DARWIN, Australia (30 May 2008) — Scuba divers have found the wreckage of a Catalina flying boat in Darwin Harbour, which was a base for the aircraft during World War 2. Officials of the Territory government told CDNN the location of the aircraft had been a mystery since 1942 when it was sunk by enemy fire along with two other Catalinas. Before the end of the war, six of the planes sank in the harbour, of which only one had not been located until divers working for a Japanese gas company found the wreckage. The aircraft was found at a depth of only 18 meters in the East Arm area. "Sticking up a few metres off the seabed was all the (Catalina's) framework," said Sue Sultana, the first diver to find the wreck. "So that was pretty unusual." Officials said the site will now be considered for heritage listing. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |