B-17 Recently discovered off Australian North Coast

[Digger]

Has anyone got any updates on the alleged discovery of a B-17 lying in 60feet of water off the North Coast of Australia?. It was first reported as an unknown type but this has since been changed to a B-17. It is also said to contain the remains of several crew members. It was supposed to have been located over the Christmas New Year period.

Anything appreciated

cheers

Digger

[bomberflight]

The Courier-Mail in Queensland carried an item about this on 23rd Dec 05

Mystery surrounds crashed WWII bomber
Written by Michael Madigan

IT'S one of the largest aircraft to crash in Australia and up to 10 lives could have been lost when it hit the waters off Cape York during WWII.

But no one knows the identity or country of origin of the massive bomber, discovered in 6m of water off the northern tip of Australia.

Underwater documentary-maker Ben Cropp found the aircraft lodged in coral with three of its four engines still intact in late October.

No bodies were found, but records show bombers that size carried between six and 10 crew.

"Years ago someone told me of the existence of the plane and I just scribbled it down on the chart, meaning to get around to it one day," Mr Cropp said from Port Douglas yesterday.

"Because the conditions were calm and perfect in late October, I decided to go and look for it and found it no trouble at all.

"It would be easily the biggest aircraft, or as big as the biggest aircraft, ever to have crashed in Australia."

The engines were silent when the aircraft hit the water because the props were bent inwards.

Mr Cropp has narrowed the make of the aircraft down to a B-24 Liberator bomber, a B-17 Flying Fortress or a Japanese Emily flying boat. The Emily had a 130ft (about 40m) wing span.

"My intention is to go back and solve the identification issue," Mr Cropp said. "That is something we can do towards the end of next year."

*****************

And this is where I found it !

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/c ... 02,00.html

[Digger]

Thanks awefully Ol' Chap

digger

[systemofadown1162]

But what would a B-17 be doing that far down in the Pacific?

[Mudge]

Bomberflight...Are you sure it said 6m. That's awfully shallow for it to go unnoticed all these years. Could it have been 60m?

Mudge the curious

The news report said six meters, just like it says in the packet. Eighteen feet and a bit is not all that deep. Maybe it's a typo.

The best bit IMHO says:

"It would be easily the biggest aircraft, or as big as the biggest aircraft, ever to have crashed in Australia."

This could start a whole new thread. Biggest plane to crash in Oz? Strewth!

Rob / Kansan

[Digger]

The information I have is that it is a B-17. Can only say the source I have understands that some wreckage was found in the general vacinity some time ago and that this was identified as belonging to a B-17. We have to remember that in some of the more remote places in Australia, the local traditional owners find, see and discover a lot of things, but to them its nothing more that a wreck or a source of parts. Ben Cropp the guy who located it is a well known and respected maritime researcher here in Australia. I would suggest he already knows what it is, but has released limited information in order to protect what might still be on board.

I have a particular interest in finding a missing B24 and B25 in this general area. Many aircraft are still listed as Missing in the route from Queensland to PNG and Beyond, many still have the crews with them. So lets hope this could provide some closure for families somewhere.


cheers

Digger

[JBoyle]

But what would a B-17 be doing that far down in the Pacific?

Fighting Japanese?

Early in the war there wereseveral B-17 units in the SW Pacific.
The B-17s caught in the Pearl Harbor attack were enroute to the western Pacific. Ever hear of the Swoose and other planes that evacuated the Phillipines to Australia?

Case in point, the 7thBG (still active at Dyess AFB, Texas flying B-1Bs) had 17s before switching to B-24s...which had greater range and were favored in the Pacific.

[Dave Homewood]

This is interesting.

Ben Cropp, doesn't he make a lot of shark documentary films? Has he done aircraft wreck films in the past? Maybe he's releasing limited info simply because he does not want to usurp a doco he's making about it, and then he can spin out the "we didn't know what it was" story for ages through the commentary.

Swoose became a transport for some US General and spent a good deal of time visiting New Zealand during the war too incidentally.

[Andy in West Oz]

He has to be keeping some things quiet, unless the wreck was totally mangled, it shouldn't be that hard to tell if it's a B-24 or B-17! Surely?

Exciting news, whatever it turns out to be.

Systemofadown, Swoose was half swan, half goose. She was damaged (I think in a ground collision) and received a new rear fuselage, hence the name. Rusty memory so may be a bit off, my love for Warbirds has recently resurfaced!

Cheers

Andy

[Digger]

Hi Andy, welcome to a fellow Aussie.

You're right, big difference in structure between B24 and B-17. There could be some truth to the beat up option too, hence the Japanese link.

time will tell.


Digger