The Swashbuckling 'Bone Hunters' of Cambodia

By Ivan T. Brecelic for Salem-News.com
1st November, 2010

Forty years on since Sean Flynn's abduction -- the son of the swashbuckling actor Errol Flynn -- Ivan T. Brecelic reports the 'bone hunters' of Cambodia who are intent on finding the remains of the famous war photographer.

Sean Flynn, missing for 40 years, and Dave MacMillan, the Australian searcher working with Flynn's family to locate Sean's remains.

(BANGKOK) - In March, 2010, sensational headlines broke around the world: "Son of Swashbuckling Errol Flynn's remains found." An Australian and New Zealander, MacMillan and Rotheram had dug up the remains thought to be two photographers who had disappeared in Cambodia in 1970. But DNA testing suggested otherwise.

In Like Flynn
Sean Flynn, the son of swashbuckling Errol Flynn, was keen to break out of the shadow of his larger than life father. He tried his hand at acting, but war photography would be his calling. In Vietnam, where he would meet other photographers, including Brit Tim Page, American Dana Stone, and forge life time friendships. While the Vietnam war was winding down, the Americans focused on the side theatre in Cambodia where Sean Flynn and Dana Stone were last seen.

Flynn, 28, was photographing for TIME, and Dana Stone, a camera man for CBS, were apprehended on the outskirts of the Phnom Pen, on the front lines, in 1970. Flynn was last seen on red Honda with Stone, pushing each other, to get the biggest scoop in Cambodia; to prove that the US were involved in a secret war. They were most likely arrested by North Vietnamese soldiers and handed over to the Khmer Rouge. Researchers suggest that the pair were alive for a good year after capture.

Enter MacMillan

Australian born MacMillan, 29, who has been living in Vietnam for 8 years says steadfastly that he won't stop until he finds Flynn's remains. "I have been give this Indiana Jones tag because I do things differently. " He sure does, beginning each day at 5 am, riding up to 120km through rubber plantations and bandit country looking for leads. And while on a dig, he doesn't mind using his North Queensland gruff to get the team motivated. "I call my workers slack bastards if they cant keep up with me and dig all day long." For full article and more pictures, click here.