Extra photographs from an iconic U.S. Navy plane service that was sunk within the Pacific Ocean throughout World Battle II have been launched, simply days after a crew mentioned they found a military vehicle contained in the ship.
NOAA Ocean Exploration despatched a remotely-operated digicam inside the usYorktown on April 19 and 20, the company said in a news release. The 806-foot-long plane service, nicknamed the “Preventing Girl,” performed an enormous function in the US’ Pacific marketing campaign throughout World Battle II earlier than it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine through the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The mission was the primary to deal with the ship’s hanger deck.
Essentially the most shocking discover was the first-ever discovery of underwater plane that had flown on the Midway battlefield, NOAA mentioned. Earlier missions have investigated ships that took half within the battle, however the dive on April 20 discovered plane that had engaged within the air and sea battle.
A minimum of three planes had been positioned throughout the aft Elevator #3 of USS Yorktown through the dive on April 20, together with an overturned SBD Dauntless that was nonetheless armed with a bomb mounted to the underside of the plane’s fuselage. / Credit score: NOAA Ocean Exploration
A minimum of three Douglas SBD Dauntless bombers had been discovered on the hanger deck. One airplane was nonetheless absolutely armed, with a bomb secured in its launch cradle. This airplane was probably a part of a reserve drive, NOAA mentioned.
The opposite two planes had been battle-damaged. They’re believed to be a part of the usEnterprise’s bombing squadron, which landed aboard the usYorktown after a profitable assault on a Japanese service ship. Data present that the badly broken airplanes had been moved to the hangar deck and set ablaze when three enemy bombs struck the usYorktown, NOAA mentioned. Analysis to verify the planes is ongoing.
Throughout the dive on April 19, the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition group was in a position to verify an plane wing imaged throughout a 2023 expedition on Exploration Vessel Nautilus and positioned one other set of doubtless folded wings additionally within the hangar deck. / Credit score: NOAA Ocean Exploration
The remote-operated digicam additionally recognized a number of airplane wings within the hangar deck. These had been probably spare components, NOAA mentioned. One of many airplane wings had first been imaged throughout a 2023 expedition.
One other discovery showcased within the new photographs is a mural hand-painted inside one of many ship’s elevator shafts.
View of the mural,
The mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the usYorktown,” had been partially seen in historic images taken earlier than the ship’s sinking, however has not been seen since. The 42-foot by 12-foot mural tracks the Yorktown’s journeys internationally.
The remotely-operated digicam was in a position to present the intricate particulars painted within the mural.
Shut views of the mural,
NOAA additionally discovered marine life within the shipwreck, together with colourful pink jellyfish which may be members of a brand new species. Tubeworms and anemones had been additionally noticed.
Whereas exploring the wreck of USS Yorktown throughout Dive 06 of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition, researchers imaged this colourful pink jellyfish, which can be a brand new species. / Credit score: NOAA Ocean Exploration
The united statesYorktown wreck is protected and managed by the Naval Historical past and Heritage Command, NOAA mentioned. It serves as a resting place for hundreds of servicemen who had been aboard the ship when it sank. It has been the location of a number of remotely operated car dives because it was found and documented in 1998.
Greater than 3,400 folks had been killed within the Battle of Halfway. 300 and sixty-two U.S. troops died, based on the National WWII Museum, and the overwhelming majority of the casualties had been Japanese service members. Japanese forces misplaced 4 plane carriers, one cruiser and a whole lot of plane, whereas the U.S. misplaced one service, one destroyer and dozens of plane.
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