Posted on 11/23/2022 8:48:33 AM PST by fidelis
Searchers have located the wrecks of five B-24 bombers that crashed into the Adriatic Sea during World War II, three of which are associated with 23 still-missing crew members.
The search mission – conducted over a two-week period in August off the coast of Croatia – was a partnership between Project Recover and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
It was the culmination of a lengthy process of researching military records and obtaining needed permits from Croatia, Mark Moline, the mission leader and a cofounder of Project Recover, said in a phone interview Thursday.
Along with the B-17, the B-24 Liberator was a mainstay for U.S. strategic bombing in the European theater, with almost 19,000 of the heavy bombers built during World War II. It was utilized by all the American service branches in Europe and the Pacific.
The wrecks of an estimated 30 U.S. warplanes are believed to lie submerged in what was a frequent “ditching area” for crippled warplanes in the vicinity of the search area in the Adriatic Sea, which lies between Italy and the Balkans.
“Most of those aircraft took off from Italy and would bomb Europe,” Moline said. “Then, if they were attacked and limping and couldn't make it back to Italy, they didn't go directly back across the Adriatic.”
Instead, the pilots flew down the coast of what was then Yugoslavia – now Croatia – and ditched the aircraft in waters not controlled by the Nazis, Moline said. Some crews made it to safety; others did not...
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
Wonder what the depth is? Looks like that diver is loaded up with mixed gas.
You don't have to wonder. According to the article, "the wrecks were found in waters roughly 300 feet deep, which is near the safe maximum depth for divers."
B-17
Well, mea culpa, I didnt read the full article. Interesting picture though. For 300 feet, there is a lot of lighting, but that could be using some really high end camera with some post processing as well.
FYI, 300 feet is safe with proper gas mix and extra training. Most recreational divers are limited to between 75’ and maybe 140’ with decompression stops on the way up when using straight compressed air. Deeper than that and straight air becomes toxic.
That’s very interesting. Thanks for the info.
The B-24 “Witchcraft” is one of a set of planes owned and operated by the Collings Foundation, Keeps history alive! I have a picture of my son from 2009 standing in front of it. As a cub scout leader, we took the pack to the airport here every year when they were in town.
My dad flew as a B24 tailgunner in those campaigns. Flying out of Spinazolla Italy on the boot.
These planes came from the attacks most likely from the raid on Ploesti Oil Fields, a force of 177 planes attacked and 54 lost outright with another 55 damaged and some of those ditched at sea on the trip back..Single worse loss up that point in the war.
Good for them. I just LOVE hearing and watching the old girls fly!
God bless him for his service.
Reason for using only the B-24 was had longer range than the B-17 and carried bigger load than the B-17. Flew like a truck without power steering. Ditching at sea or crash landing on land was extremely risky as the plane had a high wing and roll up bomb bay doors which acted as a brake and ripped the plane apart.
When in the B-17, I'd always point out the ball turret position and ask tell the kids what it must have felt like to be trapped in that for the whole long, cold flight. I recited "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" from memory. I still can.
Sounds spot on! The main reason for the invasion of Italy was to take over a dozen or so airfields that would have the oil fields and some other Axis-controlled industry in the Balkans in their flight radius.
Sidebar: the B-24 was somewhat more likely to be shot down, as it had a lower flight ceiling than the B-17.
Thanks fidelis. This has been a busy GGG week, I think the busiest in some time.
My uncle was a B-24 tailgunner as well, would be funny if they knew each other!
You never know. There is a Facebook Group, 460th Bomb Group, that might interest you.
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