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The Nissan 180 truck of Babelthuap, Palau, by Konstantin G. Mantzouranis

Research and photos by Konstantin G. Mantzouranis, IMAS EOD Level 3 Operator, UXO Tech. I Submitted to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission EOD personnel stumbled on the sad remnants of this Japanese military truck that must have sustained a direct hit on March 31st, 1944, during Operation Desecrate One, that destroyed critical infrastructure—in this case two huge radio […]

FOUND! An intact Mitsubishi Zero A6M2b “Reisen” 零式艦上戦闘機

By Pierre Kosmidis Rod Pearce has dedicated his time and efforts finding underwater aircraft wrecks and seeking closure to the families of hundreds -if not thousands- of Missing in Action (MIA) airmen from all nations that fought during World War Two. Rod has been diving in Papua New Guinea for 40 years and is credited […]

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Then and Now: The Japanese coastal battery and USS Colorado 小川砲台

By Pierre Kosmidis The USS Colorado and the destroyer Norman Scott became preferred targets of a battery of three 6-inch guns emplaced in caves behind Tinian Town. These enemy weapons had remained silent in their well-camouflaged positions waiting for just such an opportunity as presented itself on 24 July. Only 3,200 yards off shore lay […]

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The amazing wrecks of Truk Lagoon, by Aleksei Kondratuk

By Pierre Kosmidis Light Japanese tank Ha-Go Truk Lagoon is considered as the “Holy Grail” of wreck diving worldwide, due to the wide variety of wrecks, many of them in nearly intact condition. PHOTO CREDITS: ALEKSEI KONDRATUK Aleksei Kondratuk in Chuuk (formerly known as Truk) Aleksei Kondratuk, a scuba diver and underwater photographer from Vladivostok, Russia, […]

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat, "Betsy II; downed Jan 29 1943 - Gizo, Solomon Islands.

FOUND! The F6F 3-Hellcat lost in January 1943

By Pierre Kosmidis Rod Pearce has dedicated his time and efforts finding underwater aircraft wrecks and seeking closure to the families of hundreds -if not thousands- of Missing in Action (MIA) airmen from all nations that fought during World War Two. Rod has been diving in Papua New Guinea for 40 years and is credited […]

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The WW2 shipwrecks that disappeared: Underwater explorer Kevin Denlay’s interview on the lost fleet of the Pacific – PART 2

By Pierre Kosmidis – August 2017 Photos by Kevin Denlay (unless otherwise noted) Historical Photos: Kevin Denlay Collection READ PART ONE OF KEVIN DENLAY’S UNDERWATER EXPLORATIONS: WW2 Shipwreck exploration by Kevin Denlay: “Going back in time and bringing the ships back to life” – PART 1 Kevin Denlay is a pioneer in underwater exploration and has witnessed […]

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The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 2 – Warrant Officer Nobuo Fujita, the only man who has bombed the continental US and the story of the E14Y1 floatplanes found in a shipwreck

By Pierre Kosmidis Text, photos and additional information by Dan Farnhham, used by permission   ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The WW2 Pacific Treasures of Kwajalein Lagoon by Dan Farnham PART 1 – Exploring aircraft wrecks   Locating and identifying WW2 aircraft wrecks: The Kwajalein Missing in Action (MIA) Project    An E14Y1 submarine-launched seaplane, code named “Glen” […]

Japanese ammunition ship Aikoku Maru blowing up; the air crew which dropped the torpedo was missing and believed to have been caught in the explosion. February 17, 1944

The haunting remains of the Aikoku Maru wreck in Truk

By Pierre Kosmidis On 21 January 1944, Aikoku Maru loaded the 629 men of the 66th Naval Guard Unit, with ammunition, supplies and construction materials. The convoy was attacked 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi) NW of Truk by the submarine USS Trigger, which sank the minelayer Nasami and transport Yasukuni Maru; however, Aikoku […]