Three World War II naval wrecks have been discovered in the Sea of Japan and South China Sea, ending decades of mystery surrounding the vessels and providing closure to families of 243 servicemen who went down with their ships.
The Lost 52 Project, partnering with Ocean Outreach, announced the discovery of the USS Bonefish submarine and the destroyers USS Drexel and USS William D. Porter. The wrecks were located using cutting-edge underwater robotic technology to search vast stretches of seafloor thousands of feet below the surface.
Tim Taylor, the expedition's leader, led the effort. Taylor recently received the Distinguished Public Service Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, for his contributions to World War II naval history research.
The expedition employed years of dedicated research, planning and technological innovation to locate the vessels. The wrecks will remain undisturbed, serving as war graves that honor both the fallen and their families.
The collaboration between the Lost 52 Project and Ocean Outreach demonstrates how partnerships between private organizations, nonprofits and historical researchers have become crucial to such efforts, as government agencies often lack the resources to pursue extensive searches.
The discoveries contribute to understanding of naval history and oceanography, with researchers expected to study the wrecks for years to come. The success of the expedition provides a blueprint for locating other missing vessels and servicemen.
