WWII aircraft discovered inside USS Yorktown wreck in pacific first

Newly imaged mural and aircraft offer rare insight into wartime operations

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NOAA Ocean Exploration has released new images from a dive inside the USS Yorktown, the legendary US Navy aircraft carrier sunk during the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), NOAA surveyed the hangar deck of the wreck located deep in the Pacific Ocean. The operation, conducted on 19 and 20 April, marked the first mission to explore the ship’s interior in such detail.

At least three planes were located within the aft Elevator #3 of USS Yorktown during the dive on April 20, including an overturned SBD Dauntless that was still armed with a bomb mounted to the underside of the aircraft's fuselage. NOAA Ocean Exploration

In a significant first, the team discovered at least three Douglas SBD Dauntless bombers, aircraft known to have taken part in the historic battle.

One aircraft was found intact, with a bomb still secured in its release cradle, suggesting it may have been part of the carrier’s reserve force.

The other two planes showed battle damage and are believed to have belonged to the USS Enterprise’s bombing squadron, which landed on the Yorktown after attacking Japanese ships.

A vintage Ford Super Deluxe vehicle was discovered by divers while exploring the USS Yorktown. (NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue)

NOAA said the damaged aircraft were moved to the hangar and set ablaze when Japanese bombs struck the carrier.

While identification efforts are ongoing, the find marks the first discovery of underwater aircraft that actively participated in the Battle of Midway.

The dive also revealed spare aircraft parts, including multiple wings, one of which was previously documented in 2023.

A detailed mural titled “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” measuring 42 by 12 feet, was imaged for the first time since the ship’s sinking.

The mural, last visible in photographs taken before the carrier went down, depicts the Yorktown’s global deployments and was found remarkably well-preserved.

Marine life was also documented during the expedition, including tubeworms, anemones and a vibrant red jellyfish that NOAA believes may represent a new species.

The USS Yorktown is managed and protected by the U.S. Navy’s Naval History and Heritage Command. The wreck, discovered in 1998, serves as a war grave for hundreds of crew members lost during the battle.

The Battle of Midway was a decisive encounter in the Pacific theatre. Over 3,400 lives were lost, with the U.S. losing one carrier and one destroyer, while Japanese forces suffered the loss of four carriers, one cruiser and hundreds of aircraft.