Extra photos from an iconic U.S. Navy plane service that was sunk within the Pacific Ocean throughout World Conflict II have been launched, simply days after a crew mentioned they discovered a army automobile contained in the ship.
Probably the most shocking discover was the first-ever discovery of underwater plane that had flown on the Halfway 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.
At the least three planes had been positioned inside the aft Elevator #3 of USS Yorktown in the course of 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.
NOAA Ocean Exploration
At the least three Douglas SBD Dauntless bombers had been discovered on the hanger deck. One aircraft was nonetheless totally armed, with a bomb secured in its launch cradle. This aircraft was possible a part of a reserve power, 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. Information 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 substantiate the planes is ongoing.
Through 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.
NOAA Ocean Exploration
The remote-operated digital camera additionally recognized a number of aircraft wings within the hangar deck. These had been possible spare elements, NOAA mentioned. One of many aircraft wings had first been imaged throughout a 2023 expedition.
One other discovery showcased within the new photos is a mural hand-painted inside one of many ship’s elevator shafts.
View of the mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” hand-painted contained in the ship’s #2 elevator shaft, seen in the course of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition dive on April 19, 2025.
NOAA Ocean Exploration
The mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” 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 the world over.
The remotely-operated digital camera was in a position to present the intricate particulars painted within the mural.
Shut views of the mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” reveal the intricacies and element on this portray depicting the travels of Yorktown. Imaged on April 19 in the course of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition.
NOAA Ocean Exploration
NOAA additionally discovered marine life within the shipwreck, together with colourful crimson 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 crimson jellyfish, which can be a brand new species.
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 a whole lot of servicemen who had been aboard the ship when it sank. It has been the positioning of a number of remotely operated automobile dives because it was found and documented in 1998.
Greater than 3,400 individuals had been killed within the Battle of Halfway. 300 and sixty-two U.S. troops died, in response to the Nationwide 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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