Missing World War II Plane Found After 80 Years

Officials from the US Department of Defense have been informed about the status of the wreck and are putting into motion steps to send investigators down to the crash site.

They found parts of the plane in separate pieces as well as wreckage from the engine and propeller.  Human remains were also discovered but they have not been properly identified.

“The story was told by some of our grandparents and passed on to us that there was a plane crash on the mountain part of the jungle, but they did not know where exactly it crashed,” said local Kilala Kindau.

“The plane was crashed and broke into three pieces, leaving the pilot trapped inside and unable to escape,” he said.

The particular plane belonged to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236. Squadron 236 was nicknamed “Black Panthers” and operated in the South Pacific Theater during World War Two.

In July of the same year, Squadron 236 underwent a series of training missions to practice dive bombing.

SBD Dauntless 35971 was built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo and delivered to the US Navy. Its operations history saw it assigned to the US Marine Corps, Marine Air Wing 2, Marine Air Group 21, and finally the Black Panthers Squadron.

The planes were after Japanese shipping targets in the vicinity and managed to sink nine direct hits on seven transports. During the mission, Dauntless 35971 reportedly had its tail shot off by anti-aircraft fire and disappeared over Saint Georges Channel.

There was a search conducted by a PBY Catalina that was looking for lost aircrews from the January 14 mission but it did not turn up anyone from Dauntless 35971.

After his declared death he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain and awarded a Purple Heart. His name appears on the tablets of the missing in Manila American Cemetery.

His brother John Sciara saw a letter from the Marine Corps indicating this. “After the war my parents received a letter from the Marine Corps stating Sgt Charles Sciara did not die on January 14, 1944. He somehow survived the crash and was taken prisoner by the Japanese and died in an unknown prison camp.”

“DPAA has received multiple reports that wreckage potentially associated with missing personnel was recently discovered on New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. We are working to get a team of investigators to the site as soon as we can. As the agency responsible for recovering the remains of Americans missing from past conflicts, DPAA is committed to pursuing this lead,” the spokesperson said.

Plenty of other wrecked or lost planes and ships from WWII have been discovered, providing closure to families and bringing attention to lesser-known battles and stories.

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The dive honored the cultural and historical significance of the site. The mission involved numerous partners and aimed to provide baseline data to support the management and potential national marine sanctuary designation of PMNM, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This discovery provided a deeper understanding of the battle that turned the tide in the Pacific War and preserved the legacy of one of Japan’s most formidable carriers.

These discoveries remind us of the enduring impact of WWII and the importance of preserving its legacy for future generations.