RAAF B-24 Liberator A72-80 (unknown)

Vansittart Bay, off Truscott airfield

The survey by LEUT Pete Locke on HMAS PALUMA conducted is fairly conclusive with the imagery obtained of a four engine aircraft (see attached imagery) that coincides with the wreck that surveyed by James Miles in 2009.

I have included imagery of the bathymetric Data obtained with approximate measurements of the wreckage.

Although all evidence indicates that this must be the wreckage of A72-80, no definite physical evidence has been obtained from the site. The intention from the AHO will be to chart the wreckage as a wreck or obstruction with a least depth. That way at least we can stop someone dropping an anchor on the site.

The position of the majority of the wreckage (main wing) is 14° 02.4897’ South 126° 20.7361’ East, the least depth over this portion of the wreck is 15.76 m in approximately 17 to 17.5 metres of water. What is believed to be the tail section is located some 31 metres west (true bearing 280°) with a least depth of 16.3 metres in 18 metres of water.

Pete Locke did make specific comment in his report of visual sighting of a large saltwater crocodile IVO of the wreck, also a number of sharks were also spotted, coupled with a large tidal range and associated strong tidal streams make this a poor area for diving operations to be undertaken. In addition the water clarity due to the tidal flow movement is also very poor. It is therefore my assessment that to obtain physical evidence of the wreckages identification is at best high risk.