A downed World War Two A plane from World War Two has been found in the South Pacific over 80 years after it disappeared.
The US SBD Dauntless was located last month in the Papau New Guinean jungle by locals who had heard stories of a crash for many years.
Now, US authorities have confirmed they are aware of the wreckage and are working to send a team of investigators to the location.
The Dauntless crashed on January 14, 1944, with pilot Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey and gunner Sgt. Charlie J. Sciara inside, according to information online.
Both men were officially declared dead within the following year but are still missing in action.
Locals claim a skull was found with the wreckage on the island of New Ireland – but no identity has been confirmed.
Photographs from the site depict the engine, propeller, and shrapnel from the downed plane spread across the jungle floor.
Resident Kilala Kindau, who led the team that made the discovery, said: ‘The plane crashed and broke into three pieces, leaving the pilot trapped inside and unable to escape.
‘Early January we went up to the jungle and were trying to search for the plane. The story was told by some of our grandparents and passed on to us that there was a plane crash on the mountain part of the jungle, but they did not know where exactly it crashed.
‘From late December to early January we searched for the plane. We sought the serial number and sent it to the US embassy who confirmed it was a US plane and belonged to [Lt. Ramsey].’
It is believed Sgt. Sciara survived the crash and was taken prisoner by Japanese forces at Tunnel Hill POW Camp, before passing away on February 22, 1944, but Lt. Ramsey is thought to have died in the crash.
Information from the U.S. Navy Loss List Summary Sheet indicates the Dauntless was downed during a divebombing mission against Japanese forces in the South Pacific region.
It is believed the plane had its tail shot off by anti-aircraft fire and was last seen over Saint Georges Channel.
The plane was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, which was ultimately absorbed into Boeing, and assigned to the US Marine Corps.
The serial number on the wreck – 35971 – matches up to information available online.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) – part of the US Department of Defense – retrieves American military personnel who are prisoners of war or missing in action.
A spokesperson said: ‘DPAA has received multiple reports that wreckage potentially associated with missing personnel was recently discovered on New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
‘We are working to get a team of investigators to the site as soon as we can. As the agency responsible for recovering the remains of Americans missing from past conflicts, DPAA is committed to pursuing this lead.’
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