The RV Petrel crew found the wreckage of a 1942 aircraft.

A team specialising in the search for lost wrecks from the RV Petrel research unit has recorded another success. However, in contrast to previous discoveries, this time it is not a ship, but an aircraft dating back to World War II. The found American machine was examined and a detailed photographic documentation was made.

A US Navy aircraft lost in 1942 has been located on the seabed near the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Although the wreck had spent 77 years underwater, it is in very good condition and the search team, who had great equipment, were able to take some great photos of the found machine.

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The investigated wreck is located at a depth of about 100 metres and is in good condition. By combing the immediate vicinity, the engine of the machine was found 50 metres away. However, it was not possible to find the tail, thanks to which a full identification would have been possible. The type of aircraft and the location of the wreckage are consistent with the historical loss of as many as two VT-3 Avenger aircraft, which took place on 11 October 1942.

Experts from Project Recover and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, together with the research team of the RV Petrel vessel, used the advanced technology available to the vessel to image the wreck of the Grumman TBF Avenger aircraft. It is worth noting that the sunken aircraft was first discovered in 1999 by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, but has never been thoroughly investigated.

The Grumman TBF Avenger is an American torpedo-bomber aircraft used by the United States Navy. It entered US Navy service in 1942 and underwent its baptism of fire on June 4, the first day of the legendary Battle of Midway.

Despite losing 5 of the 6 available at the time, the Avenger performed well enough to become one of the best torpedo-bomber aircraft of WWII and was used until the 1960s. The Avenger was used with some modifications until the 1960s and was also used by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Source: foxnews.com, wikipedia.org
Photo: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego/RV Petrel/Vulcan Inc./Project Recover