Flight 19: Shadows of the Lost

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Comprehensive Analysis of Flight 19 Disappearance

The disappearance of Flight 19 on December 5, 1945, remains one of aviation's most perplexing mysteries, captivating historians, researchers, and the public alike. This survey note provides a detailed examination of the event, drawing from historical records and analyses to offer a thorough understanding of the incident, its investigation, and its lasting legacy.

Historical Context and Mission Details

Flight 19 comprised five General Motors TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, designated FT-28, FT-36, FT-3, FT-117, and FT-81, launched from Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 2:10 PM EST. The mission, "Navigation Problem No. 1," was a standard training exercise involving a navigational route: flying 091° for 56 miles to Hens and Chicken Shoals for bombing runs, continuing 091° for 67 miles, turning left to 346° for 73 miles over Grand Bahama Island, and then 241° for 120 miles back to NAS Fort Lauderdale. The flight was led by Lt. Charles C. Taylor, with 2,509.3 hours of flying time, including 606 in Avengers, and included 14 crew members—6 Navy and 8 Marines. The crew list is as follows:

Pre-flight checks confirmed full fuel tanks (5.5 hours capacity), survival gear, and instrument functionality, though all planes lacked 24-hour clocks, not deemed a "no-go" issue.

Timeline of Events

The timeline of Flight 19's disappearance is critical to understanding the sequence of events:

• 2:10 PM EST: Flight 19 takes off, led by Taylor in FT-28, with an estimated return by 5:23 PM.

• 3:40 PM EST: Taylor reports compass failure and disorientation, believing they are over the Florida Keys but actually over the Bahamas.

• 4:00 PM EST: Radio communications show confusion, with Taylor hesitant to follow instructions to fly west, fearing it would take them further out to sea.

• 5:20 PM EST: Last known communication, Taylor states they will ditch unless they find land soon.

• 6:20 PM EST: Final transmission indicates fuel exhaustion, with plans to ditch together.

Simultaneously, a Martin PBM Mariner (Training 49, BuNo 59225) launched from NAS Banana River at 7:27 PM with 13 crew members to search for Flight 19. It checked in 10 minutes later but vanished, likely due to an in-flight fire, with witnesses reporting a fireball at 28°59'N, 80°25'W, and no survivors found.

Search and Rescue Efforts

The search effort was massive, involving Air-Sea Rescue Task Unit Four (ASRTU-4), NAS Fort Lauderdale, NAS Miami, Coast Guard cutters, merchant ships, and over five days covering more than 250,000 square miles of Atlantic and Gulf waters. Despite this, no wreckage, life rafts, or oil slicks were found, amplifying the mystery.

Official Investigation and Findings

The Navy's Board of Inquiry, after extensive review, concluded with the statement, "We are not able to even make a good guess as to what happened." Initially, it suggested Taylor suffered a "mental aberration," but this was amended in 1947 to "cause unknown" following pressure from Taylor's mother, Katherine, to avoid blaming him. The likely cause for the Avengers is compass failure, disorientation, and ditching due to fuel exhaustion in heavy seas, with poor survival prospects at night. The Mariner's loss is attributed to an in-flight fire, possibly from gasoline vapor, given PBMs were nicknamed "flying gas tanks."

Theories and Speculations

Numerous theories have emerged, reflecting the complexity and controversy:

• Navigational Error: Taylor misjudged their position, leading the flight eastward into the Atlantic.

• Compass Malfunction: Magnetic anomalies, possibly due to the region's magnetic field, affected navigation.

• Severe Weather: A sudden storm front, with deteriorating conditions, contributed to the crash.

• Bermuda Triangle: Popular culture often cites this, though scientific evidence is lacking, and the Navy does not attribute the loss to supernatural causes.

• Extraterrestrial Involvement: Fringe theories suggest alien abduction, notably popularized in Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," but these lack credible evidence.

Expeditions, such as Graham Hawkes' in 1991 and 2004, claimed to find Avengers off Florida, but tail numbers confirmed they were from other incidents, not Flight 19, concluding they were "a random collection of accidents."

Impact and Legacy

Flight 19's disappearance significantly contributed to the Bermuda Triangle myth, featured in books, documentaries, and media by channels like History Channel (The Mysterious Disappearance of Flight 19 | HISTORY), Travel Channel, and National Geographic. It inspired cultural works, embedding the mystery in public imagination. An annual memorial ceremony at the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum (Flight 19 Memorial - Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum) commemorates the 14 crewmen and 13 Mariner crew, totaling 27 lost, alongside 95 service members who died training at NAS Fort Lauderdale during 1942–1946.

Recent Developments and Ongoing Interest

No recent discoveries have definitively solved the mystery, with interest sustained by historians and aviation enthusiasts. The NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum supports "Project Mariner," an expedition effort, and continues to educate the public, preserving the legacy of these aviators.

Conclusion

Flight 19's disappearance, while likely explained by navigational errors and adverse weather, remains officially unsolved, with no wreckage found. The event's enduring mystery, fueled by speculation and cultural impact, ensures it remains a topic of fascination, commemorated and studied for its historical significance.