Re: WW II Bomber Found

Date: February 22, 2004

"WW2 bombers found dead
18/02/2004 12:49  - (SA)  

Koror, Palau - A US World War 2 bomber shot down over Palau in the central Pacific has been found with the remains of eight missing American servicemen, authorities said here Wednesday.

The coral-encrusted but mostly intact wreck of the B-24, which came down nearly 60 years ago, was discovered under 22 metres of water in an undisclosed location.

"This plane undoubtedly has human remains on it," said Patrick Scannon, the leader of the BentProp Project, a 10-year, volunteer effort to find American wrecks in Palau and provide closure for surviving families.

The B-24 was part of an onslaught on the Japanese-held Palau islands as the US prepared to remove a key air base before taking the Philippines, said Scannon, a research scientist from San Francisco.

It was shot down in September 1944 over the heavily-fortified capital, Koror. Witnesses reported three crew members parachuting out of the plane as it plummeted into the sea, Scannon said.

They were then executed by the Japanese, witnesses said. The remains of all or some of the other eight are believed to be on board the plane.

Scannon said he and the BentProp team had searched for the B-24 for eight years, "exhausting every possible lead."

Sticking out of the coral

New reconnaissance photos were recently released by the US military that led them to a new area. They interviewed a local spear fisherman who frequented the waters and told them of a plane part sticking out of the coral. Soon afterwards, they dived to the new site.

Palau President Tommy Remengesau said the information about the B-24 was immediately given to the US military, whose expert Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) in Hawaii can remove and identify any bones.

JPAC is a little-known military department charged with recovering the 88 000 Americans missing in action around the world.

A JPAC team, in Palau to research three other potential gravesites, said they were pleased with the B-24 find, but urged people not to disturb the site.

Divers holding up skulls

"I have seen horrendous things done on wrecks around the world. I have seen pictures of divers holding up skulls," said Bill Belcher, the team's archaeologist.

Remengesau also asked residents not to attempt to locate the B-24 until after the US military completes its work and possibly notifies next of kin.

"This site is protected by Palauan and US law and is regarded as a sacred gravesite," Remengesau said.

Palau is a Pacific nation between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

Edited by Tricia Shannon
©News 24, South Africa"