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P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck

P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck|P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck|P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck|P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck
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Last Updated on October 9, 2024 by Adrian Stacy

Raja Ampat P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck

Raja Ampat is known as the most diverse ecosystem in the world, with thousands of marine species found in this tropical paradise. However, Raja Ampat is also home to the wreck of a P47 Thunderbolt, “Santa Maria” with a fascinating history.

The P47 Thunderbolt is a north American fighter aircraft, that saw service during the Pacific theatre of the Second World War. Although it was replaced by the more famous P51 Mustang in later stages of the war effort, the P47 still boasts one of the most impressive combat records of WWII.

Sadly, the “Santa Maria”, piloted by Major Harry Orden, did not see the end of the war.

P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck
P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck 4

On 21 October 1944, Major Orden led a strike group (“Tubby Flight”) of seven P47’s on an attack from their base on Noemfoor Island, in the Biak region of New Guinea, to Haroekoe in the west. During the battle, the squad used more fuel than anticipated and started their trip back to base low on fuel.

To further complicate matters, bad weather disoriented the pilots and soon they realised that they would not be able to make their way back to base. It was decided that all seven planes would head for an opening in the clouds and ditch in the ocean. While six of the P47’s successfully ditched, the seventh climbed to a higher altitude to radio base on their last known location, before joining the others in Wai Island, near the Batanta region of Raja Ampat.

While all seven pilots survived the emergency landings, and the night, the squadron was not so lucky with all seven of the P47’s being lost. Of the seven wrecks, three have been found by divers, while it is believed that there may be as many as ten other airplane wrecks to be found on the reefs surrounding Wai Island.

P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck
P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck 5

Of the three found P47’s, the “Santa Maria” is the most intact and accessible at 28m on a sloping reef. The second lies at 38m on the same reef system, but the depth only allows experienced and qualified divers to see this wreck. While the third is completely broken up in just 2m of water.

P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck
P47 Thunderbolt Plane Wreck 6

The “Santa Maria” is an impressive sight to behold. While the wreck is found upside down, the fuselage and wings are fully intact. Because of the depth, and the position of the wreck on the reef, the wreck has mostly been preserved as it is protected from the stronger currents that are common on the east side of Wai Island.

During the 60+ years the wreck has been underwater, coral growth and marine life have made the old war plane their home. The wreck sports colourful soft coral growth and groups of barracuda can often be seen around the wreck. Even though the wreck is not large, the wingspan only measuring 12m, it is still easy to spot on the reefs of Wai Island that are bursting with marine life and impressive coral growth, while the island itself, is one of the most picturesque islands in the entire Raja Ampat region.

This wreck is a must for any diver who enjoys history. Make sure to add this to your list of dive sites to experience in the area.

About Organisation:

Situated in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Meridian Adventure Dive is a PADI 5 Star Resort and winner of the PADI Green Star award. Scuba divers enjoy our professional services that have become synonymous with both the PADI and Meridian Adventure names.

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The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor.
00:00 Introduction
01:19 Scuba.com
02:13 Unboxing
03:51 Specs
09:40 Review

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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor.

This week on the podcast, Professional Dive guides in the Phillipines are in hot water after a tip off that some are accepting payment for engraving names in coral, leading to authorities to quadruple the reward money for any information on the culprits. LL cool J has recently told the Guardian that the anamatronic shark in Deep Blue Sea almost drowned him. And a former Navy diver has decided to become the first to swim the English channel, on his back.



https://divernet.com/scuba-news/conservation/dive-pro-accused-of-carving-corals-for-cash/
https://www.scubadivermag.com/ex-navy-diver-set-to-swim-channel-backwards/
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https://www.ladbible.com/news/world-news/jamaica-shark-attack-decapitated-jahmari-reid-latest-457708-20240830
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg794yvkm5eo


Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join
Gear Purchases: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
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FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor.

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