Monday, August 10, 2009

WWII missing plane found?

Interesting news out of Canada, as reported by the Bangor Daily News over the weekend:
Plane found by Canadian divers believed to be Maine-based Catalina lost in 1942
8/8/09
By The Associated Press

LONGUE-POINTE-DE-MINGAN, Quebec — Canadian divers have stumbled upon what they believe is the wreckage of a U.S. Army air force amphibious plane that went down in the St. Lawrence River in 1942.

Nine people were aboard the PBY-5A Catalina, which was based at Presque Isle, Maine.

The government divers, who work for Parks Canada, announced Thursday they came across the wreck while doing routine work near the village of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan in eastern Quebec. It has not yet been confirmed whether it is the lost plane.
[...]
According to the War Department, which later became the U.S. Department of Defense, the plane had completed the first leg of a routine flight and was taking off for the return trip to base when it capsized in rough weather in the eastern Gulf of Saint Lawrence on Nov. 2, 1942.

Four crew members survived. Five others died inside the aircraft. Their bodies have yet to be recovered.

Surviving were: retired Capt. John B. Holmberg, Chicago; Tech. Sgt. George C. Peterson, Welch, La.; Cpl. Robert L. Ashley, Riverside, Calif.; and Pvt. James E. Click, Lexington, Ky.

Missing were: Lt. Col. Harry J. Zimmerman, Bayside, Long Island, N.Y.; Capt. Carney Lee Dowlen, Dallas; Sgt. Charles O. Richardson, Charlevoix, Mich.; Pvt. Erwin G. Austin, Monroe, Maine; and Pvt. Peter J. Cuzins, Cincinnati.

Recent sonar data indicate the seaplane is in good condition and that human remains may be found.
[...]
Read full article here: [Source]
More on Catalinas here! >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBY_Catalina
(Photo from Wikipedia site)

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