Tangalooma Island, Queensland, Aus.

[Wildchild]

So I was talking to a friend of mine who said she went snorkeling off the coast of tangalooma island, and said there was a large airplane wreck. She gave me the exact name of the plane and when i showed her a picture, she agreed and said yes. Before I say what plane it was, does anyone know of any airplane wrecks off the coast of the island?

[Jollygreenslugg]

Tangalooma is the name of a locality and resort on Moreton Island, east of Brisbane.

An A-20 Havoc of the 89th BS, 3rd Attack Group crashed into Moreton Bay on July 5, 1942, killing Lt Dick Birnn. I can't imagine that there'd be much left, given that it cartwheeled when it hit the water. I have a particular interest in this group as a dear friend was an RAAF pilot who was seconded to the 90th BS for some time in 1942 and 1943. Maurie Carse, RIP. As an aside, his funeral was ten years ago today.

I'm not sure where in Moreton Bay it crashed, or how close it was to the current Tangalooma Island Resort.

Cheers,
Matt

[Mark_Pilkington]

Well google only finds 15 ship wrecks intentionally sunk to create a dive site off the resort?

http://www.divingthegoldcoast.com.au/in ... tangalooma

But I do wonder if the local divers have discovered the missing Short Sandringham Flying Boat VH-BRD that disappeared under tow in this area?

http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortfb/ ... vhbrd.html

Now that "Would" be a find!

Regards

Mark Pilkington

[Wildchild]

What she said was the snorkel group leader told them was that it was a B-29. I showed her a picture of a B-29 and she said yes, except it was shorter...

[Mark_Pilkington]

I dont think there are any B-29's missing off the coast of Brisbane?

More likely the Sandringham deep in silt and only its curved cockpit and fuselagespine/wing visible, hiding the fact its a flying boat hull, and of course by this time the hull may well have collapsed under its own weight leaving the appearance of an land plane, with glass house nose and large fin, and if the four engine positions could be determined it might lead someone to assume they were looking at a B-29 wreck?

Other than its size, the other most likely candidate is a Beaufort bomber but its twin engined not 4, and a hell of a lot shorter than a B-29.

Did she take any photos?


regards

Mark Pilkington

[CDF]

VH-BRD vs coal barge July 11 1952