B17 VIS ISLAND CROATIA SEPT 2026 (4k)

The preserved wreck of a B-17G Flying Fortress lies upright at a depth of 68–72 meters off the southern coast of Vis Island, Croatia, after ditching into the Adriatic Sea on November 6, 1944. The Last FlightThe Mission: The brand-new B-17G (from the 97th Bomb Group, 340th Bomb Squadron) was flying its first combat mission, returning from a raid over Maribor, Yugoslavia (modern-day Slovenia). The Attack: Heavy German anti-aircraft flak severely damaged the aircraft and struck the cockpit, mortally wounding 25-year-old pilot 2nd Lt. Ernest Vienneau. The Diversion: With engines failing and hydraulic systems crippled, the crew nursed the dying bomber south toward the Allied emergency airstrip on the island of Vis.The Ditching: Unable to safely reach the short runway, the co-pilot and crew executed a controlled water landing in the sea near Rukavac, less than 100 meters from the shore. The Rescue: The bomber floated for roughly 35 minutes, allowing nine crew members to escape safely via the radio room hatch before the aircraft slipped beneath the waves. Tragically, pilot Ernest Vienneau went down with the plane. Rediscovery and LegacyDiscovery: Lost for nearly 72 years, the remarkably intact aircraft was rediscovered by technical divers in September 2016. Because the fuselage remained upright and preserved in near-pristine condition, it is considered one of the finest and most intact WWII aircraft dive sites in Europe. Closure: In October 2020, a specialized technical diving team recovered the remains of 2nd Lt. Vienneau from the deep wreck, finally bringing closure to his family before he was laid to rest with full honors in his home state of Maine.