It does not receive public funding
Editor in chief:
CLARA MOSCHINI

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

Historic aircraft. Australia: routine survey uncovers WWII wreck

A Baufort bomber has been lying intact in the water since November 26, 1944 - PHOTO+VIDEO

An enthusiastic Charles Collins -chief surveyor of the Australian hydrographic and geophysical survey company EGS, and leader of the survey team- was the first to comment on the unexpected discovery, made public today by the Australian Government Defence in a statement. A routine hydrographic survey, conducted off the coast of Darwin as part of the Australian Hydrographic Office's (AHO) HydroScheme Industry Partnership Program (HIPP), has revealed the outline of a World War II Beaufort bomber aircraft.

"We knew there was some wreckage in the area, but when the silhouette started to appear on the screen in the sonar images, it was clear that we had found an intact plane. You could clearly see everything on top of it from the data, and you wondered what had happened to this plane. It was an emotional moment", Collins added.

The detection involved the use of a type of sonar that maps the seabed. The images provided a clear enough picture to deduce what type of aircraft it was and what condition the bomber was in when it went down. The aircraft's throttle, gauges and cockpit wiring are still intact, as are both engines and propellers. The gun turret is still in place and pointing to port, the statement said. Based on the crash report, the location and condition of the wreckage, it was determined to be Beaufort A9-497 belonging to the RAAF's 1st Squadron.

Starting from Gould, about 100 km south of Darwin, the aircraft flew a variety of missions, from offensive operations over the then Japanese-held territory of East Timor to protecting convoys in northern Australia. On 26 November 1944, the aircraft was forced to make an emergency ditch due to engine failure. All four crewmembers survived the rather risky manoeuvre, and were rescued the following day.

For now, Beaufort A9-497 will continue its deep, undisturbed slumber underwater, and will be managed as a heritage asset by the Northern Territory government.

Below a video illustrating the history of the Bristol Beaufort in Australia:


Photo gallery Sonar image shows the silhouette of the RAAF Beaufort A9-497 bomber aircraft, lying submerged off Darwin, Australia, since 26 November 1944
red/f - 1261885

AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
Similar