The Beaufort bomber was found at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean after disappearing in 1943 with a crew of four.
Researchers discovered a plane lost nearly 80 years ago in the Pacific Ocean. Beaufort bombers were sent to attack airfields near the Italian city of Foggia in 1943 during World War II. The plane carrying four crew members has been missing since then. Currently, the plane’s wreckage was found in the waters off Gasmata, Papua New Guinea. Discovered late last year, the plane was identified as a Beaufort A9-374 bomber of the 100th squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Interesting Engineering reported on October 2.
Developed by Bristol Aeronautics, the twin-engine bomber was among 1,380 aircraft produced at that time. Some are built in Australia and used by the RAAF. “The wreckage of the A9-374 plane was scattered over a wide area in 16 m deep water, so the identification work after 80 years requires a lot of time, effort and collective activity,” said Australian Air Force Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Stephen Chappell, said.
Chappell shared the task of many professional divers and marine archaeologists working at the complex site containing the heavily damaged plane wreckage and covered with layers of mud and marine life. This is the second discovery by the diving team of Ocean Ecology company.
Designed to serve the dual role of reconnaissance and torpedo bomber, the first prototype of the Bristol Beaufort, flew on October 15, 1938. These bombers also performed a minelaying role. In the spring of the 1940s, they began dropping magnetic mines in enemy coastal areas and continued until mid-1943.
During coastal operations, Beauforts participated in missions in the North Sea, the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. In 1942, all Beaufort aircraft squadrons were deployed in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean to counter the enemy threat. According to the Royal Air Force Museum, there were 700 Beaufort aircraft produced in Australia.