And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thursday, October 20, 2022
B-17 FLYING FORTRESS - Ditched near Vis Island, Croatia, 6th November 1944
here's the full story: Steve Jones from South Wales and Andi Marovic, who runs a local dive center, photographed the wreck in 2016 near Vis Island, Croatia, after local divers had discovered it in 2001
After one of Jones’ images of the wreck was honored in a Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, a family friend of Vienneau’s descendants recognized the name in the caption, and soon Vienneau’s nephew Robert was in contact with Jones, who in turn put the family in touch with historian Danijel Frka, who had not only done much research on the wreck, but had also previously met some of the surviving crew who were with Vienneau on his last flight.
The co-pilot had made a skilled water landing after they lost power to the last engine while trying to land at Vis island airfield, a place where many crippled bombers headed for after being shot up over Europe.
The aircraft had only arrived at the base in Amendola, Italy three days earlier
Vienneau was mortally wounded by antiaircraft fire; two engines failed. The bomber headed for the nearest friendly base — on the island of Vis — losing a third engine en route and the fourth while circling the airfield; a skilled sea landing allowed the crew to escape in dinghies.
Vienneau’s body was left on board as the crew had no time to evacuate him before the aircraft filled with water and sank.
The Army had only told the pilot's family he was “lost at sea” – leaving loved ones wondering how he died.
Vienneau grew up in paper mill town in Maine, and served with the 340th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group and his last bombing mission was enemy targets in Maribar, Yugoslavia.
Vienneau’s family have also now requested that if the divers ever return to the wreck that they leave flowers on the co-pilot’s seat for them.
Al Gore's internet says this plane resides at 72meters/~236feet under water. That is beyond recreational diving for sure. Mixed air (probably) and multiple tanks (certainly) required. Minimal bottom time and plenty of decompression time. -Snakepit
I wonder why he ditched. Looks like #3 feathered.
ReplyDelete3 & 4 are feathered.
ReplyDeletehere's the full story:
ReplyDeleteSteve Jones from South Wales and Andi Marovic, who runs a local dive center, photographed the wreck in 2016 near Vis Island, Croatia, after local divers had discovered it in 2001
After one of Jones’ images of the wreck was honored in a Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, a family friend of Vienneau’s descendants recognized the name in the caption, and soon Vienneau’s nephew Robert was in contact with Jones, who in turn put the family in touch with historian Danijel Frka, who had not only done much research on the wreck, but had also previously met some of the surviving crew who were with Vienneau on his last flight.
The co-pilot had made a skilled water landing after they lost power to the last engine while trying to land at Vis island airfield, a place where many crippled bombers headed for after being shot up over Europe.
The aircraft had only arrived at the base in Amendola, Italy three days earlier
Vienneau was mortally wounded by antiaircraft fire; two engines failed. The bomber headed for the nearest friendly base — on the island of Vis — losing a third engine en route and the fourth while circling the airfield; a skilled sea landing allowed the crew to escape in dinghies.
Vienneau’s body was left on board as the crew had no time to evacuate him before the aircraft filled with water and sank.
The Army had only told the pilot's family he was “lost at sea” – leaving loved ones wondering how he died.
Vienneau grew up in paper mill town in Maine, and served with the 340th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group and his last bombing mission was enemy targets in Maribar, Yugoslavia.
Vienneau’s family have also now requested that if the divers ever return to the wreck that they leave flowers on the co-pilot’s seat for them.
Al Gore's internet says this plane resides at 72meters/~236feet under water. That is beyond recreational diving for sure. Mixed air (probably) and multiple tanks (certainly) required. Minimal bottom time and plenty of decompression time.
ReplyDelete-Snakepit