World War II aircraft wreckage discovered in Malta

Students from California Polytechnic University have located the wreckage of a British aircraft, dating back to the Second World War, during research carried out in Malta. The wreckage of the Royal Air Force plane was tracked down during an exploration and seabed mapping project around Malta’s east coast.

The wreck, found at a depth of 60 metres, is the remains of a Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bomber plane, which was forced to launch 74 years ago as a result of engine problems and then sank and came to rest on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The two pilots operating the machine managed to save themselves.

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In conducting the search and mapping the bottom, Cal Poly students used an Autonomus Underwater Vehicle (AUV) equipped with sonar, as well as photo and video equipment.

[blockquote style=”2″]”We are confident that we have found the wreckage of the plane, which archives indicate sank at a location three miles off the coast of Malta.” – announced Zoe Wood, Cal Poly professor and co-director of the project[/blockquote].

The found vessel has already been explored by archaeologists from the Univeristy of Malta, led by Dr Timmy Gambin, well known in Poland. On the basis of their examination and the documentation gathered, the origin of the find was confirmed and it was decided to leave the wreck where it rests.

There are only 9 Fairey Swordfish left in the world and many would love to see another one in a museum. However, even though the found machine was preserved in its entirety, an attempt to lift the delicate structure of the biplane, after so long lying on the seabed, would probably end in its destruction.

[blockquote style=”2″]”In our plans we would like to include locations like this wreck as attractions for divers visiting Malta.” – announced Dr Timmy Gambin[/blockquote].

The wreckage of the Fairey Swordfish aircraft was found as part of the ICEX (International Computer Engineering Experience) project, spread over a three-year period, in which the University of Malta, Harvey Mudd College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are collaborating.

Source: warbirdsnews.com, sanluisobispo.com, wikipedia.org