Hidden World War II fighter wreck draws history buffs to Wales
The American fighter Lockheed P-38 Lightning from the World War II era, whose wreck is located off the coast of Wales (near Harlech) attracts enthusiasts of history and photography. These post-war remains occasionally emerge from the water, becoming an attractive destination for tourists.
The remains of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning have been known since their first exposure in the 1970s, as well as in 2007 and 2014. Authorities decided that the wreck would not be raised or restored but would remain a historical monument. The fighter was considered protected due to its historical value. The aircraft crash occurred under specific conditions.
Wrecked fighter off the Welsh coast
Robert F. Elliott, a 24-year-old second lieutenant and pilot of the Lockheed, had to make an emergency landing in September 1942. Although he survived the crash, he was later declared missing. In 2016, his nephew, Robert Elliott, visited the site where the P-38 crashed and expressed his satisfaction that authorities decided to grant the wreck historical monument status.
“I have been an advocate for the preservation of historic military aircraft crash sites in Wales for over 20 years. I’m thrilled to see the Harlech P-38 scheduled by Cadw. (...) I feel it not only acknowledges the significance of this particular aircraft in a historical context, but also the important role played by Wales in the air war against Nazi Germany,” said Matt Rimmer, a local aviation historian, in 2019, quoted by the Guardian.
The fighter is located about six feet underwater, off the coast of the town of Harlech in northern Wales. Nicknamed "The Maid of Harlech," the wreck is visible during appropriate weather conditions. Photos of this extraordinary find were captured by Joseph Mearman, a researcher at the University of Bangor.
Wrecks of American aircraft in Greenland
Remnants of the P-38 can be found in various places worldwide due to their extensive participation in wartime activities, including in Greenland, where they transferred on the route to British bases. On July 15, 1942, six P-38 fighters and two B-17 bombers encountered a snowstorm, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. The crew was rescued nine days later, and the aircraft remained in place, covered by layers of ice. In the early 1990s, one of the P-38s, named "Glacier Girl," was recovered from a depth of about 300 feet.
In 2018, Arctic Hot Point Solutions found another fighter in Greenland, but the rest of the aircraft are still awaiting discovery.
