Richard Stewart
February 19th 04, 12:38 AM
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/18/1077072710724.html
A US World War II bomber shot down over Palau in the central Pacific has
been found with the remains of eight missing American servicemen.
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 mR
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, he 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.
Mr Scannon said he and the BentProp team had searched for the B-24 for eight
years, "exhausting every possible lead".
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 in Hawaii can remove and identify any bones.
JPAC is a little-known military department charged with recovering the
88,000 American 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.
"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.
Mr 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," he said.
Palau is a Pacific nation between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
A US World War II bomber shot down over Palau in the central Pacific has
been found with the remains of eight missing American servicemen.
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 mR
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, he 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.
Mr Scannon said he and the BentProp team had searched for the B-24 for eight
years, "exhausting every possible lead".
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 in Hawaii can remove and identify any bones.
JPAC is a little-known military department charged with recovering the
88,000 American 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.
"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.
Mr 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," he said.
Palau is a Pacific nation between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.