In September 2005, cameraman Roger Munns and photographer Matt Oldfield traveled to Biak in West Papua as part of an exploratory cruise around Biak itself, the Cendrawasih Bay and Mapia Atoll (take a look at Biak for the full story). Whilst waiting in Manokwari for a new prop to arrive, the team onboard the Citra Pelangi took the opportunity to dive the many wrecks in the area - from WWII patrol boats to huge, unidentified freighters, Manokwari has plenty to keep wreck explorers excited. However, a chance dive on newly found wreck, just outside the main harbour area, led to the identification of a remarkable plane.

On their last day in Manokwari, Roger and Matt were invited to dive on a wreck recently located by a local divemaster after talking to some of Manokwari's fishermen. Descending to the foot of one the many shallow reefs in the area, Roger and Matt were more than surprised to see the wreckage of a very unusual biplane, still remarkably intact although seemingly missing the front section. They spent the next 15 minutes shooting the site until the dive was called short when Matt was stung by a devil scorpionfish, not a pleasant experience! The next day, the boat moved on to Mapia Atoll and the wreck, along with its identity, was forgotten for the time being.

On his return to Sabah, Matt began to look for information on some of the wrecks and locations they had visited. A Google search for 'biplane & manokwari' turned up a surprising link - the search by the Johnson family, owners of the huge multi-national company SC Johnson, headquartered in the US, for an unusual S-38 biplane lost in Manokwari. The plane had originally been used by the son of the company's founder to make a historic journey to South America at the height of the Great Depression - his aim was to secure a source of carnauba wax then used in the company's main product, Johnson's floor wax. By making this remarkable journey, and fulfilling his mission, HF Johnson saved the fortunes of his company and helped build it into the giant it remains today.

The plane itself was sold on to another company several years later and sent out to West Papua, where it crashed and was lost somewhere in Manokwari. And despite the crew surviving the crash, the exact location of the wreck was not recorded. Many years later Sam Johnson, son of HF, decided to replicate his father's journey - but first he needed an S-38. A search by the family in Manokwari in 1997 failed to turn up the location of the plane and so Sam Johnson then decided to build a replica of the S-38, completing his journey to South America in 1998 with sons Curt and Fisk onboard.

After his surprising discovery of a possible identity for the wreck, Matt Oldfield forwarded images to SC Johnson which ultimately led to an invitation to travel back to Manokwari with Gene, with of the late Sam Johnson, and their children Curt, Fisk and Helen. Finally the Johnson family would have a chance to see the remains of the plane where it had lain for nearly 60 years. Traveling out at the end of June, Matt spent a week with the family, photographing the wreck and the expedition itself, as well as shooting a photo mosaic to be used by Texas A&M researchers. For Matt, the highlight of the trip was when a stone plaque was sunk on the site inscribed with the words:

"I am Carnauba, my true home is not this bay but the hearts of all who love adventure."

A fitting tribute to a plane with such a remarkable history.