World War II Era Fighter Plane Discovered at Midway Atoll

A P-40K Warhawk of the 78th Fighter Squadron. Credit: Mark Stevens, 7th Fighter Command Association

Maritime archaeologists discovered the remains of a sunken World War II era P-40K Warhawk fighter aircraft while doing research in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in August. The wreckage was found in 25 feet of water off the southeast side of the barrier reef within the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial.

During drift dive and towboard surveys at an area off Eastern Island, the site of Midway’s historic runways, the team found various artifacts: an engine, landing gear, numerous .50-caliber shells with the markings “1941” and several other objects. A few hundred feet away, the team found three propeller blades (one with a hub still attached), a strut, three .50-caliber machine guns, a machine gun muzzle, dozens of .50-caliber shells and other aircraft parts.

The .50-caliber gun muzzle with identifying plate helped pinpoint the wreckage as that of a P-40K Warhawk. Credit: Kelly Gleason/NOAA

Allison V-1710 engine of the P-40K Warhawk found at Midway Atoll. Credit: Kelly Gleason/NOAA

Conducting research back aboard the ship, the team determined that the engine was an Allison V-1710, used in Curtiss P-40K Warhawk airplanes, and that the landing gear was consistent with what would be found on such an aircraft. The machine gun muzzle contained an attached plate that identified the type of gun and aircraft it belonged to, also pointing to a Curtiss P-40K Warhawk. According to archival records, only one P-40K Warhawk wrecked at the east of the reef of Eastern Island at Midway Atoll in February 1943, when the plane’s controls froze and the pilot, Lt. Ray Obenshain, Jr., parachuted to safety.

Two years after surviving his accident at Midway Atoll, Capt. Ray L. Obenshain, Assistant Operations Officer of Fresno, California, checks his jungle pack at the 47th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group base on Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. Credit: Mark Stevens, 7th Fighter Command Association

Further research by the maritime heritage team uncovered that this particular plane was part of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 78th Fighter Squadron, which made aviation history in the planning and execution of the longest over-water flight of a single engine, land-based airplane ever attempted. The squadron was stationed at Midway from January 23 until April 21, 1943; their mission was to protect the island, its garrison and fortifications and the submarine and communications base from enemy attacks.

Maritime archaeologist Jason Raupp documents the Allison V-1710 Engine, unique to a P-40 World War II era aircraft. Credit: Kelly Gleason/NOAA

The Monument has at least 60 potential shipwreck sites and 70 potential sunken aircraft sites; to date, 22 of these have been discovered and documented. This exciting find is the fourth aircraft documented to date in the Monument, and the third at Midway Atoll.

Work to interpret this site and its role in the broader heritage of the Pacific is ongoing.

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