Posted on 09/21/2007 12:02:53 PM PDT by Republicain
CALVI, France, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - A US military team searching for the remains of American soldiers from World War II has discovered the wreckage of two B-17 bombers and a P-47 fighter plane off the coast of Corsica.
The 13-man team led by Captain George Mitroka conducted seven days of marine searches near the French Mediterranean island, equipped with sonars, radars, cameras and video equipment.
A B-17 bomber that crashed off the coast of Calvi in northern Corsica in February 1944 after a missed landing was found at a site known to local divers for decades.
A second one was discovered near Ajaccio airport at a depth of only 12 metres, said Howard Mariteragi, a member of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, which seeks to account for US soldiers missing from war.
The P-47 fighter plane was discovered off the coast of Bastia after a Corsican diver provided the US team with the exact GPS coordinates of the wreckage.
The US team, which was making its first visit to Corsica, did not recover any remains at the wreckage sites, but plans to return for further searches.
We in the warbird community have known about these planes for sometime.The planes have been picked over for parts for sometime.These planes are not grave sites by the way. The crews did get out.Good news.
Sounds like tough duty, French Mediterrian.
I wish they would find Glenn Miller’s plane.
Wish that evidence of Amelia Earhart’s flight could be found too.
>> Sounds like tough duty, French Mediterrian.
My Dad flew as a gunner on a B-17 out of North Africa, on bombing runs ranging from Greece to Italy to southern France.
He recorded all his missions in a diary. Fascinating reading.
I don’t think it was quite as risky for the fliers out of North Africa as it was for those that flew from England over Europe, but it sure wasn’t any picnic either.
On the other hand, from what I have read, what the invading *ground forces* in Italy went through was pure-D hell...
God bless all those brave men. We owe them a great debt. They’re nearly all gone now; Dad passed away a couple years ago.
I meant tough duty for the members of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.
I did one recovery mission in Laos back in 97.
Beautiful island
P-47 Thunderbolt (Jug) - My favorite WWII aircraft.
Maybe I’m getting the wrong message here, but the way I’m reading this, countless hours were spent looking for these aircraft and all they had to do was ask any diver.
My hats off to these men for the great service they are doing for the country.
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