A mysterious car was discovered on a sunken aircraft carrier from World War II (6 photos)

A mysterious car has been found in the wreckage of an American aircraft carrier that sank in the Pacific Ocean more than 80 years ago. The USS Yorktown was destroyed by the Japanese during the Battle of Midway on June 7, 1942.





USS Yorktown rests at a depth of about 5 km in the Pacific Ocean

On April 19, a team of researchers from NOAA Ocean Exploration discovered a previously undocumented car on board the ship.

During the live broadcast of the underwater expedition, the researcher addressed the viewers: “This is a request to all car enthusiasts. I am sure you are closely following what is happening and know this model. Please let us know. We need your help.”

And then the discussions began on the Internet. Probably, the mystery of the secret car has already been solved.



The aircraft carrier crew got rid of heavy equipment after being hit by Japanese torpedoes, but left the Ford car

NOAA Ocean Exploration experts and car enthusiasts came to the same conclusion: this is a 1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe Wagon. However, such cars were not carried on military ships, but were used by officers ashore.

Even on a carrier as large as the USS Yorktown, after loading over 70 fighters and a crew of 2,200, storing a car in a hangar was impractical. And there are no documented cases of personal cars being stored on US carriers during World War II, even by high-ranking officers.





On the front of the car is a sign that can be partially read: "SHIP SERVICE". The vehicle was likely used during the USS Yorktown's port visits.

The car may have belonged to Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher. He commanded the American fleet during the early stages of the Pacific War. Fletcher used the carrier as his flagship during the Battle of Midway. The commander's official papers disappeared during the battle, and there is no evidence that the Ford was ever his property.

Another possible owner was USS Yorktown Captain Elliott Buckmaster. While Admiral Fletcher used the carrier as a base to coordinate the actions of all the other ships in Task Force 17, Buckmaster was in charge of everything that happened on board the ship.





Ford Super Deluxe Wagon

On June 4, 1942, the USS Yorktown was hit by two Japanese torpedoes, causing the mighty carrier to lose power and begin to drift in the ocean. On June 6, the ship was hit by two more torpedoes.

Despite efforts to tow the ship back to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, it sank a day later in about 3 miles of water in the Pacific Ocean, killing 141 people.



Despite efforts to tow the ship back to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, it sank a day later