A Second World War aircraft carrier wreck the USS Hornet has been discovered by a research organisation set up by Microsoft’s late Paul Allen.
It was found in late January resting 17,500 feet deep on the floor of the South Pacific.
It sank in the 1942 Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands where 111 of its sailors died and 2,200 crew abandoned ship.
The 10-person crew of R/V Petrel, who discovered the ship, were able to locate the Hornet’s position by piecing together data from national and naval archives including official deck logs and action reports from other ships engaged in the battle.
It was discovered on the first dive mission of 2019.
The Hornet played a pivotal role in some of the most important moments in WWII naval history, including the Doolittle Raid and the Battle of Midway
“We had the Hornet on our list of WWII warships that we wanted to locate because of its place in history as a capitol carrier that saw many pivotal moments in naval battles,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Vulcan.
“Paul Allen was particularly interested in aircraft carriers so this was a discovery that honors his memory.”
