1
00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:06,372
[Eric] This is a search
for three individuals.
2
00:00:06,406 --> 00:00:09,942
All three have been missing
from their families for over 70 years.
3
00:00:14,647 --> 00:00:17,516
This is kind of a smoking gun,
if this is accurate,
4
00:00:17,550 --> 00:00:21,320
then 400 yards out there should
be a lost World War II plane.
5
00:00:23,823 --> 00:00:26,625
[Eric] These are AUV's.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.
6
00:00:26,659 --> 00:00:28,694
Okay. Let's do it.
7
00:00:28,728 --> 00:00:30,596
We got something,
we got structure.
8
00:00:30,630 --> 00:00:32,998
- [Eric] Oh this is incredible.
- Look at that!
9
00:00:35,301 --> 00:00:36,335
[airplane buzzing]
10
00:00:36,369 --> 00:00:38,370
[Josh] Unbelievable.
What a thrill!
11
00:00:40,573 --> 00:00:43,075
I'm gonna go in.
I see the wreck.
12
00:00:43,610 --> 00:00:45,411
Absolutely incredible.
13
00:00:52,552 --> 00:00:54,086
"No one left behind."
14
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,522
That's the pledge
we make to American soldiers
15
00:00:56,556 --> 00:00:59,458
willing to sacrifice
their lives for our country.
16
00:00:59,492 --> 00:01:00,759
In World War II alone,
17
00:01:00,794 --> 00:01:05,764
more than 75,000 servicemen
were listed as missing in action.
18
00:01:05,799 --> 00:01:10,569
But not tallied in that number
are the more than 18,000 airmen
19
00:01:10,603 --> 00:01:13,806
who died in fatal training
and aviation accidents.
20
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,476
Most of them right here,
in the USA.
21
00:01:17,510 --> 00:01:20,646
This is the story of three
of those young men.
22
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,582
The baffling mystery
surrounding their disappearance
23
00:01:23,616 --> 00:01:26,118
and the effort
to bring them home.
24
00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:29,655
February 1945.
25
00:01:29,689 --> 00:01:32,691
A squadron of Avenger bombers
is on a training mission
26
00:01:32,725 --> 00:01:35,427
near California's,
Channel islands.
27
00:01:35,462 --> 00:01:38,363
When suddenly
two of the planes collide.
28
00:01:39,732 --> 00:01:42,034
And crash into the pacific.
29
00:01:42,902 --> 00:01:44,570
One of those planes
is never found.
30
00:01:44,604 --> 00:01:46,105
It's three man crew,
31
00:01:46,139 --> 00:01:51,343
pilot Dennis Ruehle and crewman
Russell Guzzetta and Ernest Williams,
32
00:01:51,377 --> 00:01:54,480
vanished never to be seen again.
33
00:01:54,514 --> 00:01:57,549
Now in the race against time
and the elements,
34
00:01:57,584 --> 00:02:00,252
a group of scientists
and archaeologists
35
00:02:00,286 --> 00:02:01,587
called Project Recover
36
00:02:01,621 --> 00:02:05,657
is using the latest deep sea
tech to reconstruct the accident
37
00:02:05,692 --> 00:02:11,396
and mount a search to find the lost
avenger in the depths of the Pacific.
38
00:02:11,431 --> 00:02:12,664
My mission is to join them
39
00:02:12,699 --> 00:02:16,335
and uncover what happened
on that fateful day
40
00:02:16,369 --> 00:02:20,072
and to hunt for the final
resting place of three servicemen
41
00:02:20,106 --> 00:02:22,541
who have waited three quarters
of a century
42
00:02:22,575 --> 00:02:24,143
to be brought home.
43
00:02:27,347 --> 00:02:29,281
My name is Josh Gates.
44
00:02:29,315 --> 00:02:30,349
Hello!
45
00:02:30,383 --> 00:02:33,252
Explorer. Adventurer.
46
00:02:33,286 --> 00:02:34,786
This is sick! [screams]
47
00:02:34,821 --> 00:02:38,323
And a guy who ends up in some
very strange situations.
48
00:02:38,358 --> 00:02:40,526
[bleep] That was exciting!
49
00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,996
With a degree in archeology
and a passion for the unexplained.
50
00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:45,697
[cheers]
51
00:02:45,732 --> 00:02:49,468
I travel to the ends of the earth
investigating the greatest legends in history.
52
00:02:49,502 --> 00:02:51,236
Okay, let's punch it.
53
00:02:51,271 --> 00:02:53,972
This is Expedition Unknown.
54
00:02:55,575 --> 00:02:57,209
[waves splashing]
55
00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:02,080
[seagull squawks]
56
00:03:10,790 --> 00:03:13,659
I'm driving in an authentic
Willys Jeep.
57
00:03:13,693 --> 00:03:16,795
This iconic four wheel
drive vehicle
58
00:03:16,829 --> 00:03:19,565
replaced the Military's
literal work horses.
59
00:03:19,599 --> 00:03:23,268
The draft animals that were
used during World War I.
60
00:03:23,303 --> 00:03:24,503
And it was so popular
61
00:03:24,537 --> 00:03:28,440
That Willys manufactured more
than 350,000 of these
62
00:03:28,474 --> 00:03:30,108
during World War II.
63
00:03:31,778 --> 00:03:34,646
I am headed towards
La Jolla, California
64
00:03:34,681 --> 00:03:37,182
to the Scripps Institution
of Oceanography
65
00:03:37,217 --> 00:03:42,554
and the beginning of an expedition in
search of a lost World War II era plane.
66
00:03:42,589 --> 00:03:45,390
And a mystery,
75 years in the making.
67
00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,228
Founded in 1903,
68
00:03:49,262 --> 00:03:55,000
Scripps is one of the oldest and most
important earth science centers on the planet.
69
00:03:55,034 --> 00:03:59,471
I'm here to meet Scripps lab director
and Project Recover co-founder
70
00:03:59,505 --> 00:04:00,973
Dr. Eric Terrill.
71
00:04:01,007 --> 00:04:03,475
- Hey, Josh. Thanks for coming.
- Hey, nice to meet you, man.
72
00:04:03,509 --> 00:04:04,743
This place is stunning.
73
00:04:04,777 --> 00:04:08,580
Scripps is a global institution
looking at sea level rise.
74
00:04:08,615 --> 00:04:11,850
We are studying ocean waves,
the forecasting of the ocean.
75
00:04:11,884 --> 00:04:15,087
- So if it has to do with the ocean, Scripps is on it.
- We're on it.
76
00:04:15,121 --> 00:04:17,723
And I take it these are some
of the tools of the trade here?
77
00:04:17,757 --> 00:04:20,058
[Eric] Yes, AUV's. Autonomous
Underwater Vehicle.
78
00:04:20,093 --> 00:04:23,562
We can go out and sample a 1000
football fields in one deployment.
79
00:04:23,596 --> 00:04:24,663
Wow.
80
00:04:24,697 --> 00:04:27,299
This is revolutionizing
what we do here at Scripps.
81
00:04:27,333 --> 00:04:29,768
Things we never dreamed off
a decade ago, we're doing now.
82
00:04:29,802 --> 00:04:32,437
[Josh] These sonar quipped
torpedo bots
83
00:04:32,472 --> 00:04:35,173
are transforming
deep sea exploration.
84
00:04:35,208 --> 00:04:39,845
Allowing scientists to map
earth's final frontier, the ocean.
85
00:04:39,879 --> 00:04:42,948
I got to see them in action while
searching for Gertrude Tompkins.
86
00:04:42,982 --> 00:04:44,816
Another missing
World War II pilot
87
00:04:44,851 --> 00:04:49,621
whose story inspired me to seek
out more of our nation's lost heroes.
88
00:04:49,656 --> 00:04:52,391
And among the many missions
that you're associated with
89
00:04:52,425 --> 00:04:54,326
is this thing called
Project Recover.
90
00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,161
[Eric] Yes.
91
00:04:56,195 --> 00:05:00,365
We've conducted over 50
missions in 20 different countries.
92
00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,402
Looking explicitly for missing in
action associated with past conflicts.
93
00:05:03,436 --> 00:05:05,037
Incredible.
94
00:05:05,071 --> 00:05:09,341
[Josh] Project Recover scours the globe
for American M.I.A's with one objective.
95
00:05:09,375 --> 00:05:10,976
To bring them home.
96
00:05:11,010 --> 00:05:14,946
Their efforts have led to the discovery
of more than 30 World War II wrecks,
97
00:05:14,981 --> 00:05:18,517
associated with more than
a 100 missing servicemen
98
00:05:18,551 --> 00:05:20,686
who made the ultimate sacrifice.
99
00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,056
More than a dozen of these
individuals have been repatriated.
100
00:05:24,090 --> 00:05:27,492
Giving long awaited closure
to their families.
101
00:05:27,527 --> 00:05:28,827
[Eric] So, Josh. Why don't we
go upstairs and I'll show
102
00:05:28,861 --> 00:05:30,529
you the next mission
we're getting ready for.
103
00:05:30,563 --> 00:05:31,863
- I would love to. Come on.
- Let's do this.
104
00:05:32,932 --> 00:05:36,401
[Josh] Eric leads me
to the aptly named "Vis Room."
105
00:05:38,371 --> 00:05:39,571
Welcome to our operation center.
106
00:05:39,605 --> 00:05:41,773
- I mean, this is like mission control.
- It is.
107
00:05:41,808 --> 00:05:43,575
You launched
a space shuttle from in here.
108
00:05:43,609 --> 00:05:45,577
- We can at least track it.
- Right. There you go.
109
00:05:45,611 --> 00:05:49,681
This is unbelievable. So, when
we talk about American M.I.A's,
110
00:05:49,716 --> 00:05:51,650
how many are still out there?
111
00:05:51,684 --> 00:05:53,418
Josh, the numbers
are staggering.
112
00:05:53,453 --> 00:05:57,456
83,000 missing in action since
World War II up to their present.
113
00:05:57,490 --> 00:05:58,657
83,000?
114
00:05:58,691 --> 00:06:01,193
For instance, let's take a
look at this map here, Josh.
115
00:06:01,227 --> 00:06:05,697
We've got maps of cases just in
the European, Mediterranean theatre.
116
00:06:05,732 --> 00:06:07,766
Each one of these dots
represents a case file.
117
00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,468
So these are all
potential missions?
118
00:06:09,502 --> 00:06:10,869
Yes.
119
00:06:10,903 --> 00:06:14,039
And some of them aren't even
on the Defense Department radar.
120
00:06:14,073 --> 00:06:18,643
US doesn't recognize people who
got lost during training accidents.
121
00:06:18,678 --> 00:06:21,680
- They're not counted as M.I.A.
- They're not counted as M.I.A.
122
00:06:21,714 --> 00:06:22,581
So if you were
in a training accident,
123
00:06:22,615 --> 00:06:24,026
you're not listed
as missing in action
124
00:06:24,050 --> 00:06:26,752
even though your body was never
found and brought home to your family.
125
00:06:26,786 --> 00:06:28,820
And how many people
are we talking about?
126
00:06:28,855 --> 00:06:33,392
We have about 18,000 individuals
that were lost in training accidents.
127
00:06:33,426 --> 00:06:34,693
Really?
128
00:06:34,727 --> 00:06:38,230
And does that also mean that,
nobody's looking for those people?
129
00:06:38,264 --> 00:06:42,267
It's currently not on the
search list for US government.
130
00:06:42,301 --> 00:06:44,136
And in fact a lot of these
cases are in our own backyard.
131
00:06:44,170 --> 00:06:47,706
So as we spin the globe here, we're
gonna bring you into Southern California.
132
00:06:47,740 --> 00:06:50,542
Yellow dots here represent
training accidents that
133
00:06:50,576 --> 00:06:53,011
our team's been able
to uncover for the last year.
134
00:06:53,045 --> 00:06:57,582
[Josh] Project Recover's next mission
and one of its most mysterious is here
135
00:06:57,617 --> 00:06:59,885
off of California's,
Anacapa Island.
136
00:06:59,919 --> 00:07:05,957
These two targets here represent a mid-air
collision between two torpedo bombers.
137
00:07:06,893 --> 00:07:10,262
[Josh] On the morning
of February 22nd 1945.
138
00:07:10,296 --> 00:07:15,700
A squadron of Avengers took off from the
naval air station in Oxnard, California.
139
00:07:15,735 --> 00:07:18,437
Each plane had a 3 man
crew on board.
140
00:07:19,338 --> 00:07:20,705
Flying over Anacapa Island.
141
00:07:20,740 --> 00:07:24,309
They were practicing torpedo
runs critical to the war effort,
142
00:07:24,343 --> 00:07:26,278
when two of the planes collided.
143
00:07:28,414 --> 00:07:29,581
[explosion]
144
00:07:30,683 --> 00:07:32,851
According to the report by
the commanding officer,
145
00:07:32,885 --> 00:07:35,954
Dennis P. Ruehle's plane,
ducked suddenly
146
00:07:35,988 --> 00:07:40,792
and then flew right up into the
aircraft of Pilot John Buckley.
147
00:07:40,827 --> 00:07:43,728
Ruehle's plane went down
south of the island
148
00:07:43,763 --> 00:07:45,564
and Buckley's plane crashed
to the North,
149
00:07:45,598 --> 00:07:48,366
where he and another
crew member survived.
150
00:07:48,401 --> 00:07:50,702
That wreckage has now
been located.
151
00:07:50,736 --> 00:07:53,171
Second plane on the southern
side of the island.
152
00:07:53,206 --> 00:07:54,272
It's never been found.
153
00:07:56,142 --> 00:07:57,609
[Eric] Josh, this is a search
for three individuals.
154
00:07:57,643 --> 00:07:59,778
We've got the pilot
Dennis Ruehle.
155
00:07:59,812 --> 00:08:01,379
We've got the bomber
Ernest Williams.
156
00:08:01,414 --> 00:08:02,948
We've got the radioman
Russ Guzetta.
157
00:08:02,982 --> 00:08:06,651
All three have been missing
from their families for over 70 years.
158
00:08:06,686 --> 00:08:08,720
[Josh] Dennis Ruehle's family
received the following message
159
00:08:08,754 --> 00:08:11,857
from the commander of his unit.
160
00:08:11,891 --> 00:08:14,025
"I realize how weak
and fruitless must be"
161
00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:17,562
"any words of mine which
should attempt to comfort you."
162
00:08:17,597 --> 00:08:19,709
"Exhaustive searches
were initiated,"
163
00:08:19,733 --> 00:08:22,267
"but no report
of his recovery was made."
164
00:08:22,935 --> 00:08:24,369
A month after the accident,
165
00:08:24,403 --> 00:08:27,706
Russell Guzzetta's bereaved
parents contacted their local paper.
166
00:08:27,740 --> 00:08:31,409
Noting that no details
of the crash were released.
167
00:08:31,444 --> 00:08:33,378
A desperate appeal
for more information
168
00:08:33,412 --> 00:08:35,547
on the fate
of their missing son.
169
00:08:35,581 --> 00:08:37,616
Now, 75 years later,
170
00:08:37,650 --> 00:08:40,986
Project Recover
hopes to answer that plea.
171
00:08:42,722 --> 00:08:45,357
If they collided in midair,
one would think,
172
00:08:45,391 --> 00:08:47,792
it must be close to the plane
that's been recovered, right?
173
00:08:47,827 --> 00:08:50,629
You would think.
Big airplane, bigger ocean.
174
00:08:50,663 --> 00:08:52,898
Look how long it took to find
the Titanic,
175
00:08:52,932 --> 00:08:54,232
we still haven't found
Malaysian Air.
176
00:08:54,267 --> 00:08:57,002
And to be honest, nobody's been
really charged with that mission
177
00:08:57,036 --> 00:08:58,403
to go after
these training losses.
178
00:08:58,437 --> 00:09:00,405
So the question is,
how do you find it?
179
00:09:00,439 --> 00:09:02,073
So the way we're gonna find this
180
00:09:02,108 --> 00:09:05,443
is using not only all that high tech
equipment that I showed you downstairs,
181
00:09:05,478 --> 00:09:06,678
but we really gotta
do due diligence
182
00:09:06,712 --> 00:09:08,313
on all the historical documents
183
00:09:08,347 --> 00:09:09,714
to really set up
our search areas.
184
00:09:09,749 --> 00:09:11,816
- To understand the crash itself?
- Exactly.
185
00:09:11,851 --> 00:09:13,785
Before we're gonna undertake
our mission,
186
00:09:13,819 --> 00:09:15,754
we have to really understand
in all detail
187
00:09:15,788 --> 00:09:17,455
their mission
on that fateful day.
188
00:09:18,724 --> 00:09:21,026
In order to solve the mystery
of the missing Avenger,
189
00:09:21,060 --> 00:09:25,363
I need to get in front of one
and decipher the accident itself.
190
00:09:27,567 --> 00:09:29,868
Luckily, there happens
to be an Avenger
191
00:09:29,902 --> 00:09:34,372
just 20 minutes down the coast
on the deck of the USS Midway.
192
00:09:34,407 --> 00:09:36,408
Commissioned in 1945,
193
00:09:36,442 --> 00:09:38,643
this thousand foot long
airport on the ocean
194
00:09:38,678 --> 00:09:42,380
served until 1992,
offering critical support
195
00:09:42,415 --> 00:09:43,648
during the Vietnam War,
196
00:09:43,683 --> 00:09:46,618
and as the flagship
in Operation Desert Storm.
197
00:09:46,652 --> 00:09:48,820
Now, like a lot of 76-year-olds,
198
00:09:48,854 --> 00:09:51,957
she's retired
to sunny San Diego.
199
00:09:51,991 --> 00:09:56,061
I head down the flight deck to
meet historian and naval veteran
200
00:09:56,095 --> 00:09:56,595
Karl Zingheim.
201
00:09:56,629 --> 00:09:59,598
- Karl.
- Hey, Josh!
202
00:09:59,632 --> 00:10:00,832
- How are you, man?
- Welcome aboard.
203
00:10:00,866 --> 00:10:03,335
Hey, thank you. Happy to
be here. And look at this.
204
00:10:03,369 --> 00:10:04,336
The Avenger.
205
00:10:09,475 --> 00:10:11,710
You know, my first reaction
to being up close to it,
206
00:10:11,744 --> 00:10:12,711
is how big it is.
207
00:10:12,745 --> 00:10:14,813
I think the photos
don't really do it justice.
208
00:10:14,847 --> 00:10:17,649
This is the largest
single engine aircraft
209
00:10:17,683 --> 00:10:20,251
to routinely operate
in World War II
210
00:10:20,286 --> 00:10:20,852
at squadron strength.
211
00:10:20,886 --> 00:10:21,720
Why so big?
212
00:10:21,754 --> 00:10:24,456
You needed a big engine
to do a big job,
213
00:10:24,490 --> 00:10:25,657
and, quite literally,
214
00:10:25,691 --> 00:10:28,560
they start with a large
R-2600 engine
215
00:10:28,594 --> 00:10:30,528
- and build the rest of the airplane around it.
- Right.
216
00:10:30,563 --> 00:10:32,731
And that big job, I assume,
is dropping these.
217
00:10:32,765 --> 00:10:35,634
That's a two thousand
pound torpedo,
218
00:10:35,668 --> 00:10:37,469
a delicate instrument
in its own right.
219
00:10:37,503 --> 00:10:39,304
And this is live, right?
This is left over?
220
00:10:39,338 --> 00:10:39,771
It better not be.
221
00:10:40,740 --> 00:10:44,142
So, okay, I get it,
you need a lot of power
222
00:10:44,176 --> 00:10:45,677
and it looks like a pretty
big wingspan to pull that off.
223
00:10:45,711 --> 00:10:49,381
How important was this plane
to the US in World War II?
224
00:10:49,415 --> 00:10:50,515
Critically important.
225
00:10:50,549 --> 00:10:53,685
This was a huge step up
for naval aviation at the time
226
00:10:53,719 --> 00:10:56,521
because now you finally had
a torpedo plane
227
00:10:56,555 --> 00:10:58,590
that could keep up
with the other aircrafts
228
00:10:58,624 --> 00:11:00,325
so you could have
a combined strike.
229
00:11:00,359 --> 00:11:04,529
Previous torpedo plane was just too
slow, and you had disjointed attacks.
230
00:11:04,563 --> 00:11:08,333
With the top speed of about
275 miles per hour,
231
00:11:08,367 --> 00:11:12,437
the powerful Avenger lived up
to its name, raining fire and fury
232
00:11:12,471 --> 00:11:13,838
on Japan's Navy.
233
00:11:13,873 --> 00:11:17,609
They sank the super
battleships Yamato and Musashi,
234
00:11:17,643 --> 00:11:21,479
as well as 30 submarines to
help win the war in the Pacific.
235
00:11:22,481 --> 00:11:24,582
But the torpedo bomber's
innovative feature
236
00:11:24,617 --> 00:11:27,485
was its signature stow wing.
237
00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:30,555
- How cool is that?
- Awesome, isn't it?
238
00:11:30,589 --> 00:11:33,925
-Oh, my word. That is so badass.
-Look at that.
239
00:11:34,727 --> 00:11:37,195
Probably one
of the cleverest ways
240
00:11:37,229 --> 00:11:39,698
of putting an aircraft away
on a carrier deck.
241
00:11:39,732 --> 00:11:42,701
For deployment on aircraft
carriers, including this one,
242
00:11:42,735 --> 00:11:47,972
it cuts the plane's 54 foot wingspan
in half when they move it below deck.
243
00:11:49,608 --> 00:11:52,010
Let's talk about this incident
out at Anacapa, right?
244
00:11:52,044 --> 00:11:55,013
I'm trying to understand this, we know
there was a midair collision out there,
245
00:11:55,047 --> 00:11:58,516
do you suspect that that might
be because of how the aircraft flies
246
00:11:58,551 --> 00:12:00,385
or because of what they
were trying to do with it?
247
00:12:00,419 --> 00:12:02,420
It's a very forgiving
aircraft to fly.
248
00:12:02,455 --> 00:12:04,422
- Okay.
- It's got such a large wing area,
249
00:12:04,457 --> 00:12:06,124
you don't have much
to worry about
250
00:12:06,158 --> 00:12:08,893
in terms of instability or
losing control of the aircraft.
251
00:12:08,928 --> 00:12:13,064
It probably was down to what
they were attempting to practice.
252
00:12:13,099 --> 00:12:14,532
Right.
253
00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:17,702
Dropping a torpedo under combat
conditions is the most demanding attack
254
00:12:17,737 --> 00:12:19,170
in all of naval aviation.
255
00:12:22,908 --> 00:12:25,910
Even in a big stable bomber
like the Avenger,
256
00:12:25,945 --> 00:12:29,080
delivering a torpedo on target
took some serious skill.
257
00:12:29,115 --> 00:12:32,517
The torpedo is still the most
potent single weapon of destruction
258
00:12:32,551 --> 00:12:34,352
against enemy shipping,
259
00:12:34,386 --> 00:12:36,020
but only if used properly.
260
00:12:38,224 --> 00:12:41,025
And according to reports
from the Anacapa island crash,
261
00:12:41,060 --> 00:12:45,563
pilots Ruehle and Buckley were
perfecting a complicated new attack
262
00:12:45,598 --> 00:12:46,698
called an Anvil maneuver.
263
00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,402
Squadrons of bombers would
approach a ship on both sides,
264
00:12:51,437 --> 00:12:55,740
so that whichever way the ship
turned, it faced a torpedo strike.
265
00:12:55,775 --> 00:12:58,543
So the planes are flying
kind of toward each other?
266
00:12:58,577 --> 00:13:00,111
Essentially.
267
00:13:01,847 --> 00:13:03,848
It does seem like
understanding that maneuver
268
00:13:03,883 --> 00:13:07,652
is the key to figuring out both the
collision and where these planes crashed.
269
00:13:07,686 --> 00:13:10,421
We could speculate all day
about what happened.
270
00:13:10,456 --> 00:13:12,190
But to really understand it,
271
00:13:12,224 --> 00:13:13,258
you have to fly in one.
272
00:13:13,292 --> 00:13:14,726
Which, I assume, is impossible.
273
00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:16,594
I don't think this thing's lifting
off the deck any time soon.
274
00:13:16,629 --> 00:13:18,463
How many of these are even left?
275
00:13:18,497 --> 00:13:19,631
Maybe a handful.
276
00:13:19,665 --> 00:13:21,499
But one of those is nearby.
277
00:13:21,534 --> 00:13:24,102
- It flies?
- It flies.
278
00:13:24,136 --> 00:13:28,239
What's it like to be a new pilot
flying an 80-year-old Avenger?
279
00:13:28,274 --> 00:13:29,607
I'm about to find out.
280
00:13:30,543 --> 00:13:32,811
I meet pilot John Maloney
on the wing,
281
00:13:32,845 --> 00:13:35,947
as he makes final preparations
for takeoff.
282
00:13:35,981 --> 00:13:37,448
- How are you doing?
- Good. How are you doing?
283
00:13:37,483 --> 00:13:38,550
- I'm Josh.
- John, how do you do.
284
00:13:38,584 --> 00:13:40,518
Great to meet you.
You wanna fly or am I flying?
285
00:13:40,553 --> 00:13:43,454
- No, it's gonna be me.
- You know what, probably best if you fly, John.
286
00:13:43,489 --> 00:13:44,289
- I'll be back here, yeah?
- Yeah.
287
00:13:47,126 --> 00:13:48,159
Like a glove.
288
00:13:48,194 --> 00:13:49,961
I squeeze into
the navigator's seat,
289
00:13:49,995 --> 00:13:53,298
thankful that I'm not in the
even more claustrophobic
290
00:13:53,332 --> 00:13:54,999
tail gunner position.
291
00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:02,407
Look at this!
292
00:14:13,352 --> 00:14:14,819
Let's rock and roll.
293
00:14:14,854 --> 00:14:18,756
This historic aircraft is about
to fly its first mission in decades.
294
00:14:18,791 --> 00:14:22,694
Our directive, to reconstruct the
accident, to learn how it happened,
295
00:14:22,728 --> 00:14:27,131
and solve the mystery of
where the lost Avenger lies.
296
00:14:31,403 --> 00:14:34,239
Unbelievable! This is sick!
297
00:14:38,544 --> 00:14:41,679
In 1945, two Avenger
torpedo bombers
298
00:14:41,714 --> 00:14:45,750
collided off the coast of
California's Anacapa island.
299
00:14:45,784 --> 00:14:49,888
One of them and its three
man crew is still missing.
300
00:14:49,922 --> 00:14:53,524
Now I'm flying in an
identical plane to investigate
301
00:14:53,559 --> 00:14:56,261
the crash
and find the lost Avenger.
302
00:14:59,665 --> 00:15:02,166
This thing gets up
in the air fast.
303
00:15:06,572 --> 00:15:08,439
Unbelievable!
304
00:15:08,474 --> 00:15:11,542
Packing a whopping
1800 horsepower,
305
00:15:11,577 --> 00:15:15,480
the Avenger's right R-2600
twin Cyclone engine
306
00:15:15,514 --> 00:15:18,516
has us cruising
above the clouds in no time.
307
00:15:19,618 --> 00:15:22,086
If there's a better view
than this, I haven't seen it.
308
00:15:27,226 --> 00:15:28,259
Amazing!
309
00:15:29,194 --> 00:15:30,328
This is sick!
310
00:15:31,730 --> 00:15:33,031
It really does feel stable,
311
00:15:33,065 --> 00:15:38,136
I mean, it's just an absolutely
smooth ride up here in this thing.
312
00:15:40,606 --> 00:15:42,907
It's like riding in a Cadillac
up here, I mean, it's smooth.
313
00:15:43,842 --> 00:15:46,377
Affectionately nicknamed
"The Turkey",
314
00:15:46,412 --> 00:15:50,181
the Avenger was built like a
truck, and she handles like one.
315
00:15:56,422 --> 00:15:58,189
And I'm flying an Avenger.
316
00:16:00,793 --> 00:16:03,528
You can't see it, John, but
I'm grinning from ear to ear.
317
00:16:04,997 --> 00:16:09,734
Somebody pinch me. I am actually
piloting an airplane from World War II.
318
00:16:09,768 --> 00:16:12,670
And John wasn't kidding
about the heavy stick.
319
00:16:12,705 --> 00:16:14,439
This bird could use
some power steering.
320
00:16:20,646 --> 00:16:23,348
Unbelievable! What a thrill!
321
00:16:29,455 --> 00:16:31,122
Okay, she's all yours.
322
00:16:36,462 --> 00:16:38,596
That's something that is
really interesting, right?
323
00:16:38,630 --> 00:16:41,699
Because, I guess, every design
advantage is also a disadvantage.
324
00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:44,802
And one of the disadvantages
of these big beautiful wings
325
00:16:44,837 --> 00:16:48,373
is they really hurt your
sight lines underneath you.
326
00:16:49,408 --> 00:16:51,843
It's easy to see
how the plane's design
327
00:16:51,877 --> 00:16:53,344
may have contributed
to the accident.
328
00:16:53,379 --> 00:16:55,680
We know
from declassified reports
329
00:16:55,714 --> 00:16:56,781
that a squadron of pilots
330
00:16:56,815 --> 00:16:59,984
were practicing
a newly devised attack
331
00:17:00,019 --> 00:17:01,519
called The Anvil Torpedo
maneuver.
332
00:17:01,553 --> 00:17:04,655
Suddenly one of the planes
being flown by Dennis Ruehle
333
00:17:04,690 --> 00:17:07,325
did something unexpected.
334
00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:08,860
We know that Ruehle's plane,
335
00:17:08,894 --> 00:17:13,097
the Avenger that's lost,
dipped out of the formation.
336
00:17:15,567 --> 00:17:16,901
I was thinking the same thing.
337
00:17:16,935 --> 00:17:20,104
Maybe he was already struggling
with some sort of problem
338
00:17:20,139 --> 00:17:22,306
with the plane and that's why
he dipped down.
339
00:17:22,341 --> 00:17:23,875
Whatever the cause,
340
00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:27,178
the aircraft suddenly disappeared
from the view of the nearest plane,
341
00:17:27,212 --> 00:17:28,780
flown by John Buckley.
342
00:17:28,814 --> 00:17:31,149
So when Ruehle's plane
dipped out of formation,
343
00:17:31,183 --> 00:17:37,021
Buckley would have had almost no
ability to see where he was underneath him.
344
00:17:39,358 --> 00:17:41,159
Then Ruehle pulls back up,
345
00:17:41,193 --> 00:17:44,228
smashing his plane
into Buckley's tail section.
346
00:17:46,031 --> 00:17:50,468
He collides with Buckley's plane,
that's what causes the accident.
347
00:17:50,502 --> 00:17:52,370
It's strange
that he would have done that,
348
00:17:52,404 --> 00:17:54,539
because he must have had
a clear view
349
00:17:54,573 --> 00:17:57,008
coming up on Buckley's tail.
350
00:17:58,677 --> 00:18:01,712
How bad would the damage
had to have been to the tail section
351
00:18:01,747 --> 00:18:04,115
to just take this thing out
completely?
352
00:18:14,193 --> 00:18:17,361
Unable to recover, both
Avengers crash into the Pacific.
353
00:18:21,733 --> 00:18:23,434
Buckley manages to escape,
354
00:18:23,469 --> 00:18:24,902
but Dennis Ruehle and his crew
355
00:18:24,937 --> 00:18:28,506
Ernest Williams and
Russel Goosetta disappear.
356
00:18:28,540 --> 00:18:31,008
Never to be seen again.
357
00:18:32,411 --> 00:18:34,512
I really have
a whole different view
358
00:18:34,546 --> 00:18:35,446
on this accident,
359
00:18:35,481 --> 00:18:36,581
now that I'm up here.
360
00:18:36,615 --> 00:18:38,549
We're searching for
a lost Avenger,
361
00:18:38,584 --> 00:18:41,185
but we're also searching
for these three individuals.
362
00:18:41,220 --> 00:18:42,553
To sit where they sat,
363
00:18:42,588 --> 00:18:45,323
in what is effectively
an identical aircraft,
364
00:18:45,357 --> 00:18:46,991
it really brings it home.
365
00:18:49,595 --> 00:18:50,695
I now have a better sense
366
00:18:50,729 --> 00:18:52,563
of how the accident happened.
367
00:18:53,699 --> 00:18:56,534
After all, finding a wingman
suddenly lost below you
368
00:18:56,568 --> 00:18:58,803
is nearly impossible.
369
00:18:58,837 --> 00:19:00,638
As for what happened
inside Rules' cockpit,
370
00:19:00,672 --> 00:19:02,974
that I'm less certain of.
371
00:19:06,545 --> 00:19:08,379
To dive deeper
into this cold case,
372
00:19:08,413 --> 00:19:09,547
I get back on the road
373
00:19:09,581 --> 00:19:12,583
and drive 200 miles north
up the Pacific coast.
374
00:19:12,618 --> 00:19:15,419
From San Diego
to Ventura, California.
375
00:19:16,655 --> 00:19:19,490
There, I take a ferry
to Anacapa Island
376
00:19:19,525 --> 00:19:22,226
and paddle-out
to the scene of the accident.
377
00:19:23,695 --> 00:19:26,531
Welcome to the Channel Islands.
378
00:19:26,565 --> 00:19:29,400
These eight lonely spits-of-land
379
00:19:29,434 --> 00:19:31,369
are perched just off the coast
380
00:19:31,403 --> 00:19:33,070
of Southern California.
381
00:19:34,506 --> 00:19:36,541
They're absolutely stunning.
382
00:19:36,575 --> 00:19:39,610
But this can also
be a place of wild oceans
383
00:19:39,645 --> 00:19:41,546
and terrible storms,
384
00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:43,781
which is why
these islands are home
385
00:19:43,815 --> 00:19:47,451
to more than 300
reported shipwrecks,
386
00:19:47,486 --> 00:19:48,853
and airplane crashes.
387
00:19:48,887 --> 00:19:52,123
I'm out here to meet
Project Recover historian
388
00:19:52,157 --> 00:19:54,592
Colin Colbourn,
who's asked me to meet him
389
00:19:54,626 --> 00:19:57,562
up there at the old lighthouse.
390
00:19:57,596 --> 00:20:00,731
Now all I need to do, is
figure out how to get up there.
391
00:20:00,766 --> 00:20:03,000
There's probably
an elevator out here. Right?
392
00:20:05,704 --> 00:20:08,739
Surrounded on all sides
by 200-foot cliffs,
393
00:20:08,774 --> 00:20:11,409
the only way
on or off the island
394
00:20:11,443 --> 00:20:14,245
is a steep and seemingly
endless staircase.
395
00:20:17,449 --> 00:20:20,318
You got this. You got this.
396
00:20:20,352 --> 00:20:24,855
[panting] Okay.
397
00:20:24,890 --> 00:20:27,558
[exhaling]
Okay, where's the lighthouse?
398
00:20:27,593 --> 00:20:30,428
[squawking birds] Ahh! Come on!
399
00:20:31,830 --> 00:20:35,766
Aside from tens of thousands of
birds and a lonely ranger station,
400
00:20:35,801 --> 00:20:38,703
no permanent residents
have called Anacapa home
401
00:20:38,737 --> 00:20:41,872
since the lighthouse
was automated in 1966.
402
00:20:41,907 --> 00:20:45,943
Project Recover historian Colin
Colbourn has asked me to meet him here
403
00:20:45,978 --> 00:20:49,847
to reveal new intel that could
make or break our search.
404
00:20:49,881 --> 00:20:51,449
- Hey Josh, how's it going?
- Good to see you.
405
00:20:51,483 --> 00:20:53,351
- Good to see you, as well.
- You're a hard man to find.
406
00:20:53,385 --> 00:20:55,953
I know. I dragged you all the
way up here to Anacapa Island
407
00:20:55,988 --> 00:20:58,789
because this is where the
accident actually happened.
408
00:20:58,824 --> 00:21:02,426
- Right here, in this air space?
- Absolutely.
409
00:21:02,461 --> 00:21:06,397
And I'm guessing that Anacapa today
probably looks a lot like it looked in '45.
410
00:21:06,431 --> 00:21:07,431
It absolutely does.
411
00:21:07,466 --> 00:21:09,800
Most of these structures
are exactly the same,
412
00:21:09,835 --> 00:21:10,835
including this
lighthouse up here,
413
00:21:10,869 --> 00:21:12,903
which was the Coast
Guard lookout station.
414
00:21:12,938 --> 00:21:15,840
Having had a chance now
to fly in one of these planes,
415
00:21:15,874 --> 00:21:18,676
I have a sense of the way
they were maneuvering up there.
416
00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:20,344
You're the historian, though.
417
00:21:20,379 --> 00:21:22,446
How does history
help us unlock this case?
418
00:21:22,481 --> 00:21:23,581
I've made a pretty big break.
419
00:21:23,615 --> 00:21:26,717
Were able to actually
locate the accident report.
420
00:21:27,286 --> 00:21:28,419
This is it, right here.
421
00:21:28,453 --> 00:21:29,754
So where was this?
422
00:21:29,788 --> 00:21:33,057
- These are actually held at the National Archives.
- Wow!
423
00:21:33,091 --> 00:21:37,328
So the report actually reveals what happened
to the two aircraft in the collision...
424
00:21:37,362 --> 00:21:38,462
from Ensign Buckley.
425
00:21:38,497 --> 00:21:40,231
- His own statement?
- That's right.
426
00:21:40,265 --> 00:21:41,599
You don't get more eye-witness
427
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:43,601
than a statement from the guy
that was hit by the missing plane.
428
00:21:43,635 --> 00:21:44,969
Absolutely.
429
00:21:45,003 --> 00:21:48,806
Buckley's statement confirms the
second-hand accounts of the crash.
430
00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,575
Ruehle's propeller
hit the tail of his plane,
431
00:21:51,610 --> 00:21:53,978
critically damaging
both aircraft.
432
00:21:54,012 --> 00:21:57,581
But there's an even bigger
revelation in the accident report.
433
00:21:57,616 --> 00:21:59,383
There were eye-witnesses.
434
00:21:59,418 --> 00:22:01,686
Coast Guard officers
on duty in the lighthouse
435
00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:03,854
watched as the stricken
Avengers collided
436
00:22:03,889 --> 00:22:06,757
and went down
on either side of the island.
437
00:22:06,792 --> 00:22:08,059
[suspenseful music playing]
438
00:22:08,093 --> 00:22:11,595
The other incredible thing that
we get from this accident report
439
00:22:11,630 --> 00:22:15,166
are the actual compass
bearings and distances off shore
440
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:16,400
where these Avengers crashed
441
00:22:16,435 --> 00:22:18,402
from the perspective of the
Coast Guard in the lighthouse.
442
00:22:18,437 --> 00:22:19,970
- That's huge.
- It's absolutely huge.
443
00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:24,275
Ensign Buckley's plane crashed
300 degrees from the lighthouse,
444
00:22:24,309 --> 00:22:25,609
about 100 yards offshore.
445
00:22:25,644 --> 00:22:27,645
- And so where is that?
- So that's actually right out that way.
446
00:22:27,679 --> 00:22:28,946
- Right that way?
- Yes.
447
00:22:28,980 --> 00:22:31,816
[bells ringing] Okay, so Buckley's
plane goes down over there.
448
00:22:31,850 --> 00:22:33,084
That's a known wreck
somewhere out there.
449
00:22:33,118 --> 00:22:35,130
[dramatic music playing] But
when it comes to the lost Avenger,
450
00:22:35,154 --> 00:22:40,291
the accident report says, "Ensign Ruehle's
plane did not recover in any manner
451
00:22:40,325 --> 00:22:44,395
and made a glide straight
into the water about 400 yards,
452
00:22:44,429 --> 00:22:48,566
bearing 170 degrees true
from Anacapa Island Lighthouse.
453
00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,835
- That's actually right out that way.
- That way.
454
00:22:50,869 --> 00:22:52,970
[dramatic music playing]
This is kind of a smoking gun.
455
00:22:53,004 --> 00:22:56,774
If this is accurate, then 400
yards out, on that bearing,
456
00:22:56,808 --> 00:22:59,343
there should be a lost
World War II plane.
457
00:22:59,378 --> 00:23:01,479
Right out there,
400 yards offshore.
458
00:23:01,513 --> 00:23:03,381
[dramatic music playing]
459
00:23:07,786 --> 00:23:10,554
I'm searching for an
Avenger Torpedo Bomber
460
00:23:10,589 --> 00:23:12,456
that collided with its wingman
461
00:23:12,491 --> 00:23:14,892
and disappeared
off of Anacapa Island.
462
00:23:14,926 --> 00:23:19,864
[exciting music playing] Historian Colin
Colbourn just made a huge break in the case,
463
00:23:19,898 --> 00:23:23,868
unearthing an eye-witness account
of where the lost Avenger went down.
464
00:23:23,902 --> 00:23:25,814
[dramatic music playing]
This is kind of a smoking gun.
465
00:23:25,838 --> 00:23:29,607
If this is accurate, then 400
yards out, on that bearing,
466
00:23:29,641 --> 00:23:31,609
there should be a lost
World War II plane.
467
00:23:31,643 --> 00:23:33,644
Right out there,
400 yards offshore.
468
00:23:33,678 --> 00:23:35,246
[symphonic final note]
469
00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:35,613
So...
470
00:23:36,181 --> 00:23:37,681
Where does that leave us?
471
00:23:37,716 --> 00:23:40,818
Well, from here we can actually test
accuracy of these eye-witness reports.
472
00:23:40,852 --> 00:23:43,754
And we can do that because
we know where Buckley's plane is.
473
00:23:43,789 --> 00:23:46,724
- Right. We have a baseline sitting out there.
- Absolutely.
474
00:23:46,758 --> 00:23:48,225
[dramatic music playing]
475
00:23:48,260 --> 00:23:52,062
Diving the known wreck may help us
solve the mystery of the lost Avenger.
476
00:23:52,097 --> 00:23:56,734
Does the distance from shore and bearing off
the lighthouse match the Coast Guard account.
477
00:23:56,768 --> 00:23:59,170
And is the damage
to the tail of the plane
478
00:23:59,204 --> 00:24:02,406
consistent with Buckley's
description of the collision
479
00:24:02,441 --> 00:24:03,541
[dramatic music playing]
480
00:24:03,575 --> 00:24:05,509
Okay, so we start
with the known wreck,
481
00:24:05,544 --> 00:24:06,977
and then take that data...
482
00:24:07,012 --> 00:24:10,381
- and hopefully find the lost wreck.
- That's the hope.
483
00:24:10,415 --> 00:24:11,282
All right.
484
00:24:11,316 --> 00:24:12,583
And to help with that,
485
00:24:12,617 --> 00:24:14,452
Project Recover has arranged
a vessel to take you out there.
486
00:24:14,486 --> 00:24:17,388
- Bigger than my kayak?
- Slightly bigger than your kayak.
487
00:24:17,422 --> 00:24:21,659
[dramatic music playing]
488
00:24:21,693 --> 00:24:23,060
[Josh] Colin wasn't kidding.
489
00:24:23,094 --> 00:24:27,598
Project Recover is working off of
the research vessel Shearwater.
490
00:24:27,632 --> 00:24:29,133
[exciting music]
This 62-foot catamaran
491
00:24:29,167 --> 00:24:33,771
was custom-built by the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
492
00:24:33,805 --> 00:24:37,608
to conduct mapping and
research in the Channel Islands.
493
00:24:37,642 --> 00:24:40,811
We motor out to the coordinates
of the known Avenger wreck,
494
00:24:40,846 --> 00:24:44,648
where I link back up with Project
Recover co-founder Eric Terrill
495
00:24:44,683 --> 00:24:46,484
and his team on the top deck.
496
00:24:46,518 --> 00:24:48,486
[music rising and stopping]
497
00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:49,553
Hey Josh,
let me introduce you to Heidi,
498
00:24:49,588 --> 00:24:50,554
- Hey!
- Our lead analyst
499
00:24:50,589 --> 00:24:51,833
- Nice to meet you. Pleasure.
- Nice to meet you.
500
00:24:51,857 --> 00:24:53,891
- Andrew, our lead archaeologist.
- Nice to meet you, as well.
501
00:24:53,925 --> 00:24:57,561
So, okay, directly underneath
us should be an Avenger.
502
00:24:57,596 --> 00:24:58,696
That's correct.
503
00:24:58,730 --> 00:24:59,763
[adventurous music playing]
504
00:24:59,798 --> 00:25:01,799
Accidentally discovered
by divers,
505
00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:06,403
the location of the wreck was officially
catalogued by the National Park Service,
506
00:25:06,438 --> 00:25:09,006
in 1996.
507
00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,408
Let's start by talking about
where we are.
508
00:25:11,443 --> 00:25:13,143
You've got
Anacapa Island right here.
509
00:25:13,178 --> 00:25:14,745
And there's our lighthouse.
[birds chirping]
510
00:25:14,779 --> 00:25:18,816
So the report puts the
wreck at 300 degree bearing.
511
00:25:18,850 --> 00:25:21,252
You can kinda take a look
at where we are right here.
512
00:25:21,286 --> 00:25:23,687
We see that the bearing
lines up almost perfectly
513
00:25:23,722 --> 00:25:26,390
to what the historical
report is telling us.
514
00:25:26,424 --> 00:25:27,725
And the distance
from the lighthouse?
515
00:25:27,759 --> 00:25:30,394
The distance in the
record says 100 yards.
516
00:25:30,428 --> 00:25:31,795
Now, I'm no expert,
517
00:25:31,830 --> 00:25:34,265
but we are way more than
100 yards from that lighthouse.
518
00:25:34,299 --> 00:25:35,799
- That's more.
- Way more.
519
00:25:35,834 --> 00:25:37,768
[cymbals resonating] We're sitting at
about 1,800 yards from the lighthouse.
520
00:25:37,802 --> 00:25:40,337
- Okay. So it's off by a factor of 18.
- Yes.
521
00:25:40,372 --> 00:25:41,672
- So that's hugely inaccurate.
- Big time.
522
00:25:41,706 --> 00:25:42,907
This is really common,
523
00:25:42,941 --> 00:25:46,777
fog of war, chaos... The
angles are often very accurate...
524
00:25:46,811 --> 00:25:50,514
distances are generally
horribly wrong.
525
00:25:50,549 --> 00:25:53,918
So, what does this data
tell us about the lost Avenger
526
00:25:53,952 --> 00:25:54,685
on the other
side of this island?
527
00:25:54,719 --> 00:25:55,519
He's probably gonna be on...
528
00:25:55,554 --> 00:25:57,021
an accurate bearing
on that side,
529
00:25:57,055 --> 00:25:59,823
but we probably want to think about
moving a greater distance from shore
530
00:25:59,858 --> 00:26:01,792
than the one the
historical record's telling us.
531
00:26:01,826 --> 00:26:03,694
Right. Because that distance
may be just as inaccurate
532
00:26:03,728 --> 00:26:04,962
- over there.
- Exactly.
533
00:26:04,996 --> 00:26:07,631
So, in terms of the known wreck
underneath us, what's the plan?
534
00:26:07,666 --> 00:26:10,000
[wind blowing] Well, we'd
love to get some imagery.
535
00:26:10,035 --> 00:26:12,603
And if we can get a lot of very
high-resolution photographs
536
00:26:12,637 --> 00:26:14,405
that overlap in all directions,
537
00:26:14,439 --> 00:26:15,806
then we can use photogrammetry,
538
00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,542
which is a technique which
will allow us to align those photos
539
00:26:18,577 --> 00:26:20,477
and give us a 3D representation,
540
00:26:20,512 --> 00:26:22,112
- a model of what the wreck looks like today.
- Got it.
541
00:26:22,147 --> 00:26:25,849
So, get lots of photos of the
wreck, use that to build a 3D model.
542
00:26:25,884 --> 00:26:29,620
Exactly. And that information will allow us
to be able to understand if the crash site
543
00:26:29,654 --> 00:26:31,655
really is consistent
with the wreck reports.
544
00:26:31,690 --> 00:26:33,891
So, Heidi,
you're diving down, or...
545
00:26:33,925 --> 00:26:36,727
-The water's a little cold. I think it's your turn.
-Yup.
546
00:26:36,761 --> 00:26:37,962
We've only just met, Heidi,
547
00:26:37,996 --> 00:26:40,531
but you're really catching on
to how this always goes for me.
548
00:26:40,565 --> 00:26:41,498
[cymbals echoing]
549
00:26:41,533 --> 00:26:44,501
[exciting music playing]
550
00:26:44,536 --> 00:26:48,339
I gear up... and dive in.
551
00:26:49,274 --> 00:26:51,408
[water splashing]
552
00:26:51,443 --> 00:26:52,710
[water bubbles sounding]
553
00:26:52,744 --> 00:26:54,812
[ominous music]
[SCUBA breathing]
554
00:26:54,846 --> 00:26:57,514
The frigid water bites
through my thick wetsuit.
555
00:26:57,549 --> 00:27:00,384
But the real danger
of this dive is depth.
556
00:27:00,418 --> 00:27:02,620
The plane rests
at nearly 120 feet,
557
00:27:02,654 --> 00:27:05,556
which means I only have a
limited amount of bottom time
558
00:27:05,590 --> 00:27:08,659
before I have to surface to
avoid Decompression Sickness.
559
00:27:08,693 --> 00:27:10,694
I've got to make
every second count.
560
00:27:10,729 --> 00:27:12,529
[adventurous music playing]
561
00:27:12,564 --> 00:27:13,931
Josh, do you copy?
562
00:27:13,965 --> 00:27:17,801
Yes, I copy and I am
following the anchor line down.
563
00:27:18,637 --> 00:27:20,838
How's the vis?
How's the water temp?
564
00:27:20,872 --> 00:27:27,489
Water's freezing. Visibility's not
great, maybe 10 or 15 feet tops.
565
00:27:27,513 --> 00:27:29,713
Not able to see
the bottom at this point.
566
00:27:30,515 --> 00:27:32,082
Keep heading
down the anchor line.
567
00:27:32,117 --> 00:27:34,551
We're really close to the wreck.
You should see it right away.
568
00:27:34,586 --> 00:27:37,655
[exciting music]
Topside, this is Josh.
569
00:27:37,689 --> 00:27:39,957
I am approaching the bottom.
570
00:27:41,326 --> 00:27:42,826
No sign of the wreck.
571
00:27:42,861 --> 00:27:45,896
Josh, we're about 10 yards
from the wreck, uh, to the west.
572
00:27:45,930 --> 00:27:49,667
Just keep coming in that
direction and you should find it.
573
00:27:49,701 --> 00:27:52,670
Copy that. I'll leave the anchor
line and head over that way,
574
00:27:52,704 --> 00:27:54,805
Stand by.
[exciting music playing]
575
00:27:54,839 --> 00:27:59,410
Besides a lone crab, who is
definitely not happy to see me,
576
00:27:59,444 --> 00:28:01,011
this place is a desert.
577
00:28:01,046 --> 00:28:03,514
Did we anchor too far
off the target?
578
00:28:03,548 --> 00:28:05,416
The clock is ticking.
579
00:28:05,450 --> 00:28:07,251
I have to find this plane.
580
00:28:10,355 --> 00:28:12,534
I got it. I see the wreck.
581
00:28:12,558 --> 00:28:18,128
[exciting music playing]
582
00:28:18,563 --> 00:28:20,431
[Josh speaking]
583
00:28:26,538 --> 00:28:28,138
[Eric speaking]
584
00:28:28,573 --> 00:28:30,174
[Josh speaking]
585
00:28:43,788 --> 00:28:46,523
All right. Good copy. Go ahead
and take your photographs,
586
00:28:46,558 --> 00:28:48,292
we've got limited time
at the bottom.
587
00:28:55,934 --> 00:28:59,803
[Josh] The thousands of photographs
I take will be digitally stitched together.
588
00:28:59,838 --> 00:29:04,508
To create a 3-D model for
detailed, forensic study, topside.
589
00:29:04,542 --> 00:29:06,176
[Josh speaking]
590
00:29:11,716 --> 00:29:13,751
Not surprising given
it's a lot of aluminum
591
00:29:13,785 --> 00:29:16,320
and just natural degradation
down there.
592
00:29:17,188 --> 00:29:18,188
[Josh speaking]
593
00:29:21,359 --> 00:29:23,127
[Heidi speaking]
594
00:29:23,561 --> 00:29:25,095
[Josh speaking]
595
00:29:27,866 --> 00:29:32,002
Copy that. Be sure to focus on the tail
section if you can, that's where it was hit.
596
00:29:32,437 --> 00:29:33,403
[Josh speaking]
597
00:29:57,328 --> 00:29:58,495
[Josh] As I move in close,
598
00:29:58,530 --> 00:30:01,331
I'm struck that this is more
than just a wreck.
599
00:30:01,366 --> 00:30:02,366
It's a memorial.
600
00:30:05,603 --> 00:30:08,405
The pilot and radio man
survived the crash.
601
00:30:08,439 --> 00:30:11,208
But tail gunner Lawrence Works
didn't make it.
602
00:30:12,644 --> 00:30:14,845
The round impression
of the rear of the cockpit
603
00:30:14,879 --> 00:30:18,115
is all that's left of the
turret where he sat.
604
00:30:21,553 --> 00:30:23,120
[Josh speaking]
605
00:30:26,324 --> 00:30:27,291
Copy that.
606
00:30:31,062 --> 00:30:34,431
[Josh] After a brief decompression
stop on the anchor line.
607
00:30:34,465 --> 00:30:36,266
I make my way to the surface.
608
00:30:39,270 --> 00:30:41,171
Hey, Josh. How'd the dive go?
609
00:30:41,206 --> 00:30:42,206
[Josh] Oh, man.
610
00:30:43,274 --> 00:30:44,775
Spectacular.
611
00:30:44,809 --> 00:30:46,777
All these talk about these
two Avengers,
612
00:30:46,811 --> 00:30:50,347
where they were,
the men that were in them.
613
00:30:50,381 --> 00:30:52,049
To go down there
and see one of them...
614
00:30:52,083 --> 00:30:57,654
Takes the whole thing from
story to a piece of history, really.
615
00:30:57,689 --> 00:30:59,056
No, I get it, Josh.
616
00:30:59,090 --> 00:31:02,459
Seeing those wrecks in person
just really connects you into the site.
617
00:31:02,493 --> 00:31:04,661
Really powerful
to see it down there.
618
00:31:04,696 --> 00:31:07,931
Great, let's get you on board
and let's start data processing.
619
00:31:09,601 --> 00:31:14,204
[Josh] While I dry off, Heidi begins
rendering the photos of Buckley's Avenger.
620
00:31:15,707 --> 00:31:19,910
A few hours later, we head
inside the cabin to take a look.
621
00:31:20,612 --> 00:31:22,579
Okay. Heidi. What have we got?
622
00:31:22,614 --> 00:31:25,482
Well you collected a whole bunch
of data and they look amazing.
623
00:31:25,516 --> 00:31:26,984
We got good data?
624
00:31:27,018 --> 00:31:29,553
-We did. It looks really good. You wanna see it?
-Yes. I'm dying to see it.
625
00:31:29,587 --> 00:31:30,621
[Josh] Okay, here we go.
626
00:31:30,655 --> 00:31:32,856
After nearly eight decades
of silence,
627
00:31:32,891 --> 00:31:35,626
the known wreck
has a knew story to tell.
628
00:31:35,660 --> 00:31:39,696
Revealing clues that could
lead us to the lost Avenger.
629
00:31:40,832 --> 00:31:43,367
- [Eric] Oh, this is incredible.
- Look at that!
630
00:31:48,606 --> 00:31:51,008
[Josh] I've joined forces
with Project Recover.
631
00:31:51,042 --> 00:31:55,112
To hunt for a World War II
Avenger Torpedo Bomber.
632
00:31:56,481 --> 00:31:57,414
[Josh speaking]
633
00:31:59,183 --> 00:32:02,085
After photographing the known
wreck of the plane it crashed into.
634
00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:07,224
A forensic 3-D model has been constructed
that might lead us to the missing plane.
635
00:32:07,659 --> 00:32:09,126
We got good data?
636
00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:12,262
-We did. It looks really good. You wanna see it?
-Yes. I'm dying to see it.
637
00:32:13,364 --> 00:32:14,865
[Josh] That is amazing!
638
00:32:15,700 --> 00:32:18,001
Look how much detail
we have here.
639
00:32:18,536 --> 00:32:20,237
Like CSI World War II,
640
00:32:20,271 --> 00:32:25,809
this model allows Eric to reconstruct
a play by play of the moment of impact.
641
00:32:25,843 --> 00:32:29,413
[Eric] Now take a look at the wing and we
can see the damage where it hit the water.
642
00:32:29,447 --> 00:32:31,915
It's lost some of the aluminum
skin along here,
643
00:32:31,950 --> 00:32:33,617
that might have been torn away
during the accident.
644
00:32:33,651 --> 00:32:36,286
Probably cartwheeled in,
probably hit...
645
00:32:36,321 --> 00:32:37,788
- port wing.
- [Josh] Right.
646
00:32:37,822 --> 00:32:39,823
[Eric] And the plane's
right side up.
647
00:32:39,857 --> 00:32:41,525
If you look at the action
report, it calls out how
648
00:32:41,559 --> 00:32:43,927
it was an immediate
water landing
649
00:32:43,962 --> 00:32:45,796
- and then called a water crash.
- That's right.
650
00:32:45,830 --> 00:32:48,565
[Josh] And that's not the only
new intel we gather
651
00:32:48,599 --> 00:32:50,934
that will aid our search
for the lost avenger.
652
00:32:50,969 --> 00:32:53,804
The one thing that jumped out
at me when I was down there is
653
00:32:53,838 --> 00:32:56,440
the tail section which
is in a much worse shape.
654
00:32:57,475 --> 00:32:58,842
It's just almost
completely gone.
655
00:32:58,876 --> 00:33:01,778
Because Ruehle's plane came up
and his propellor
656
00:33:01,813 --> 00:33:04,247
- actually connected with that horizontal stabilizer.
- Yep.
657
00:33:04,282 --> 00:33:07,684
[Josh] So that might have been
destroyed in flight even.
658
00:33:07,719 --> 00:33:10,787
If the tail section of the known
wreck was shredded in flight,
659
00:33:10,822 --> 00:33:13,590
one can only imagine the
damage done to the
660
00:33:13,624 --> 00:33:16,159
propellor and canopy
of the plane that hit it.
661
00:33:16,194 --> 00:33:21,198
There's a good chance that Pilot
Dennis Ruehle was killed instantly.
662
00:33:21,232 --> 00:33:24,034
It's amazing to see this because
it won't really be around forever.
663
00:33:24,068 --> 00:33:27,070
You know, I mean the actual wreck is
eventually gonna be consumed by the ocean.
664
00:33:27,105 --> 00:33:31,875
Sure, I mean, we're seeing that hue,
and it's very rapidly degrading now.
665
00:33:31,909 --> 00:33:34,611
If you look around the site,
you see how the sediment
666
00:33:34,645 --> 00:33:37,280
has a really different texture
to it.
667
00:33:37,315 --> 00:33:39,916
That's because lot of these
sites have become artificial reefs.
668
00:33:39,951 --> 00:33:44,821
Life has sort of taken hold in
this area. I call it the Halo effect.
669
00:33:44,856 --> 00:33:49,226
So let's talk about how this helps us
moving forward looking for the lost Avenger.
670
00:33:50,495 --> 00:33:51,928
[Andrew] Look how flat this
is to the sea floor,
671
00:33:51,963 --> 00:33:54,398
it's not very proud, so we
need to keep that in mind when
672
00:33:54,432 --> 00:33:55,866
we're looking
for different sonar targets.
673
00:33:55,900 --> 00:33:57,501
- Right, it's not really raised up.
- Yeah.
674
00:33:57,535 --> 00:33:59,236
It's got a really, really--
675
00:33:59,270 --> 00:34:03,373
[Eric] It's low elevation, it might be
maybe at most three feet off the sea bed.
676
00:34:03,408 --> 00:34:04,908
So that's gonna tell us
on the acoustic data
677
00:34:04,942 --> 00:34:08,011
how big of a shadow it might be
throwing down on the sea floor when we're
678
00:34:08,046 --> 00:34:12,382
trying to discriminate rocks other
debris from the airplane crash.
679
00:34:13,618 --> 00:34:16,353
[Josh] The lost Avenger which
sustained heavy damage
680
00:34:16,387 --> 00:34:18,555
maybe in far worse shape.
681
00:34:18,589 --> 00:34:20,690
If all that's left
is scattered debris
682
00:34:20,725 --> 00:34:23,794
the wreckage will blend in
with the natural rock formations
683
00:34:23,828 --> 00:34:26,730
making it nearly
impossible to find.
684
00:34:26,764 --> 00:34:29,366
- Now we've got another one to find.
- Yeah. Absolutely.
685
00:34:30,701 --> 00:34:32,803
[Josh] Armed with intel from
the known wreck.
686
00:34:32,837 --> 00:34:37,507
We reposition the Shearwater on
the southside of Anacapa Island.
687
00:34:37,542 --> 00:34:39,276
The coast guard eye witnesses
688
00:34:39,310 --> 00:34:42,646
stated that the lost Avenger
made a glide straight into the water
689
00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:44,915
at a bearing of 170 degrees
690
00:34:44,949 --> 00:34:48,685
and crashed roughly 400 yards
from the lighthouse.
691
00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,221
This will be the center
of our search grid.
692
00:34:52,423 --> 00:34:53,523
- Time to scan.
- Yep.
693
00:34:53,558 --> 00:34:55,592
We're now on the opposite side
of the island.
694
00:34:55,626 --> 00:34:57,861
And we're roughly on that
170 degree bearing.
695
00:34:57,895 --> 00:35:00,430
We're about that bearing right
now, so we really need to set up
696
00:35:00,465 --> 00:35:02,966
a scan area to look
at that whole region
697
00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:03,800
- Okay.
- South of the lighthouse.
698
00:35:03,835 --> 00:35:05,635
So we got a lot of ocean
to cover here.
699
00:35:05,670 --> 00:35:08,605
So the way to do that is
we use the underwater robots.
700
00:35:08,639 --> 00:35:11,241
These are AUV's. Autonomous
Underwater Vehicle.
701
00:35:11,275 --> 00:35:13,677
Our scans today, they're gonna
be a four hour mission each.
702
00:35:13,711 --> 00:35:15,645
So if we get them all
in the water, four hours later
703
00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:17,481
they come back with data
and hopefully--
704
00:35:17,515 --> 00:35:18,648
Hopefully our target's in there.
705
00:35:18,683 --> 00:35:20,350
- Hopefully we've got a plane.
- Yes.
706
00:35:20,384 --> 00:35:21,785
Okay. Let's do it.
707
00:35:21,819 --> 00:35:24,654
[Josh] Eric and I break out
the big guns
708
00:35:24,689 --> 00:35:27,691
or more accurately torpedoes.
709
00:35:27,725 --> 00:35:29,059
- [Eric] Lower down.
- [Josh] Okay.
710
00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:30,694
[Josh] In the water.
711
00:35:30,728 --> 00:35:34,631
We gingerly lower Enzo
and Magnum into the drink.
712
00:35:34,665 --> 00:35:36,299
Followed by Scout.
713
00:35:38,536 --> 00:35:41,404
Scout cost roughly half
a million dollars to build.
714
00:35:41,439 --> 00:35:42,772
Godspeed!
715
00:35:42,807 --> 00:35:45,842
But according to her track
record, she's worth every penny.
716
00:35:45,877 --> 00:35:48,445
Scout holds a record for the
most number of aircraft found.
717
00:35:48,479 --> 00:35:49,579
- Which is how many?
- Eight.
718
00:35:49,614 --> 00:35:51,715
Wow. Okay. Hopefully today nine.
719
00:35:51,749 --> 00:35:54,651
- I've sided him up.
- All right, it's up to you Scout.
720
00:35:56,454 --> 00:36:01,424
[Josh] The distance in the accident report
for the known wreck was widely inaccurate.
721
00:36:01,459 --> 00:36:06,696
So Eric's team has programmed the
sonar equipped drones to cast a wide net.
722
00:36:06,731 --> 00:36:11,568
The AUV's will run four mile long
tracks on the southside of the island
723
00:36:11,602 --> 00:36:14,037
and scan more than
two miles offshore.
724
00:36:14,071 --> 00:36:18,608
Covering eight and a half square
miles of ocean on this mission.
725
00:36:18,643 --> 00:36:21,545
Diving a search zone
this size would take months.
726
00:36:21,579 --> 00:36:23,947
But the robots can do
it in a day.
727
00:36:23,981 --> 00:36:29,052
Depth rated up to 2,000 feet and
fully automated to avoid obstacles.
728
00:36:29,086 --> 00:36:33,523
The bots glide through the water
blasting out sonar pings to map the bottom.
729
00:36:34,992 --> 00:36:39,596
Meanwhile we hunker down for
the hardest part of this hunt, waiting.
730
00:36:39,630 --> 00:36:41,431
[serene music playing]
731
00:36:46,604 --> 00:36:48,371
[Josh] Four tedious hours later.
732
00:36:50,408 --> 00:36:54,144
We pull the AUV's back on deck
733
00:36:54,178 --> 00:36:57,047
and gather at Heidi's monitor
to review the data.
734
00:36:57,715 --> 00:36:59,549
So, okay. How'd we do?
735
00:36:59,584 --> 00:37:02,719
[Eric] We can see the lands
here as the vehicles mow the lawn
736
00:37:02,753 --> 00:37:06,256
and those vertical stripes are the
vehicles driving back and forth underwater.
737
00:37:06,290 --> 00:37:07,958
Okay. So, what's in the data?
738
00:37:07,992 --> 00:37:11,394
- There's a couple of very interesting targets. Yes.
- Really? Okay.
739
00:37:11,429 --> 00:37:12,862
What do we got?
740
00:37:12,897 --> 00:37:17,467
So here's one of the particular
targets that's very high interest to us.
741
00:37:17,501 --> 00:37:20,637
You see very sharp sonar
returns,
742
00:37:20,671 --> 00:37:23,840
very sharp angles return
to the geometry of the target.
743
00:37:23,874 --> 00:37:26,509
[Josh] Yeah, I mean it's
particularly interesting
744
00:37:26,544 --> 00:37:27,711
because if its sitting by itself
745
00:37:27,745 --> 00:37:29,713
in an otherwise
barren place, right?
746
00:37:29,747 --> 00:37:31,815
- [Heidi] Yeah.
- That's definitely something to check out.
747
00:37:31,849 --> 00:37:35,752
[Josh] We put a pin in our first target
and run through more promising hits.
748
00:37:35,786 --> 00:37:39,489
I mean that looks a little
more rock like, don't you think?
749
00:37:39,523 --> 00:37:40,790
[Andrew] Yeah, it does.
750
00:37:40,825 --> 00:37:44,327
But it's still sitting by
itself out on an open plane,
751
00:37:44,362 --> 00:37:45,528
it's got some relief to it.
752
00:37:45,563 --> 00:37:47,597
[Eric] This certainly wouldn't
be an entire aircraft.
753
00:37:47,632 --> 00:37:52,736
But if this airplane broke up, inflight this
could be some portion of aviation debris.
754
00:37:52,770 --> 00:37:53,870
[Josh] Okay. Sure. Yeah.
755
00:37:53,904 --> 00:37:55,839
I mean anything that's out
there, that's isolated like
756
00:37:55,873 --> 00:37:58,842
this feels like it's worth
looking at, right?
757
00:37:58,876 --> 00:38:00,744
[Josh] Nothing screams,
"I'm an airplane"
758
00:38:00,778 --> 00:38:03,947
with unmistakable features
like wings or a tail.
759
00:38:03,981 --> 00:38:08,385
But to the trained eye,
these sonar targets tell a story.
760
00:38:08,419 --> 00:38:12,022
[Heidi] We can see this really bright returns
that looks almost white on the screen,
761
00:38:12,056 --> 00:38:14,724
that usually indicates, a
certain kind of rock or metal.
762
00:38:14,759 --> 00:38:17,927
You got a nice, long linear feature
that could be something like the fuselage.
763
00:38:17,962 --> 00:38:20,664
You have two smaller things
just to the south of that.
764
00:38:20,698 --> 00:38:22,632
Maybe that's something
like the engine that just--
765
00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:24,434
That came apart
off of the fuselage.
766
00:38:24,468 --> 00:38:26,770
- [Gates] Mm-hmm.
- And we see fish around it.
767
00:38:26,804 --> 00:38:30,874
- So, which means it's been colonized by marine life.
- [Gates] That's a good sign.
768
00:38:30,908 --> 00:38:34,644
Well, it reminds me of the existing
wreck in that it's sort of low profile.
769
00:38:34,679 --> 00:38:36,079
- Yeah.
- [Gates] There's not a lot showing.
770
00:38:36,113 --> 00:38:37,414
- Not a big shadow.
- Lot of scatter there,
771
00:38:37,448 --> 00:38:38,581
[Gates] so it could
be a debris field.
772
00:38:38,616 --> 00:38:39,949
I mean, that's huge.
773
00:38:39,984 --> 00:38:41,451
I think it's definitely
worth taking a look.
774
00:38:41,485 --> 00:38:42,786
How deep are these targets?
775
00:38:42,820 --> 00:38:46,723
So, these targets range anywhere
from 180 feet to about 220 feet.
776
00:38:46,757 --> 00:38:48,825
Okay, so too deep
for us to dive.
777
00:38:48,859 --> 00:38:50,660
- We're gonna have to send the ROV down.
- [Gates] Sure.
778
00:38:50,695 --> 00:38:52,395
Okay. Let's send a robot.
779
00:38:52,430 --> 00:38:53,830
[dramatic music playing]
780
00:38:53,864 --> 00:38:56,800
[Gates] Back on deck, Eric and I
ready a remote underwater vehicle
781
00:38:56,834 --> 00:38:59,602
to take a closer look
at the first target.
782
00:38:59,637 --> 00:39:02,672
Eric, I can't help but notice
if this ROV is named Barry.
783
00:39:02,707 --> 00:39:05,508
Yeah, one of our favorite
singers is Barry Manilow.
784
00:39:05,543 --> 00:39:08,378
So, in honor of Barry,
we've, uh, named our robot.
785
00:39:08,412 --> 00:39:09,245
[comical music playing]
786
00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:10,680
[Gates] Why is it
really named Barry?
787
00:39:10,715 --> 00:39:14,617
You know, we wanted, like, a really,
like, kick-ass name. Barracuda...
788
00:39:14,652 --> 00:39:16,152
[Gates] Yeah, I could see that.
789
00:39:16,187 --> 00:39:17,387
Barry kind of was...
790
00:39:17,421 --> 00:39:18,855
- Oh, Barry-cuda.
- Short for barracuda.
791
00:39:18,889 --> 00:39:21,624
How about, uh... ya know, I
don't wanna tell your business,
792
00:39:21,659 --> 00:39:22,859
but how about just barracuda?
793
00:39:22,893 --> 00:39:25,528
- Well...
- Which is a way cooler name than Barry.
794
00:39:25,563 --> 00:39:28,865
To be honest, I've lost all control
of, uh, naming of these robots.
795
00:39:28,899 --> 00:39:31,401
- [Gates] Somebody else did this. Okay, fair enough.
- Yes.
796
00:39:31,435 --> 00:39:33,336
Is Barry ready to go?
797
00:39:33,371 --> 00:39:34,404
I think Barry's ready to go.
798
00:39:34,438 --> 00:39:35,538
[exciting music playing]
799
00:39:35,573 --> 00:39:37,707
[Gates] To make sure
Barry's voyage into the depths
800
00:39:37,742 --> 00:39:39,743
is as smooth as
his crooner namesake,
801
00:39:39,777 --> 00:39:41,811
we rig a drop-weight to a cable.
802
00:39:41,846 --> 00:39:42,345
Winch down.
803
00:39:42,380 --> 00:39:44,013
[intense music playing]
804
00:39:44,048 --> 00:39:47,250
[Gates] This will help the ROV hold
position against the currents on the bottom.
805
00:39:48,219 --> 00:39:49,886
Okay, weight's in the water.
806
00:39:50,454 --> 00:39:52,055
[Gates] Barry follows.
807
00:39:53,891 --> 00:39:55,625
All right. Lower your sound.
808
00:39:55,659 --> 00:39:57,560
Hey, our ROV is in.
809
00:39:57,595 --> 00:39:59,763
[Gates] And we carefully
lower the ROV tether
810
00:39:59,797 --> 00:40:03,800
and weighted cable, securing
the lines together as we go.
811
00:40:04,368 --> 00:40:06,069
- Here you go.
- Okay.
812
00:40:06,637 --> 00:40:08,438
What's your depth, Bob?
813
00:40:08,472 --> 00:40:10,373
- 90.
- You said 90?
814
00:40:10,408 --> 00:40:12,442
- Does he have bottom lock?
- Yes.
815
00:40:12,476 --> 00:40:13,610
- He's on the bottom?
- [Gates] Yeah.
816
00:40:13,644 --> 00:40:14,911
Let's go see with tether.
817
00:40:14,945 --> 00:40:17,113
[Gates] Once again, we
gather around the monitor
818
00:40:17,148 --> 00:40:23,186
as ROV pilot Bob Hess closes in
on the target nearly 200 ft below us.
819
00:40:31,395 --> 00:40:32,996
- I see something right there.
- Yeah.
820
00:40:33,764 --> 00:40:35,999
[Bob] Yeah, let's
go towards that.
821
00:40:37,535 --> 00:40:40,670
[Gates] A large man made
object looms into view.
822
00:40:40,704 --> 00:40:43,173
Is this the lost avenger?
823
00:40:43,574 --> 00:40:45,074
Something there.
824
00:40:49,547 --> 00:40:52,348
[Bob] It's 10 meters in front
of us, whatever it is.
825
00:40:52,383 --> 00:40:54,150
We got something,
we got structure.
826
00:40:54,185 --> 00:40:56,319
Yeah. What are you?
827
00:40:58,155 --> 00:40:59,355
Look at that.
828
00:41:03,761 --> 00:41:06,930
[Gates] At the USS Midway
aircraft carrier in San Diego,
829
00:41:06,964 --> 00:41:11,000
I got a chance to kick
the tires and light the fires.
830
00:41:12,436 --> 00:41:14,404
Mustang, this is Maverick.
831
00:41:14,438 --> 00:41:16,105
I gotta bogey on my tail.
832
00:41:16,574 --> 00:41:18,241
I can't shake him.
833
00:41:18,275 --> 00:41:19,442
Goose, I can't shake him.
834
00:41:20,444 --> 00:41:22,479
Woah, we're caught
in the jet wash!
835
00:41:22,513 --> 00:41:24,514
Ah, Goose, I'm losing control.
836
00:41:24,548 --> 00:41:26,382
I'm losing control.
837
00:41:26,417 --> 00:41:28,117
Ah! Ah!
838
00:41:33,624 --> 00:41:35,625
Sir, I apologize. But the
museum is closing.
839
00:41:35,659 --> 00:41:38,328
Sorry, Goose.
It's time to buzz the tower.
840
00:41:39,563 --> 00:41:41,231
Sir, that's a mannequin.
841
00:41:41,265 --> 00:41:43,233
- Talk to me, Goose.
- Sir?
842
00:41:43,267 --> 00:41:47,136
[screaming and crying]
843
00:41:47,171 --> 00:41:49,973
Goose, no!
844
00:41:54,044 --> 00:41:57,680
[Gates] We're searching for a
missing Avenger and its three man crew
845
00:41:57,715 --> 00:42:00,483
lost in the waters off
of Anacapa Island
846
00:42:00,551 --> 00:42:02,986
during a World War 2
training mission.
847
00:42:05,422 --> 00:42:07,590
We've sent an ROV named Barry
848
00:42:07,625 --> 00:42:09,626
200 feet beneath the waves
849
00:42:09,660 --> 00:42:12,962
to lay eyes on a promising
SONAR target.
850
00:42:14,798 --> 00:42:16,466
We got something,
we got structure.
851
00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:18,001
Yeah.
852
00:42:19,603 --> 00:42:21,104
What are you?
853
00:42:22,373 --> 00:42:23,206
[speaking]
854
00:42:23,607 --> 00:42:24,908
Look at that!
855
00:42:24,942 --> 00:42:28,278
[Gates] With the lights cranked
up, we can see our target
856
00:42:28,312 --> 00:42:29,879
in stunning detail.
857
00:42:30,247 --> 00:42:31,281
It's a boat.
858
00:42:31,315 --> 00:42:32,482
[Gates] It is not an airplane,
859
00:42:32,516 --> 00:42:33,783
but that looks like a shipwreck.
860
00:42:34,585 --> 00:42:36,319
Okay, so what are we
looking at here?
861
00:42:36,353 --> 00:42:38,187
It's fiber glass, yeah?
862
00:42:38,222 --> 00:42:39,389
- Yeah?
- Okay.
863
00:42:39,423 --> 00:42:40,490
10 meters in length.
864
00:42:40,524 --> 00:42:42,025
[Gates] And so what do
you think?
865
00:42:42,059 --> 00:42:43,927
Not new new, it's got
a lot of growth on it,
866
00:42:43,961 --> 00:42:47,397
- lot of corrosion.
- How long do you think that's been down there?
867
00:42:47,431 --> 00:42:49,899
Uh, I'd say probably
about 20 or 30 years.
868
00:42:50,768 --> 00:42:53,503
[Gates] An old fishing boat?
Yeah?
869
00:42:53,537 --> 00:42:55,405
- Is that the engine?
- Yeah.
870
00:42:55,439 --> 00:42:56,639
That might have been a window,
871
00:42:56,674 --> 00:42:59,509
might have been like a
forward cabin that's collapsed in.
872
00:42:59,543 --> 00:43:01,244
- Is there a writing on there?
- There is.
873
00:43:02,479 --> 00:43:03,413
See, it's upside down.
874
00:43:05,082 --> 00:43:09,686
That's awesome, guys. We have a
$30,00030 megapixels stills camera
875
00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:12,589
and you just play
with your cell phone.
876
00:43:12,623 --> 00:43:16,359
- J-e-f-f-r-i-e-s.
- Jeffries.
877
00:43:16,393 --> 00:43:17,827
The great sailing vessel
Jeffries.
878
00:43:17,861 --> 00:43:20,430
Well, it's being looked
at by Barry the ROV.
879
00:43:20,464 --> 00:43:21,598
That's true. Fair.
880
00:43:21,632 --> 00:43:24,667
- So don't be hard on Jeffries.
- [all laughing]
881
00:43:24,702 --> 00:43:26,636
[Gates] It turns out,
Jeffries boat company
882
00:43:26,670 --> 00:43:28,504
built custom sport fishers.
883
00:43:28,539 --> 00:43:30,873
And if you're interested
in a gently used model,
884
00:43:30,908 --> 00:43:34,477
I've got one for you
just off of Anacapa Island.
885
00:43:34,511 --> 00:43:37,513
One target down, a
half a dozen more to go.
886
00:43:37,548 --> 00:43:39,482
We pull up the ROV,
887
00:43:39,516 --> 00:43:41,484
motor to our second site,
888
00:43:41,518 --> 00:43:44,153
release Barry back
into the briny depths...
889
00:43:44,555 --> 00:43:46,489
Okay, ROV is in.
890
00:43:46,523 --> 00:43:48,491
...and glue our faces
to the monitor
891
00:43:48,525 --> 00:43:51,227
as we approach the next
object of interest.
892
00:43:55,566 --> 00:43:56,733
Oh, oh. Something there.
893
00:43:56,767 --> 00:44:00,370
- What is it?
- Something coming out of the darkness there.
894
00:44:00,404 --> 00:44:02,705
All right, looks like the
target is to the left here.
895
00:44:03,574 --> 00:44:05,541
- Well, there it is.
- [Gates] Yeah.
896
00:44:05,576 --> 00:44:08,745
Finally, we home in
on something man made.
897
00:44:08,779 --> 00:44:11,414
- It's long, whatever it is.
- Yeah.
898
00:44:11,448 --> 00:44:13,016
That could be a fuselage.
899
00:44:13,050 --> 00:44:16,219
[Gates] It's hard to tell because
it does look like whatever's here
900
00:44:16,253 --> 00:44:19,122
just encrusted and buried, but
you would expect to see some debris
901
00:44:19,156 --> 00:44:22,892
- that jumps out.
- Typically, especially with the aluminum on the aircraft.
902
00:44:22,926 --> 00:44:26,796
They don't have a full
encrustation like this.
903
00:44:26,830 --> 00:44:30,299
God, you think there should be
one thing poking through somewhere.
904
00:44:30,334 --> 00:44:31,768
To give you a hint
as to what it is.
905
00:44:31,802 --> 00:44:34,704
If this was a fuselage, it's like,
where are the wings, where's...
906
00:44:34,738 --> 00:44:37,473
I mean, it feels like there could
be more of a debris field around it.
907
00:44:37,508 --> 00:44:39,042
- Agreed.
- Is that just rope?
908
00:44:39,076 --> 00:44:42,211
[Gates] If that's rope, that's
probably not a good sign.
909
00:44:42,246 --> 00:44:43,479
Agreed.
910
00:44:43,514 --> 00:44:45,581
I think this is a ghost net
sunken area.
911
00:44:45,616 --> 00:44:47,483
And we're seeing structure
to it as it's all just clumped up
912
00:44:47,518 --> 00:44:48,785
in the bottom, you think?
913
00:44:48,819 --> 00:44:50,153
I don't think this
is our airplane, guys.
914
00:44:50,187 --> 00:44:54,691
I don't either. I'd just love to see
one piece of manmade something
915
00:44:54,725 --> 00:44:57,694
other than that piece of
line down there, you know?
916
00:44:57,728 --> 00:44:59,595
- Do we want to move on to the next target?
- Yeah.
917
00:44:59,630 --> 00:45:01,831
All right, It's do this.
918
00:45:01,865 --> 00:45:05,601
[Gates] We repeat the
same process all afternoon.
919
00:45:05,636 --> 00:45:06,836
All right, let's go
to target four.
920
00:45:07,671 --> 00:45:10,540
[Gates] Reposition boat.
ROV is going in.
921
00:45:10,574 --> 00:45:14,210
Drop ROV and anxiously
watch the monitor.
922
00:45:14,244 --> 00:45:16,279
- Should be comin' up on it.
- Oh, there's some fish on it.
923
00:45:18,215 --> 00:45:19,649
[Gates] But ultimately,
the results are the same.
924
00:45:19,683 --> 00:45:22,318
If the avenger broke up
on impact,
925
00:45:22,352 --> 00:45:24,620
finding bits of debris in
these rocks is like finding
926
00:45:24,655 --> 00:45:27,023
a needle in a haystack.
927
00:45:29,960 --> 00:45:31,627
To rule out every possibility,
928
00:45:31,662 --> 00:45:34,497
we even run the AUVs on
the north side of the Island,
929
00:45:34,531 --> 00:45:36,899
near the known
avenger wreck site.
930
00:45:36,934 --> 00:45:40,770
All told, we scan more
than eight sq. miles of ocean,
931
00:45:40,804 --> 00:45:43,773
investigating targets
everywhere we go.
932
00:45:43,807 --> 00:45:47,176
- It's a lot like rocks.
- Very similar to the other rock.
933
00:45:48,412 --> 00:45:49,612
Yup.
934
00:45:49,646 --> 00:45:52,014
[Gates] But the lost
plane remains a phantom.
935
00:45:52,649 --> 00:45:54,717
Exhausted and frustrated,
936
00:45:54,752 --> 00:45:57,120
e have run out
of places to look.
937
00:46:00,057 --> 00:46:03,326
All right, we've scanned the
south and we've scanned the north.
938
00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:04,660
No sign of an avenger.
939
00:46:04,695 --> 00:46:06,596
- This is the way it goes sometimes.
- Yeah.
940
00:46:06,630 --> 00:46:08,231
You exhaust all your options,
941
00:46:08,265 --> 00:46:11,768
you do a thorough job and you still don't
turn up the target you're looking for.
942
00:46:11,802 --> 00:46:14,837
We have one example where,
after a large
943
00:46:14,872 --> 00:46:16,773
survey, much just like
what we've done here,
944
00:46:16,807 --> 00:46:19,709
a year later we found
some anomalies in the data
945
00:46:19,743 --> 00:46:21,978
- and ended up finding an aircraft in it.
- [Gates] Really?
946
00:46:22,012 --> 00:46:25,314
Missing aircraft could actually
be in our data set right now,
947
00:46:25,349 --> 00:46:26,616
and we just haven't
exhausted it.
948
00:46:26,650 --> 00:46:27,784
- We never give up.
- Right.
949
00:46:27,818 --> 00:46:29,786
We're gonna keep going
back, we're gonna keep looking
950
00:46:29,820 --> 00:46:30,820
at the data,
951
00:46:30,888 --> 00:46:32,755
and if we have to come
back with more vehicles
952
00:46:32,790 --> 00:46:35,291
and different technology,
then that's what we'll do.
953
00:46:37,427 --> 00:46:40,062
It's easy to think
about these as airplanes,
954
00:46:40,097 --> 00:46:41,497
- but this is really a story about people.
- Yeah.
955
00:46:41,532 --> 00:46:44,133
And there are three guys
that are somewhere
956
00:46:44,168 --> 00:46:48,171
out off of this island
waiting to be brought home.
957
00:46:48,205 --> 00:46:49,939
Guys, it's been an absolute
pleasure, really has.
958
00:46:49,973 --> 00:46:52,742
Thank you so much for letting us
come out here and see what you do.
959
00:46:52,776 --> 00:46:56,879
It's a ton of work and it's really
important work, though, so...
960
00:46:56,914 --> 00:46:57,780
- I appreciate it.
- Yeah.
961
00:46:57,815 --> 00:47:00,349
Unfinished business,
we gotta keep at it.
962
00:47:00,384 --> 00:47:01,317
Absolutely.
963
00:47:04,855 --> 00:47:08,191
[Gates] Dennis Rule, Ernest
Williams and Russel Gusetta
964
00:47:08,225 --> 00:47:12,795
are still missing. But they
are no longer forgotten.
965
00:47:12,830 --> 00:47:14,931
In depth research
and cutting edge forensics
966
00:47:14,965 --> 00:47:19,035
revealed the details of what
happened that fateful day
967
00:47:19,069 --> 00:47:20,336
in1945.
968
00:47:21,872 --> 00:47:24,974
And with Project Recover
working the case,
969
00:47:25,008 --> 00:47:26,976
the lost avenger
may take flight again soon.
970
00:47:27,010 --> 00:47:31,414
But this story is bigger than
the crew of just one plane.
971
00:47:31,448 --> 00:47:33,916
It is estimated that
more than 18000 souls
972
00:47:33,951 --> 00:47:37,787
were lost in training
accidents during World War 2.
973
00:47:37,821 --> 00:47:42,592
Because they never saw combat,
they are not officially considered MIAs.
974
00:47:42,626 --> 00:47:45,962
And an effort to find
them is long overdue.
975
00:47:45,996 --> 00:47:49,432
It is my hope that more
searches will be carried out
976
00:47:49,466 --> 00:47:52,568
So that the soldiers who
gave their lives for this country
977
00:47:52,603 --> 00:47:55,238
will no longer be left behind.