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Surprising Discovery Surprises Researchers During Mission in the Pacific: Antique Car Found Intact Inside USS Yorktown, Sunk Since World War II
During an underwater exploration mission in the Pacific Ocean, specialists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made an unusual discovery. While analyzing the wreckage of the USS Yorktown, a historic aircraft carrier of the United States, they found an antique car, apparently a 1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe ‘Woody’, about 5 km deep.
The find occurred on Saturday (19), 1,600 km from Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. The team was using remotely operated robots to investigate the interior of the ship, which is nearly 250 meters long and has capacity for 2,200 crew members and 90 aircraft.
Live Reaction and Details of the Car
The surprise came during the live broadcast of the mission. When the robot entered the area of elevator 3, the researchers noticed an unusual object. It was a complete car, with a body, tires, and hubcaps. “It’s a complete car, with a body, tires, and hubcaps! How is this possible?” one of the operators reacted.
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The cameras revealed even more details. The car had flared fenders, darkened chrome trim, and a roof showing signs of wear.
A spare tire was attached to the back. There was also a license plate at the front with partially visible lettering: “ship service.” The rear, however, was quite corroded.
Hypotheses Regarding the Origin
According to Popular Science magazine, there are two main hypotheses regarding the presence of the car on the aircraft carrier. One is that the vehicle belonged to Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher, the commander of the USS Yorktown. The other suggests that the car was brought aboard for emergency repairs after sustaining damage in a battle.
For now, the exact origin of the car remains a mystery. To aid in the investigation, NOAA has invited automotive professionals to view the recorded images. The idea is that visual details will help more accurately identify the model and possibly the owner.
History of the USS Yorktown
The USS Yorktown, nicknamed “Fighting Lady,” was commissioned in 1937 and played a decisive role in World War II. It participated in important battles, such as those in the Coral Sea and Midway.
After being hit by torpedoes during Midway, it attempted to return to Pearl Harbor, but ultimately sank on June 7, 1942. Its wreckage was not found until 1998. Now, with the discovery of the car, the ship’s story gains another curious and unexpected chapter.
With information from Revista Galileu.
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