua New Guinea, its history, people and environment. A tropical paradise that suddenly became the front lines of the Pacific War.
The documentary explores the history of the 38th Bomb Group's 405th Bomb Squadron, and the B-25 Mitchell. AIrcraft of this squadron were adorned with a large green dragon nose art, and flew low level strikes on targets using their machine guns and bombs against the Japanese.
In this larger framework of history, the focal point is the specific history of one crew and aircraft: B-25D 41-30118, which was lost on a strike to Madang, and ditched offshore. The legacy of the crew and their fates at the hands of their Japanese captors is tragic, but a fully researched and documented story.
For those interested in Pacific Wrecks, the DVD also explores other related wrecks, including the crash site of a B-25 lost in its ferry flight to Australia, Japanese Ki-49 Helen aircraft wrecks in New Guinea and the towns of Madang and Alexishafen where the war was fought. Also, an interview with dive pioneer Bob Halstead, and credit to David Pennefather for his initial discovery of the wreck in 1979.
What is so impressive about this DVD is the amazing underwater documentation of the wreck, and past dives on it, including one diver who penetrated inside the wreck, and made a surprising discovery. Deas is an expert underwater videographer, and brings the viewer to every part of its natural and historic features.
The Bomber Reef is a tribute to this lost crew, and B-25 operations in New Guinea. Also, it is significant in documentation of a remarkably preserved aircraft wreck that is enjoyed by divers who visit the Madang area.
Kindest regards,
Walter Deas,
Seawest Productions,
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