Discovery in the St. Lawrence

August 21, 2009: Confirmation that the Airplane Found by Parks Canada in St. Lawrence is American World War II Plane

OTTAWA, August 21, 2009 - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada confirmed that the plane discovered by Parks Canada underwater archaeologists off the coast of the village of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan in Quebec is the wreckage of a U.S. Army Air Force plane lost in 1942. No human remains were seen during the operation this week, which was conducted principally on the exterior of the sunken aircraft.

August 6, 2009: Underwater Archaeologists to Confirm Possible Discovery of American World War II Plane

The plane discovered in the St. Lawrence near Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve is believed to be very similar to the Consolidated OA-10 Catalina featured in this picture.
© National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

For other photos of the aircraft, see the National Museum of the US AF website

Overview

Parks Canada’s underwater archaeologists, who regularly carry out surveys related to national historic sites and national parks, discovered the wreck of a plane while conducting work in an area adjacent to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada. They believe it is a US Army Air Force PBY 5A airplane, sunk off the coast near the village of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan in 1942.

There were nine persons on board when the aircraft foundered. Four of the crew escaped the flooding plane and were rescued by local fishermen rowing out from shore in open boats in rough seas. The five others perished, trapped in the aircraft by the swift flooding of the fuselage. Side-scan sonar data indicates that the plane appears to be in very good condition, and there is a possibility of finding human remains.

Map of the area where the plane was discovered.
© Parks Canada

For more information

Press Release
Historical Overview
Details about Aircraft PBY-5A Catalina/OA-10

Explore further...

Learn about Underwater Archaeology
Go further with Related Links...