Steve Jones from South Wales and Andi Marovic, who runs a local dive center, photographed the wreck in 2016 near Vis Island, Croatia, after local divers had discovered it in 2001
After one of Jones’ images of the wreck was honored in a Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, a family friend of Vienneau’s descendants recognized the name in the caption, and soon Vienneau’s nephew Robert was in contact with Jones, who in turn put the family in touch with historian Danijel Frka, who had not only done much research on the wreck, but had also previously met some of the surviving crew who were with Vienneau on his last flight.
The co-pilot had made a skilled water landing after they lost power to the last engine while trying to land at Vis island airfield, a place where many crippled bombers headed for after being shot up over Europe.
The aircraft had only arrived at the base in Amendola, Italy three days earlier
Vienneau was mortally wounded by antiaircraft fire; two engines failed. The bomber headed for the nearest friendly base — on the island of Vis — losing a third engine en route and the fourth while circling the airfield; a skilled sea landing allowed the crew to escape in dinghies.
Vienneau’s body was left on board as the crew had no time to evacuate him before the aircraft filled with water and sank.
Vienneau grew up in paper mill town in Maine, and served with the 340th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group and this bombing mission was secondary enemy targets in Maribar, Yugoslavia, the main objective, Vienna, was obscured by clouds
The Army had only told the pilot's family he was “lost at sea” – leaving loved ones wondering how he died.
Vis is the farthest inhabited island from the Croatian mainland, and has only two main settlements: the town of Vis, where the ferry docks, and, on the opposite side of the island, Komiža, where most of Vis’ dive operators are located. On the far side of the bay is Manta Diving Centre, a family-run business led by Andi Marović, which caters to the needs of recreational and technical divers with a state-of-the-art gas-blending station and purpose-built boats equipped with lifts.
Not so far away from the B-17, another World War II bomber lies at a much more accessible 130 feet. This long-range B-24J Liberator, known as the “Tulsamerican,” was discovered by Darko Bojanić in late 2009 — it was the last Liberator built at the Tulsa factory in Oklahoma, resulting in high media interest as the exploits of the aircraft and crew were avidly followed during the war.
Not so far away from the B-17, another World War II bomber lies at a much more accessible 130 feet. This long-range B-24J Liberator, known as the “Tulsamerican,” was discovered by Darko Bojanić in late 2009 — it was the last Liberator built at the Tulsa factory in Oklahoma, resulting in high media interest as the exploits of the aircraft and crew were avidly followed during the war.
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