Posted on 08/09/2017 9:33:40 AM PDT by simpson96
(full article title: A long lost airplane that crashed during WWII is finally discovered almost perfectly preserved on the riverbed of a remote Pacific island)
Holidaymakers can expect to witness numerous unexpected wonders when they explore the world.
But tourists visiting the Micronesian archipelago of Palau discovered an unusually rare sight, recently - after stumbling across a doomed WW2 plane.
The long lost aeroplane was found in a shallow river on the archipelago of Palau, which boasts 500 picturesque islands.
An image of the remarkable relic, which surfaced on Imgur, shows the plane largely intact with the wings still attached to the fuselage.
Eerily positioned upside-down, it's not clear which country the military craft belonged to, but the undisturbed site has now become something of a makeshift grave.
And, clearly, it exerts a fascination with holidaymakers, two of whom can be seen canoeing past the plane's rusted body.
Unsurprisingly, the image has stunned people across the internet, with one saying:, 'Looks like a movie set or the beginning or end of a novel.'
Another added: 'If was the pilot that died with that plane, I'd be happy with my final resting spot. So beautiful and serene.'
A third chimed-in: 'For me, it's the juxtaposition between the wreck and the person kayaking carefree right next to it. It seems disrespectful given that someone could have died in that wreck.'
One plane expert told MailOnline that the wreck is 'probably' that of an American aircraft, possibly a flying boat, he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Look closely.
The engine and prop has broken off from the main fuselage and fallen down at an angle.
The wing flaps are pointed ‘down’, which means they were ‘up’ when it was crashing. The pilot was desperately trying to gain altitude or intentionally stalling trying for a ‘soft’ crash in the water....................
Took me a while to see that what I was looking at was the engine. You’re right.
That’ll buff right out.
Could it be a Hell Diver (IIRC a Douglas aircraft) which the Navy was flying in the Palaus in 1944? It looks like a twin seat dive bomber to me.
On the tail it looks like landing gear. The p39 had landing gear in the front I think.
If it had a couple of pontoons
It could be a Carmen Electra
Good one!......................
If you folks actually ‘read’ the article, it identifies the plane:
“The plane is a Japanese Aichi E13A long range reconnaissance seaplane “.
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Yes, it’s pretty wide. Those old WWII aircraft were pretty tight fitting. When I look at the guy in the boat, this one looks like it could have fit two guys side by side, actually.
But I’m done speculating. It was a fun exercise, but we’ll find out soon enough. If someone were paying me by the hour to do it, that would be different.
TBF? Large cockpit, small man in a kayak = TBF? Wing hinges???
If you right click on the image, select 'View Image' from the menu that appears, then use CTRL + to magnify the picture to max resolution, you can see the outline of a landing gear tire in the lower portion of the wing section, right beside the tree's three-leaf branch ...............
I don’t think it is inverted. I think it just has a shoulder mounted wing.
It’s hard to believe this was just discovered.
If that is a correct ID then a lot of the upper fuselage has rotted away.
What? Read the article? That’s no fun!
The avenger’s wing changes angle just a few feet from the fuselage. That wreck does not have that.
If the nose area is intact and hasn’t lost too much, it would be safe to say it was a tail dragger. No sign of landing gear up front.
It is pretty clear that ID is wrong. The trailing edge of the E13A comes right to the bottom of the fuselage. The person that claimed it was an E13 also claimed it was inverted. It clearly isn’t.
The Engine has broken away from the fuselage with the prop.
If you right click on the image, select ‘View Image’ from the menu that appears, then use CTRL + to magnify the picture to max resolution, you can see the outline of a landing gear tire in the lower portion of the wing section, right beside the tree’s three-leaf branch ...............
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