在太平洋發(fā)現(xiàn)二戰(zhàn)期間被擊落的美國飛機(jī)

在太平洋發(fā)現(xiàn)二戰(zhàn)期間被擊落的美國飛機(jī)

A group called Project Recover has located two dive bombers and one torpedo bomber at the bottom of the Truk Lagoon, within the Federated States of Micronesia, over seven decades after they went missing in action during World War II.

一個名為“尋回計(jì)劃”(Project recovery)的組織在密克羅尼西亞聯(lián)邦境內(nèi)的特魯克瀉湖(Truk Lagoon)底部找到了兩架潛水轟炸機(jī)和一架魚雷轟炸機(jī)，這兩架轟炸機(jī)在二戰(zhàn)期間失蹤已有70多年。

It took the group — a nonprofit volunteer organization affiliated with the University of Delaware, among other institutions — four expeditions to the area over the course of two years to find the crafts’ remains.

這個非營利性志愿者組織隸屬于特拉華大學(xué)(University of Delaware)和其他機(jī)構(gòu)，在兩年的時間里，他們四次前往該地區(qū)尋找這些工藝品的遺骸。

While the vessels’ resting place is today known as Chuuk State and considered to be a premier diving destination, it was once a war zone.

雖然這些船只的安息地現(xiàn)在叫作楚克州，是一個重要的潛水地，但它曾經(jīng)是一個戰(zhàn)區(qū)。

At dawn on Feb. 17, 1944, the planes took off from the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Intrepid as part of the two-day Operation Hailstone. The operation was considered to be a huge win for the Americans, with more than 200 Japanese aircraft and 50 merchant vessels sunk and destroyed — but American aircraft and lives were still lost.

1944年2月17日拂曉，作為為期兩天的冰雹行動的一部分，飛機(jī)從“企業(yè)號”和“無畏號”航空母艦起飛。這次行動被認(rèn)為是美國人的一次巨大勝利，200多架日本飛機(jī)和50多艘商船被擊沉和摧毀，但美國飛機(jī)和生命仍然在失去。

“Though a US victory, 23 American servicemen and 30 American Aircraft went missing in action in Truk Lagoon,” writes the University of Delaware in a press release.

特拉華大學(xué)在一份新聞稿中寫道：“盡管美國取得了勝利，但23名美國軍人和30架美國飛機(jī)在特魯克瀉湖的行動中失蹤。”。

Researchers spent 50 days surveying over 43 miles of seafloor before finding deep water debris fields containing the aircraft remains.

研究人員花了50天的時間調(diào)查了43英里的海底，然后發(fā)現(xiàn)了含有飛機(jī)殘骸的深水碎片區(qū)。

“While discovering these sites is exhilarating and validating, these feelings are mixed with the humbling emotions of the sacrifices made by these service members and their families in protecting our freedoms,” says Recover’s expedition leader, Mark Moline.

“雖然發(fā)現(xiàn)這些遺址令人振奮，也令人欣慰，但這些感受與這些軍人及其家人為保護(hù)我們的自由而做出的犧牲所帶來的悲憫情緒交織在一起，”尋回計(jì)劃探險隊(duì)的領(lǐng)隊(duì)馬克·莫林(Mark Moline)說。

Now, the researchers hope to identify the remains of up to seven crew members who may have died aboard the aircraft. The lagoon is thought to contain the remains of an additional 103 World War II MIA’s, altogether affiliated with 28 planes.

現(xiàn)在，研究人員希望能確認(rèn)多達(dá)7名機(jī)組人員的遺體，他們可能已經(jīng)在飛機(jī)上死亡。這個環(huán)礁湖被認(rèn)為包含了另外103架二戰(zhàn)軍情局的遺骸，共有28架飛機(jī)。

“Project Recover is honored to play our part in keeping our nation’s promise of returning our fallen service members home and we remain committed to locating more Americans missing in action in Chuuk and around the world,” says retired US marine aviator and Project Recover CEO Derek Abbey.

美國海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)退役飛行員、“尋回計(jì)劃”(Project recovery)首席執(zhí)行官德里克•艾比(Derek Abbey)表示:“‘尋回計(jì)劃’很榮幸能夠履行我們國家的承諾，讓陣亡軍人回家，我們也將繼續(xù)致力于在楚克和世界各地尋找更多在行動中失蹤的美國人。”