RADIO GUNNER'S
COMPARTMENT: Looking from the port side of the aircraft in the
radio-gunner's compartment towards the bomb bay. The mounting racks for
the radio and radar equipment is visible on the left side of the
photograph.
THIRD PBJ: In
approximately 70 feet of water, a third VMB-613 PBJ-1H is lying upside
down with its landing gear extended and the bomb bay doors fully open.
According to diver Hal Parker, this particular PBJ is the one closest to
Roi Island.
FOURTH PBJ:
During July 2007, diver and resident of Kwajalein, Dan Farnham,
accidentally discovered a fourth VMB-613 PBJ at the bottom
of Kwajalein Lagoon.
ENGINE NACELLE:
With its starboard wing resting on a large coral outcropping, a close-up
of the engine nacelle reveals that it now serves as a safe home to
many small reef fish.
WINGTIP RADOME:
Taken above the starboard wing, the remains of the wingtip radar nacelle
can be clearly seen. This radome
housed the AN/APS-3 search radar and proved to be a key means of
identifying these as VMB-613 aircraft.
SIXTH PBJ:
In September of 2009, diver Bill Remick, returned to Kwajalein Atoll and
took the opportunity to search for some of VMB-613's aircraft.
During this trip he located three additional aircraft including this PBJ
with its heavy encrustation of marine life on the port side of the
aircraft.
SEVENTH PBJ:
This was the second new PBJ located by Bill Remick during his 2009 visit
to Kwajalein. One of Bill's diving companions can be seen
descending towards the aircraft.
EIGHTH PBJ:
The third PBJ that Bill Remick located in 2009 was this aircraft,
sitting with its tail resting high on a mound of coral.
Like most of the other aircraft, this one's engines have fallen from
their mounts and now rest on the floor of the lagoon.
DIVERS VISIT A VMB-613 PBJ NEAR MELLU ISLAND, KWAJALEIN ATOLL: Depress
the "PLAY" button
to begin video. MSIE users must click on the video player
before depressing the "PLAY" button.
to begin video. MSIE users must click on the video player
before depressing the "PLAY" button.