Wreckage of WW2 Catalina found

Kyt · 31-05-2008, 09:35 AM

CDNN :: Divers Find Wreckage of WW2 Catalina Flying Boat

Quote:

Scuba divers have found the wreckage of a Catalina flying boat in Darwin Harbour, which was a base for the aircraft during World War 2.

Officials of the Territory government told CDNN the location of the aircraft had been a mystery since 1942 when it was sunk by enemy fire along with two other Catalinas.

Before the end of the war, six of the planes sank in the harbour, of which only one had not been located until divers working for a Japanese gas company found the wreckage.

The aircraft was found at a depth of only 18 meters in the East Arm area.

"Sticking up a few metres off the seabed was all the (Catalina's) framework," said Sue Sultana, the first diver to find the wreck. "So that was pretty unusual."

Officials said the site will now be considered for heritage listing.

Nostalgair · 31-05-2008, 10:04 AM

Thanks Kyt.

I get to Darwin from time to time, so I'll be interested to follow this one up.

There are some other wrecks off Broome as well.

Cheers

Owen

Antipodean Andy · 01-06-2008, 10:27 PM

The wrecks off Broome are Cats and Dutch Dorniers that can still be seen at low tide.

The Japanese gas company mentioned are surveying the harbour for a proposed pipeline and there has been some concern that wrecks such as the Cats will be distrubed. The company is also looking at somewhere in NW West Oz for their project.

Nostalgair · 01-06-2008, 10:40 PM

Hi Andy,

Yep, I had a very good look at them at low tide some years back as a 'younger' charter pilot.

Cheers

Owen