Civilian researchers funded by Paul G. Allen claim they have located the wreckage of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. The U.S. Navy ship was lost July 30, 1945. Around 800 of the ship’s 1,196 Sailors and Marines survived the sinking, but after four to five days in the water — suffering exposure, dehydration, drowning, and shark attacks — only 316 survived.
The wreck was located by the expedition crew of Research Vessel Petrel, which is owned by Allen, 5,500 meters below the surface, resting on the floor of the North Pacific Ocean.
“To be able to honor the brave men of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and their families through the discovery of a ship that played such a significant role in ending World War II is truly humbling,” said Allen. “As Americans, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the crew for their courage, persistence and sacrifice in the face of horrendous circumstances. While our search for the rest of the wreckage will continue, I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming.”
In June of 1945 the ship was ordered to San Francisco to pick up the enriched uranium for “Little Boy”, the bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima August 6. The Indianapolis and crew set a speed record traveling from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor that still stands today- 74 ½ hours or an average of 29 knots.
There’s more information online at ussindianapolis.org/.
