The dive to explore a wreck is certainly of all diving experiences, the most challenging and fascinating. In this article we will discover one of the many shipwrecks found in the seas of the coast of Sicily. The object of our
Exploration is a big three-engined German World War II in the summer of 1942, has sunk in the sea off the country Sferracavallo.
Before describing the appearance of the wreck dive I would best reflect the description of the events that led to the plane groped an emergency landing with engine failure.
The following story is a testimony of my dear friend Michele Reina at the material time he was ten years
"Sferracavallo, summer 1942.
Half afternoon on a beautiful sunny day. I played with my brother Charles did a cover on the terrace housing the displaced.
At one point we hear a rumble, like a boiling pot, we see come from the sea and a squadron of Junkers-52, in perfect formation, on their way to Palermo.
The planes flew at a height of about three hundred meters above our heads.
A little lower than the others trudged one whose engines emit a crackling noise interrupted by irregular and void of power. Apparently they were all directed to the old and unique airfield Boccadifalco. However, we strongly doubt that last plane you could reach. At a distance of about a mile, just above the village of Tommaso Natale, Junkers that turns and goes back, back in our direction. To remember that we got a better look on the cover of a roof ladder from the apartment that led to the terrace.
time go and see this huge aircraft passing over our heads so that we give as lying to avoid being hit. For us children it was beautiful and noted especially the yellow painted just below the three engines, the white-rimmed black crosses under the wings, the swastika on the rudder and the huge flaps very characteristic because quite apart from the wings.
Once past us up again in feet and we see it heading towards the sea which is about three hundred meters from us. Apparently the pilot wanted groped a landing.
After traveling almost the entire bay of Sferracavallo, near the Porta Marconi (as defined by the presence of a powerful radio station), touched the surface of the sea, raising a massive wall of water around it. Almost immediately after it stopped I saw clear the central engine and wings.
From the distance of about eight hundred yards that separated me from the plane's crew noticed that you threw the door that had been left open. At the same time from the port of the country were leaving a lot of fishing boats, rowing and other pressures, that were already out at sea in the middle of the bay, they were almost near. They rushed into the sea about ten men, then no more.
In the space of a minute or so the plane tilted to the side of the snout to assume an almost vertical position and then sink quietly. With a few minutes we were racing along the main road towards the sea to the Piazza SS. Cosmas and Damian. Today
not remember if there are already collected by the German military boats or if they came later. They were all shirtless, shoeless and in shorts. Some had their clothes under their arms while others tried to dry the notes lie on sidewalks and placing of the stones above. Among them there was one who kept a leather bag full of wet documents. However, they were very calm and some of them lit a cigarette offered by local people. In a quarter-hour requirement was a bus and, as they were, went to Palermo.
The day after a barge that arrived on the spot stationed for two or three days. All attempts to recover the aircraft were in vain.
Today my friend tells me that Ferdinand is practically in front of Porta Marconi but I remember it was ditched more inside the harbor. Perhaps the recovery efforts or movements under water during the sinking have moved. "
This short story, which is a very important direct evidence of what happened, provides many elements to clarify the dynamics of the facts and eliminate much confusion that reigns on the aircraft type and mode of sinking.
Today the wreck lies on a sandy bottom of -45.00 meters. Given the depth of this immersion is recommended only for experienced divers with the support of a diving providing all the safety equipment and of course the boat.
Worn equipment and began the descent into the deep blue the feeling is a mixture of loss, the lack of fixed reference points, and curiosity, to try to discern the outline of the plane.
Meanwhile the seconds pass and the depth increases -20 -35 -25 ... ... meters, but still nothing. Only at -40
we see a dark spot on the sand far from us about twenty meters. From our position we see one side of the aircraft fuselage with wings half-buried and the alignment of the engines. The location is belly up, so during the sinking (in which the story had a vertical position with its nose down to the weight of the third engine control unit) must have turned all the way under water and placed back on the bottom. As I approached I can make out better than the fuselage, with the tail and the cockpit, is buried and invisible in the sand while the wings, with two engines, are still perfectly integre.Verso the rear is a large block which is perhaps the central engine probably torn during attempts recovery pontone.Mi head straight to root of the wings and I still see a perfectly preserved the access ladder inside the fuselage.
Then I move to the right engine with the propeller is still intact, a sign that nell'ammaraggio his engine had to be stopped now, otherwise it would be tilted back. Suddenly, as I make this thought with the mind on the side of the propeller leaves a giant conger eel and the diameter of the head will be about 15 cm while the length is invaluable because the body is hidden inside the wreck. The time to take some photos and check them near another. Eventually I will have seen three different, but the instructor who accompanied me tell me that there was a fourth. They are docile and friendly as they approach their hands to search for food. I will say then that in the past have been domesticated by the divers that brought the fish to get them out and see them better.
viewed up close is really awesome with those round eyes and expressionless face and white with scratches evident. From the photos it is easy to imagine the proportions with subacqueo.Per the rest we are surrounded by a multitude of vibrant life consists of numerous red crackers (Anthias Anthias sp.) and odd because (cabrilla Serranus sp.). A look at air pressure gauge and are already in the middle of my reserve. How do I report agree with the instructor and begin the ascent.
Blue completely envelops us and slowly began to rise by observing the shape of the Junkers 52, which disappears swallowed up by a world so far from our everyday reality, but at the same time, even so close to places where I spend every day, perhaps taken from my usual commitments.
remain many questions about who was the pilot and all passengers, from where, what we deliver and what were the causes dell'ammaraggio.
At one point we hear a rumble, like a boiling pot, we see come from the sea and a squadron of Junkers-52, in perfect formation, on their way to Palermo.
The planes flew at a height of about three hundred meters above our heads.
A little lower than the others trudged one whose engines emit a crackling noise interrupted by irregular and void of power. Apparently they were all directed to the old and unique airfield Boccadifalco. However, we strongly doubt that last plane you could reach. At a distance of about a mile, just above the village of Tommaso Natale, Junkers that turns and goes back, back in our direction. To remember that we got a better look on the cover of a roof ladder from the apartment that led to the terrace.
time go and see this huge aircraft passing over our heads so that we give as lying to avoid being hit. For us children it was beautiful and noted especially the yellow painted just below the three engines, the white-rimmed black crosses under the wings, the swastika on the rudder and the huge flaps very characteristic because quite apart from the wings.
Once past us up again in feet and we see it heading towards the sea which is about three hundred meters from us. Apparently the pilot wanted groped a landing.
After traveling almost the entire bay of Sferracavallo, near the Porta Marconi (as defined by the presence of a powerful radio station), touched the surface of the sea, raising a massive wall of water around it. Almost immediately after it stopped I saw clear the central engine and wings.
From the distance of about eight hundred yards that separated me from the plane's crew noticed that you threw the door that had been left open. At the same time from the port of the country were leaving a lot of fishing boats, rowing and other pressures, that were already out at sea in the middle of the bay, they were almost near. They rushed into the sea about ten men, then no more.
In the space of a minute or so the plane tilted to the side of the snout to assume an almost vertical position and then sink quietly. With a few minutes we were racing along the main road towards the sea to the Piazza SS. Cosmas and Damian. Today
not remember if there are already collected by the German military boats or if they came later. They were all shirtless, shoeless and in shorts. Some had their clothes under their arms while others tried to dry the notes lie on sidewalks and placing of the stones above. Among them there was one who kept a leather bag full of wet documents. However, they were very calm and some of them lit a cigarette offered by local people. In a quarter-hour requirement was a bus and, as they were, went to Palermo.
The day after a barge that arrived on the spot stationed for two or three days. All attempts to recover the aircraft were in vain.
Today my friend tells me that Ferdinand is practically in front of Porta Marconi but I remember it was ditched more inside the harbor. Perhaps the recovery efforts or movements under water during the sinking have moved. "
This short story, which is a very important direct evidence of what happened, provides many elements to clarify the dynamics of the facts and eliminate much confusion that reigns on the aircraft type and mode of sinking. Today the wreck lies on a sandy bottom of -45.00 meters. Given the depth of this immersion is recommended only for experienced divers with the support of a diving providing all the safety equipment and of course the boat.
Worn equipment and began the descent into the deep blue the feeling is a mixture of loss, the lack of fixed reference points, and curiosity, to try to discern the outline of the plane.
Meanwhile the seconds pass and the depth increases -20 -35 -25 ... ... meters, but still nothing. Only at -40 we see a dark spot on the sand far from us about twenty meters. From our position we see one side of the aircraft fuselage with wings half-buried and the alignment of the engines. The location is belly up, so during the sinking (in which the story had a vertical position with its nose down to the weight of the third engine control unit) must have turned all the way under water and placed back on the bottom. As I approached I can make out better than the fuselage, with the tail and the cockpit, is buried and invisible in the sand while the wings, with two engines, are still perfectly integre.Verso the rear is a large block which is perhaps the central engine probably torn during attempts recovery pontone.Mi head straight to root of the wings and I still see a perfectly preserved the access ladder inside the fuselage.
Then I move to the right engine with the propeller is still intact, a sign that nell'ammaraggio his engine had to be stopped now, otherwise it would be tilted back. Suddenly, as I make this thought with the mind on the side of the propeller leaves a giant conger eel and the diameter of the head will be about 15 cm while the length is invaluable because the body is hidden inside the wreck. The time to take some photos and check them near another. Eventually I will have seen three different, but the instructor who accompanied me tell me that there was a fourth. They are docile and friendly as they approach their hands to search for food. I will say then that in the past have been domesticated by the divers that brought the fish to get them out and see them better.
viewed up close is really awesome with those round eyes and expressionless face and white with scratches evident. From the photos it is easy to imagine the proportions with subacqueo.Per the rest we are surrounded by a multitude of vibrant life consists of numerous red crackers (Anthias Anthias sp.) and odd because (cabrilla Serranus sp.). A look at air pressure gauge and are already in the middle of my reserve. How do I report agree with the instructor and begin the ascent.
Blue completely envelops us and slowly began to rise by observing the shape of the Junkers 52, which disappears swallowed up by a world so far from our everyday reality, but at the same time, even so close to places where I spend every day, perhaps taken from my usual commitments.
remain many questions about who was the pilot and all passengers, from where, what we deliver and what were the causes dell'ammaraggio.
Ferdinando Meli 
The underwater photos are by the author.
The text of the description of the dive is the author.
The text of the story is sull'ammaraggio Michelle Reina.
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