An Extraordinary Day
Today was an extraordinary day out on Subic Bay, filled with excitement, discovery, and hope. Robbie Homan, owner of a boat manufacturing business based in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, graciously took our crew out on his beautifully crafted boat. Our mission? To conduct a detailed sonar search in a square-mile section near the mouth of Subic Bay, pinpointing the crash site of Lt. Thompson's Hellcat F6F fighter, tragically downed by anti-aircraft fire from the infamous Japanese ship, Oryoku Maru, during World War II.
Robbie expertly navigated the vessel as we swept the area with advanced sonar equipment. Each pass of the sonar held our breath in anticipation. The search yielded two significant results: First, we successfully eliminated a large segment of the search area, confirming no anomalies there—saving future efforts from revisiting these cleared waters.
Then came the moment that quickened every pulse onboard: a clear, compelling sonar hit appeared on the screen. The energy among our diverse team surged as we realized we had potentially located Lt. Thompson's aircraft. The exactness of the location made it a promising lead and provided a palpable sense of connection to history—especially meaningful to the families of missing WWII personnel, historians, and diving enthusiasts involved in our search.
But the day wasn't over yet! On our return trip to Vasco’s Restaurant, Robbie's usual docking spot, we took a route directly over the U.S. Navy’s officially recorded position of the scuttled PT-31 boat. As we approached the location, the sonar suddenly delivered another distinct and solid return. The discovery sent a fresh wave of excitement through the crew, underscoring the historical significance lying just beneath the waves.
Tomorrow promises to build upon today's thrilling findings. We will return to both sites with dive gear and underwater exploration equipment, ready to uncover and document these incredible pieces of submerged history. The enthusiasm and participation surrounding our project continue to grow, attracting a passionate group of history buffs, WWII family members, local enthusiasts, and seasoned divers, each motivated by discovery and remembrance.
Stay tuned—our journey is just beginning, and each dive brings us closer to uncovering lost stories and honoring heroes from a pivotal chapter in history.
