Friday, October 17, 2014

Sunken WWII-era fighter plane found in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands


Maritime archaeologists working with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service revealed Thursday the remains of a sunken World War II era P-40K Warhawk fighter aircraft. 

 The aircraft was discovered in August while the team conducted research in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument aboard NOAA Ship Hi‘ialakai.

The wreckage was found in about 25 feet of water off the southeast side of the barrier reef within the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial.

According to Kelly Gleason, Monument Maritime Heritage Coordinator, this is the third historic aircraft that the team has discovered. “Each discovery really kind of opens up a window into the rich history of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge,” she said.”Lot of times you might just pass over it and it’s been heavily encrusted over time. We’re looking at something that’s several decades later, so Mother Nature has taken its toll upon these artifacts.”

During drift dive and towboard surveys at an area off Eastern Island, the site of Midway’s historic runways, the team found various artifacts: an engine, landing gear, numerous .50-caliber shells with the markings “1941” and several other objects. A few hundred feet away, the team found three propeller blades (one with a hub still attached), a strut, three .50-caliber machine guns, a machine gun muzzle, dozens of .50-caliber shells and other aircraft parts.

“What we came across was what looked like an engine and then some landing gear, so we knew we were looking at a historic aircraft, but at that time, we weren’t sure which type,” Gleason said. “Upon further survey in a little deeper area about 300 feet to the west, we found the remainder of this sunken aircraft site and that’s what helped us put the pieces of the puzzle together so that we could identify what we were looking at.”

Conducting research back aboard the ship, the team determined that the engine was an Allison V-1710, used in Curtiss P-40K Warhawk airplanes, and that the landing gear was consistent with what would be found on such an aircraft. The machine gun muzzle contained an attached plate that identified the type of gun and aircraft it belonged to, also pointing to a Curtiss P-40K Warhawk. According to archival records, only one P-40K Warhawk wrecked at the east of the reef of Eastern Island at Midway Atoll in February 1943, when the plane’s controls froze and the pilot, Lt. Ray Obenshain, Jr., parachuted to safety.

“Most of the sites really are (scattered), particularly the aircraft because of the materials that they’re made out of, they tend to break apart and, as most as these sites, they’ve crashed in pretty dramatic conditions and so they break apart on impact, but then, over several decades, they break apart in the waves,” Gleason said.

Further research by the maritime heritage team uncovered that this particular plane was part of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 78th Fighter Squadron, which made aviation history in the planning and execution of the longest over-water flight of a single engine, land-based airplane ever attempted. The squadron was stationed at Midway from January 23 until April 21, 1943; their mission was to protect the island, its garrison and fortifications and the submarine and communications base from enemy attacks.

“This is an exciting time for the refuge,” said U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge Manager Dan Clark. “Discovering this wreckage is a tangible reminder of the sacrifice of so many for our freedom. We honor our American heroes as the find continues to remind us why Midway Atoll is a national memorial in addition to a wildlife refuge that deserves the continued underwater research efforts by NOAA’s Maritime Heritage Program. As a former Coast Guard aviator, I am humbled to know another important part of our national aviation history has now been discovered.”

The team documented the site with measured sketches, a preliminary site map and photographs. Further research is ongoing.

The Monument has at least 60 potential shipwreck sites and 70 potential sunken aircraft sites; to date, 22 of these have been discovered and documented. This is the fourth historic WWII era aircraft discovered within the Monument.

- Source:  http://khon2.com


Photo: Jim Tapp

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