WWII Aircraft Wreckage Located in Waters South of Cairns, Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force on Monday, September 21, confirmed that the wreckage of an aircraft in waters south of Cairns was a RAAF plane that fought in World War Two. The RAAF Number 11 Squadron Catalina A24-25 crashed on 28 February 1943, killing all 11 personnel on board.

The wreckage was first discovered in 2013, but it was not until August 2015 that Air Force investigators and a representative of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority accompanied a Navy Clearance Dive Team from HMAS Cairns to gather additional evidence in order to confirm that the aircraft was A24-25. The craft was part of a task force flying long‑range missions against Japanese shipping and submarines during WWII.

The wreckage of the aircraft will be left in place and will be protected by a Maritime Cultural Heritage Special Management Area designation. The RAAF will hold a memorial service and place a commemorative plaque in Cairns to honour the crew early next year. Credit: Australian Defence Force