The Lost Squadron - Flight 19
On December 5, 1945, five Navy TBM Avenger torpedo boats left Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a training mission. They had to travel to different parts of the Atlantic Ocean and return to their base in Florida, a distance of 320 miles. radio conversations between pilots and other air base detectable in the region. We knew that the act of bombing was a successful practice.
The first sign of trouble came with the transfer, "I do not know where we are. Wethat have been lost, following the final stage. "The transfer was made by another flight instructor, Lieutenant Robert F. Fox in the TF-74, who lost to support the return flight to their lives. Lt. Charles Carroll Taylor, the chief tried to escape s Squadron is lost, the transmission, "My two measures are and I'm trying to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I am above the earth, but it is broken. I am sure to be in the Keys but I do not know to what extent I do not know how to get to Fort Lauderdale. "LieutenantFox should put the sun in its left wing and fly north along the coast of Fort Lauderdale.
Approved several transfers back and forth between flight controllers and four bombers. They went one way and then the other and try to find something familiar ground everywhere. The last statement of Lieutenant Taylor was heard, "All good plans to close ... We talked about it in the ditch, unless ... When the first plane drops below 10 gallons, we are all together." YouI just found out that Lt. Taylor, for some unknown reason, he turned his command to another pilot that transfers of anxiety ... "I can not say we do not see anything .... we think we can be about 225 km northeast of the base ..." For a few moments before the pilot walking illogical to say the last words I ever heard Flight 19: "It looks like white water are completely lost ...." The five naval bombers were never seen again.
Minutesafter the last mission, Mariner seaplane with the rescue team, a transmission sent to the area of Flight 19. Ten minutes after takeoff, the pilot in control of the Mariner with the tower and not heard from again. The Coast Guard, the Navy ships and aircraft search of 250,000 square miles for the next 5 days in the hope that some characters of the Avengers 5 or Mariner, but he saw an oil slick and debris.
In 1990, removed the remains of an avengerthe bottom of the sea, but not able to identify one of the planes disappeared.
A curiosity of this story is that a flight plan 19 was missing crew member. Marine Corporal Allan Kosner has special permission to land that day because there was a risk preminition be substantial.
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