Kokoda Mystery Solved

The mystery of the "Hanging Aussie airman" has been revealed as 'just a branch'

An Australian trekking party's hopes of having found remains of a World War II airman hanging from a tree on the Kokoda Track have been dashed – in fact they discovered a moss-covered branch.

Australian Defence Force staff from the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby today reached the isolated site on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea to check on the sighting, but found no human remains.

"While the location near Kagi on Mt Bellamy is below a flight path that was commonly used by allied aircraft during WWII sorties, the find has been confirmed by ADF staff as a moss-covered branch," Defence said tonight.

It appears the branch has broken off the main tree and fallen across some vines, giving the impression of a body."

Kokoda Spirit discovered the full skeletal remains of 4 Japanese Soldiers earlier in the year along the Kokoda Track. These remains are still on the Kokoda Track. We have been in constant contact with the Japanese Embassy about the recovery of the remains. Hopefully before the start of the wet season we will be able to relocate the remains back to Japan.

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