B-29 Crash Site on Mount Tapochao, Saipan.

On December 26, Boxing Day, fine weather, and the need for exercise determined another hike to the popular B-29 crash site was in order. A 30 minute hike with a few detours took us on site.
The B-29 crashed on the west side of Mount Tapochao during the night of August 27, 1945, just 12 days after hostilities ceased in the Pacific. The B-29 was returning from a POW supply support mission after picking up cargo parachutes at Florida Blanca Air Field in the Phillipines. The crash occurred during a second approach to Isley Field on Saipan. The first landing attempt was aborted due to night instrument problems, bad visibility, and stormy conditions. Sadly, there were no survivors among the 10 crew members. Observations show visitors to the site have given respect and left the site intact. Crew member list and additional information can be researched on websites http://www.20thaf.org/ and www.315bw.org/memoriam.htm

The B-29 was a model B-29B-45-BA built at the Bell-Atlanta aircraft plant. It was registered as # 44-83899 and assigned to the 20th Air Force, 402nd Bomb Squadron, 502nd Bomb Group, 315th Bomb Wing.

The debris field is extensive with parts strewn over a large area indicating a high speed impact. This could be part of the air injection supercharger from one the engines. It is truly amazing how a number of parts show little corrosion after 63 years in a tropical environment.

We located only two of the engines on this hike. According to the plane specifications the four engines are noted as Wright Cyclone R-3350-23 with 2,200 horsepower per engine. The props are sixteen feet eight inches in diameter. Note the yellow paint still visible on the prop tips.

The motley hiking crew on site.

Other visitors to the site mentioned a third engine and a tail machine gun turret in the area.

Not sure what this item is. Originally thought it could be landing gear tires. Archive photos show the B-29 had three sets of landing gear with only 2 wheels each.

The 18 cylinder heads on this engine have turned into a solid block of corroded aluminum .

Close up of 1945 era version of "aircraft lock tight fittings" on the engines!

Caroline Islands Navigators

Pius Mau Piailug is a master navigator from the Island of Satawal in the Caroline Islands Group.
Lin, Lino M. Olopai, and Brian on the island of Saipan. Lino is a master navigator and a student of Mau's school and has completed many passages from Satawal island. Lino is quite a character. I once asked him what sort of protection the navigators and crew had in a storm? Lino reply was, "See that rope holding up the mast? We hide from the wind and rain behind that!"
Mau lived on Saipan for many years and is currently living on Satawal Island and still teaching the ancient navigation and sailing techniques.
Local Carolinian canoe getting a beach launch on Saipan. Managaha Island is in the background.
Arrival of six sailing canoes after completion of a 600 mile passage from Satawal to Saipan.
These sailing canoes are open boats and about 27 feet in length. No GPS is used only personal stars and visual information such as floating debris, water color,wave direction with wave types, and marine animals are used to determine position and direction. One is usually wet most of the passage. Food consumed is very traditional and consists of any fish caught on passage,drinking coconuts, water, yams, and breadfruit. I asked some crew members if they ever carried any cans of SPAM on board. Never did get an answer, but I detected a grin or two.

Wreck of the SS President Coolidge, Vanuatu

Inside the galley of the Coolidge. Depth 155 feet. Deep wreck penetrations were an adventure. Thankfully, the dive guide, Dave Cross knew the interior of the wreck by heart. I would never have found the way out!

Diving on the Main Promenade Deck. Note the ship is lying on it's port side. Depth70 feet.
Willey's military jeeps and tires in the Cargo Hold Number 2. Depth 110 feet.

6,000 troops were evacuated from the wreck in just over one hour prior to the wreck rolling over and sinking on the port side.
First Class Smoking Lounge Room during the luxury cruise days. Note "The Lady" located over the fireplace.
The icon of the Coolidge know as "The Lady" is a porcelain tapestry kept clean by the dive guides. Depth 150 feet.
Helmets, canteens, and carbines abandoned by the troops during the emergency evacuation. Orders were given to leave all gear as the troops were dropping carbines and gear on the heads of evacuating soldiers below them causing injuries to many of the troops.

Large condensers provided fresh water for the steam boilers. Steam was generated to drive turbines that powered electrical generators to power two 20,000 horsepower General Electric electrical motors that turned the twin propellers and also provided electrical power to the ship.
Dave Cross diving in the First Class Swimming Pool. Depth 170 feet.
Various electrical gauges in the Main Engine Room. Depth 155 feet.
The engine telegraph inside the Engine Room. Depth 155 feet. The test was to read the last telegraph command while experiencing nitrogen narcosis at depth. I read through blurred vision the last order as "Finished With Engines" Correct answer, but no prize!
General Motors Corporation heavy trucks, drive axles and tires in Cargo Hold Number Two.

Final minutes before the sinking. The Coolidge was sunk after striking a "friendly mine" while straying out of the safe channel during entrance to the port of Luganville, Santo Island, Vanuatu.

A 470 pound Queensland Grouper named Boris was another icon of the wreck. I took this photo in June 2001. On another passage back to Vanuatu in 2004 I made numerous dives on the Coolidge again and was told Boris passed away in 2003.
Boris made the long, boring, cold, and tiring decompression stops fun with his antics. He was huge!
Brass decorative lamp in the Main Lounge Area. Depth 85 feet.

Wreck of USS Tucker, Vanuatu

Site of sinking off Espirtu Santo Island, Vanuatu. August 4, 1942. Sunk by a "friendly mine"
View taken near the ships crew quarters. The wreck was stripped by salvagers in the 1960's
View taken amidships. Originally the ship had a fair amount of stainless steel doors and frames which were removed long ago by the salvagers.
View of one of the two steam turbine engines scattered across the bottom.

Diving Saipan, Lau Lau Bay

Diving Saipan, Blue Grotto

Night diving is the best time to see the green sea turtles, usually up to seven individuals can be found resting in various caves and ledges inside and outside of the grotto.

This is the oldest turtle in the area usually found on a ledge inside the Bat Cave.

White tip sharks are commonly found at the entrance to the Bat Cave.

A number of Flame Scallops can be found inside tucked away on cracks in ledges.

Lion fish are found outside the grotto on walls over various caverns.

Left side exit opening is the most popular exit to the outside dive sites.

This family of Clarke's Clown fish have inhabited various anemones over the years.

Pohnpei Island and the Nan Madol Fortress

The Nan Madol fortress on Pohnpei Island is an amazing sight. I rowed the dinghy around the canals and various 92 man made islands within the 200 acre site and discovered it was a huge village with many remains of ancient buildings. Most of the building were constructed of large megalithic basalt columns delivered via sailing canoes from a volcanic basalt quarry 16 miles away. Construction was estimated to have started in 500 AD and continued to the early 1500's AD.

View of 260-foot long north wall of the fortress named Nandauwas.

Many of the basalt columns weigh 5 tons or more. Hard to imagine the numbers of workers required to construct the buildings and canals.

View of the hundreds of canals dug into the island for transportation purposes.

Nan Madol was called Venice of the Pacific by early European explorers.

View from Sokeh's Rock

View of Kolonia harbor from

Sokeh's Rock

View of yacht anchorage

from Sokeh's Rock