Latest news with #FrankFletcher
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Shipwreck explorers find iconic rare CAR while scouring sunken WW2 aircraft carrier – and can even read unique reg plate
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ICONIC wooden car has been discovered in the wreckage of the famed US warship, downed by a Japanese submarine during WWII. Historians are baffled as to why the 1940-41 black Ford Super Deluxe Woody was aboard the aircraft carrier - now 16,650 feet below the surface. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown Credit: Newport News Shipbuilding 5 The car found among the remains of the USS Yorktown shipwreck Credit: 'National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 5 A 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Credit: Wikipedia The World War II aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown, famously sank during the Battle of Midway in 1942 - fought between the US and Japan. While the ship was first rediscovered in 1998, no one is believed to have noticed the vintage car among the wreckage until now. The baffling discovery was made on April 19, when NOAA Ocean Exploration sent a remotely operated camera into the vast wreck. The historic shipwreck is located roughly 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu in Hawaii. Footage shows the remains of the 809-foot-long aircraft carrier - known to host about 2,200 personnel and 90 aircraft. Right beside the shipwreck, near the carrier's elevator three, sits the vintage classic - upright. Its distinct, boxy, upright shape, canvas top, chrome bumper and spare tire on the back are still visible - despite over 80 years of decay underwater. A closer look through the camera revealed flared wheel arches, traces of a fabric roof, chrome detailing, rectangular rear windows, a split windshield and parking lights above the headlights, researchers said. 'Why is there a car on this boat?' a researcher can be heard saying on a live-stream of the expedition. It is unclear why the car was on board the Yorktown. One theory is that the car was parked on the deck of the USS Yorktown while the ship was docked at Pearl Harbor for emergency repairs after the Battle of the Coral Sea. Historians have also guessed that it could have been the car of someone important, like Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher, who was the operational task force commander at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. NOAA Ocean Exploration suspects the car is a '1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe 'Woody' in black'. 'It has a license plate on the front that can be partially read saying 'SHIP SERVICE' at the top, but the lower part is illegible due to corrosion,' NOAA reports. 'Evidently staff cars of the Ford Super Deluxe model were common with the Navy and Army ashore; however, as of yet, they haven't been able to find a 'Woody' in service for staff officers, so that is potentially unique for this ship." The front plate of the car was discovered in the hangar of USS Yorktown during the seventh dive of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition on April 20. On aircraft carriers, the hangars would have been where planes were stored and worked on. This has led historians to suspect that it may have been there for transportation or repairs during the ship's time in port. The expedition by NOAA Ocean Exploration is said to be the first time cameras were sent inside the wreck. What happened to the USS Yorktown? The USS Yorktown was an early aircraft carrier in the US Navy, launched in 1936. It was named after the Battle of Yorktown from the American Revolutionary War. It was one of the most important American carriers in the early stages of World War II, playing a major role in the Pacific Theatre. Yorktown participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 - the first naval battle in history fought entirely by aircraft from carriers. Although damaged in that battle, the Yorktown was repaired in just three days at Pearl Harbor so it could join the American fleet for the Battle of Midway in June 1942. During the Battle of Midway, Yorktown's planes helped sink two Japanese carriers - a major turning point in the Pacific War. But Yorktown was heavily damaged by Japanese bombers and torpedo planes. It was then hit again by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. The ship was abandoned and sank on June 7, 1942, around 200 miles northeast of Midway. 5 The car's canvas top, chrome bumper and spare tire on the back can be seen Credit: 'National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The Sun
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Shipwreck explorers find iconic rare CAR while scouring sunken WW2 aircraft carrier – and can even read unique reg plate
AN ICONIC wooden car has been discovered in the wreckage of the famed US warship, downed by a Japanese submarine during WWII. Historians are baffled as to why the 1940-41 black Ford Super Deluxe Woody was aboard the aircraft carrier - now 16,650 feet below the surface. 5 5 5 The World War II aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown, famously sank during the Battle of Midway in 1942 - fought between the US and Japan. While the ship was first rediscovered in 1998, no one is believed to have noticed the vintage car among the wreckage until now. The baffling discovery was made on April 19, when NOAA Ocean Exploration sent a remotely operated camera into the vast wreck. The historic shipwreck is located roughly 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu in Hawaii. Footage shows the remains of the 809-foot-long aircraft carrier - known to host about 2,200 personnel and 90 aircraft. Right beside the shipwreck, near the carrier's elevator three, sits the vintage classic - upright. Its distinct, boxy, upright shape, canvas top, chrome bumper and spare tire on the back are still visible - despite over 80 years of decay underwater. A closer look through the camera revealed flared wheel arches, traces of a fabric roof, chrome detailing, rectangular rear windows, a split windshield and parking lights above the headlights, researchers said. 'Why is there a car on this boat?' a researcher can be heard saying on a live-stream of the expedition. It is unclear why the car was on board the Yorktown. One theory is that the car was parked on the deck of the USS Yorktown while the ship was docked at Pearl Harbor for emergency repairs after the Battle of the Coral Sea. Historians have also guessed that it could have been the car of someone important, like Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher, who was the operational task force commander at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. NOAA Ocean Exploration suspects the car is a '1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe 'Woody' in black'. 'It has a license plate on the front that can be partially read saying 'SHIP SERVICE' at the top, but the lower part is illegible due to corrosion,' NOAA reports. 'Evidently staff cars of the Ford Super Deluxe model were common with the Navy and Army ashore; however, as of yet, they haven't been able to find a 'Woody' in service for staff officers, so that is potentially unique for this ship." The front plate of the car was discovered in the hangar of USS Yorktown during the seventh dive of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition on April 20. On aircraft carriers, the hangars would have been where planes were stored and worked on. This has led historians to suspect that it may have been there for transportation or repairs during the ship's time in port. The expedition by NOAA Ocean Exploration is said to be the first time cameras were sent inside the wreck. What happened to the USS Yorktown? The USS Yorktown was an early aircraft carrier in the US Navy, launched in 1936. It was named after the Battle of Yorktown from the American Revolutionary War. It was one of the most important American carriers in the early stages of World War II, playing a major role in the Pacific Theatre. Yorktown participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 - the first naval battle in history fought entirely by aircraft from carriers. Although damaged in that battle, the Yorktown was repaired in just three days at Pearl Harbor so it could join the American fleet for the Battle of Midway in June 1942. During the Battle of Midway, Yorktown's planes helped sink two Japanese carriers - a major turning point in the Pacific War. But Yorktown was heavily damaged by Japanese bombers and torpedo planes. It was then hit again by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. The ship was abandoned and sank on June 7, 1942, around 200 miles northeast of Midway. 5 5
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Shipwreck explorers find iconic rare CAR while scouring sunken WW2 aircraft carrier – and can even read unique reg plate
AN ICONIC wooden car has been discovered in the wreckage of the famed US warship, downed by a Japanese submarine during WWII. Historians are baffled as to why the 1940-41 black Ford Super Deluxe Woody was aboard the aircraft carrier - now 16,650 feet below the surface. 5 The World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown Credit: Newport News Shipbuilding 5 The car found among the remains of the USS Yorktown shipwreck Credit: 'National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 5 A 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Credit: Wikipedia The World War II aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown, famously sank during the Battle of Midway in 1942 - fought between the US and Japan. While the ship was first rediscovered in 1998, no one is believed to have noticed the vintage car among the wreckage until now. The baffling discovery was made on April 19, when The historic shipwreck is located roughly 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu in Hawaii. Footage shows the remains of the 809-foot-long aircraft carrier - known to host about 2,200 personnel and 90 aircraft. Right beside the shipwreck, near the carrier's elevator three, sits the vintage classic - upright. Its distinct, boxy, upright shape, canvas top, chrome bumper and spare tire on the back are still visible - despite over 80 years of decay underwater. A closer look through the camera revealed flared wheel arches, traces of a fabric roof, chrome detailing, rectangular rear windows, a split windshield and parking lights above the headlights, researchers said. Most read in Motors 'Why is there a car on this boat?' a researcher can be heard saying on a live-stream of the expedition. It is unclear why the car was on board the Yorktown. One theory is that the car was parked on the deck of the USS Yorktown while the ship was docked at Pearl Harbor for emergency repairs after the Battle of the Coral Sea. Historians have also guessed that it could have been the car of someone important, like Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher, who was the operational task force commander at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. NOAA Ocean Exploration suspects the car is a '1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe 'Woody' in black'. 'It has a license plate on the front that can be partially read saying 'SHIP SERVICE' at the top, but the lower part is illegible due to corrosion,' NOAA reports. 'Evidently staff cars of the Ford Super Deluxe model were common with the Navy and Army ashore; however, as of yet, they haven't been able to find a 'Woody' in service for staff officers, so that is potentially unique for this ship." The front plate of the car was discovered in the hangar of USS Yorktown during the seventh dive of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition on April 20. On aircraft carriers, the hangars would have been where planes were stored and worked on. Read more on the Irish Sun This has led historians to suspect that it may have been there for transportation or repairs during the ship's time in port. The expedition by NOAA Ocean Exploration is said to be the first time cameras were sent inside the wreck. What happened to the USS Yorktown? The USS Yorktown was an early aircraft carrier in the US Navy, launched in 1936. It was named after the Battle of Yorktown from the American Revolutionary War. It was one of the most important American carriers in the early stages of World War II, playing a major role in the Pacific Theatre. Yorktown participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 - the first naval battle in history fought entirely by aircraft from carriers. Although damaged in that battle, the Yorktown was repaired in just three days at Pearl Harbor so it could join the American fleet for the Battle of Midway in June 1942. During the Battle of Midway, Yorktown's planes helped sink two Japanese carriers - a major turning point in the Pacific War. But Yorktown was heavily damaged by Japanese bombers and torpedo planes. It was then hit again by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. The ship was abandoned and sank on June 7, 1942, around 200 miles northeast of Midway. 5 The car's canvas top, chrome bumper and spare tire on the back can be seen Credit: 'National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 5 Organisms stuck on the shipwreck Credit: 'National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Mysterious vehicle found in sunken WWII aircraft carrier
A US aircraft carrier from World War II, which sunk to the bottom of the Pacific over 80 years ago, is now at the center of an automotive mystery. An expedition to the famous shipwreck 1,000 miles northwest of Hawaii uncovered a mysterious car stored inside the vessel on April 19. The USS Yorktown was lost during the Battle of Midway in 1942 after several Japanese torpedoes struck the ship. Although the crew tried to save the ship from sinking by launching all her aircraft and dumping her heavy guns, it appears a strange decision was made to leave this one car behind. Ultimately, Yorktown could not be salvaged and the giant Navy carrier sank on June 7, 1942 - with the car still inside. Now, a team from NOAA Ocean Exploration has unearthed the previously undocumented car hidden on board and is trying to figure out how it got there and who it belonged to. During a livestream of the underwater expedition, one researcher said: 'Here's an open request to all your automobile vehicle folks out there. I'm sure you are being attentive to this and you understand what you are looking at. Please post on this. It really helps.' The plea for the public's help has sparked the curiosity of car fans online, who may have already solved the mystery of the Yorktown's secret automobile. NOAA Ocean Exploration and a Reddit thread about the car both came to the same conclusion: it's likely a 1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe 'Woody' Wagon. Images taken of the wreck seem to line up perfectly with the Woody's back window and spare tire. However, researchers said that this just opens up an even bigger mystery, as these kinds of cars typically weren't carried on a US Navy ship fighting in a war. The NOAA team explained that the Ford Super Deluxe model was a common vehicle used by both Army and Navy officers on shore, but they were rarely or never carried at sea. Even a large carrier like the Yorktown had limited space after loading over 70 fighter planes and a crew of 2,200, making it impractical to squeeze a 16-foot car into the hangar. Moreover, there are no documented cases of personal vehicles being kept on US aircraft carriers during World War II, even by high-ranking officers. 'It has a license plate on the front that can be partially read saying 'SHIP SERVICE' at the top, but the lower part is illegible due to corrosion,' NOAA reported. So, despite being an unusual item to carry on a Navy ship, the plates NOAA found seem to confirm that the Woody was an official vehicle used by somebody on the Yorktown. Two men on board the carrier may have realistically been able to claim ownership of the Woody - and had the authority to keep their prized possession from being dumped in the Pacific. The first and most likely candidate is Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher, the commander of Task Force 17, a carrier group in the Pacific. The Yorktown was part of this fleet of ships which defeated the Japanese navy at Midway, and Fletcher used the carrier as his flagship during the battle. While an important military commander could have requested to have his own car available when the ship docked in ports, Navy historians note that many of Fletcher's official documents were lost in combat and there is no record that this car was his. 'Admiral's can do whatever they want, if the admiral wanted to drag his car around no one is going to say c--p to him,' one Reddit user exclaimed. Another possible owner of the car might have been the Yorktown's commanding officer, Captain Elliott Buckmaster. While Admiral Fletcher used the carrier as his base to coordinate all the other vessels in Task Force 17, Buckmaster was in charge of the Yorktown's day to day operations - giving him say over everything happening on board the ship. However, a captain's personal space on board a ship during World War II was still very modest, so the idea of bringing a large station wagon on board would have been strange in the 1940s. Unfortunately for the still-unknown owner of the Woody, the car never made it back from the Battle of Midway. The Yorktown was struck by two Japanese torpedoes on June 4, 1942, causing the mighty carrier to lose power and start drifting in the ocean. The vessel was struck again by two more torpedoes on June 6, which ultimately proved to be fatal blows. Despite efforts to tow Yorktown back to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the ship would sink to its final resting place, three miles deep in the Pacific, a day later.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Help Identify A Vehicle Discovered Inside The Shipwrecked USS Yorktown
NOAA Ocean Exploration sent a remotely operated camera inside the shipwrecked USS Yorktown WWII aircraft carrier for the first time ever on Saturday and were baffled to find the well-preserved carcass of a car inside the wreck. The Miami Herald cites a Reddit post about the discovery that says "none of the literature... mentioned a car being onboard for the battle," so prior to this expedition there was no knowledge of the car's existence, and there's still no official understanding of why the car was on the ship. To help piece the puzzle together, NOAA researchers are calling to car enthusiasts to identify the make and model of the sunken piece of automotive history. The USS Yorktown was a WWII aircraft carrier that was hit by three bombs dropped by Japanese carrier bombers during the Battle of Midway in 1942, but that's not what sank it. The ship was being towed to Pearl Harbor for repairs when it was struck by torpedoes fired from a Japanese submarine, which caused the carrier to capsize and sink on June 7, 1942. Space on aircraft carriers is valuable and very scarce, which is why researchers are so surprised to see that a car was onboard when the Yorktown sank. Read more: The Best-Looking Pickup Trucks Ever Sold, According To Our Readers The vehicle was discovered by the NOAA Ocean Exploration remotely operated camera resting upright near elevator number three on the ship. The video shows that the vehicle has flared fenders, what looks to be remnants of a cloth roof, chrome trim, and a spare tire on what appears to be the rear of the car. Its split rear window and other panels on the vehicle seem to be made of wood, leading NOAA to suspect it's a woody. The Miami Herald reports, "One possibility: It's Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher's flag car, they guessed. (USS Yorktown was his flagship.)... It is suspected the car is a "1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe 'Woody' in black," NOAA Ocean Exploration says... "It has a license plate on the front that can be partially read saying 'SHIP SERVICE' at the top, but the lower part is illegible due to corrosion," NOAA reports. "Evidently staff cars of the Ford Super Deluxe model were common with the Navy and Army ashore; however, as of yet, they haven't been able to find a 'Woody' in service for staff officers, so that is potentially unique for this ship." In an email to McClatchy News, NOAA officials hypothesized that the vehicle may have been brought aboard the aircraft carrier at Pearl Harbor during a very brief visit for repairs to damage it may have sustained during the Battle of Coral Sea. The Miami Herald says the discovery of the vehicle parked in the Yorktown's hangar defies all logic; the Yorktown is an 809-foot-long aircraft carrier that was previously understood to have hosted about 2,200 personnel and 90 aircraft, but no cars. In the livestream, researchers can be heard expressing their shock at the discovery of the vehicle. Woodies became viewed as upscale vehicles in America around the start of the 1940s, since the craftsmanship involved in producing their panels became viewed as a high-end, labor-intensive commodity. Steel conservation during wartime also is credited with playing a role in the popularity of the woodie body style. After the Yorktown sank in 1941, the wreckage remained undiscovered more than three-miles under the surface, about 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu for 57 years until 1998. It sits within the largest contiguous fully protected observation area under U.S. jurisdiction, the over 582,000 square miles of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which NOAA Ocean Exploration was mapping when the discovery was made. This was the first time that cameras have been inside of the wreck, and NOAA broadcast its footage via livestream. A researcher can be heard on the livestream saying, "Here's an open request to all your automobile vehicle folks out there. I'm sure you are being attentive to this and you understand what you are looking at. Please post on this. It really helps." It seems pretty certain that the sunken car is an early-forties Ford Super Deluxe Woodie, but there were other American woodies on the market back then. What do you think it is? Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
