Baffling Mystery Car Found Inside Sunken WWII Warship By Scientists

A Routine Dive Turns Into a Mystery

In 2025, researchers with NOAA were conducting a routine survey of the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean. Their mission was to gather data around the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. While exploring the wreck of the USS Yorktown, a U.S. aircraft carrier lost in 1942 during the Battle of Midway, the team discovered something completely unexpected inside the ship’s hangar deck: a 1940s Ford Super Deluxe Woody station wagon.

The car appeared oddly well-preserved, resting quietly after more than 80 years underwater. Despite decades beneath the sea, its frame, wood paneling, and even a partially readable license plate remained intact. The canvas roof was still visible, and its chrome bumpers were still attached. It was a civilian car, not a military vehicle, and its presence on a warship sparked immediate questions.

The Yorktown and Its Final Battle

Commissioned in 1937, the USS Yorktown was a key American aircraft carrier early in World War II. After surviving the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 with heavy damage, she returned to Pearl Harbor for emergency repairs. Within just three days, the ship was patched up and sent back out to sea for the Battle of Midway.

In that battle, the Yorktown played an important role. Aircraft launched from her deck helped sink two Japanese carriers. But the ship was hit multiple times by bombs and torpedoes. On June 7, 1942, the Yorktown finally sank, taking 141 men with her. The wreck wasn’t discovered until 1998 by oceanographer Robert Ballard. Since then, it has been explored from time to time, but the 2025 expedition revealed something new.

An Unexplained Passenger

The Ford Woody station wagon found inside the ship has raised many questions. The model appears to be from 1940 or 1941, a luxury family car at the time. It featured a flathead V8 engine and handcrafted wood panels, popular among wealthier Americans in the early 1940s. Its presence inside a warship headed for combat is still unexplained.

One theory is that the car may have belonged to a senior officer, possibly Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher or Captain Elliot Buckmaster. Officers sometimes brought personal vehicles during deployments for use in port. It’s possible the car was stored for later use after the mission, a return that never happened. Another idea is that it was being transported for repair or reassignment, though no records confirm this.

More Questions Below Deck

Adding to the mystery is how the car remained aboard after the ship was struck. During efforts to save the Yorktown, the crew threw overboard supplies, weapons, and even aircraft to keep her afloat. The fact that the car wasn’t removed raises questions about its importance or whether it went unnoticed.

The 2025 expedition also revealed other discoveries. Three SBD Dauntless dive bombers were found inside, one with its original bomb still attached. Deep within the wreck, explorers also found a 42-foot mural painted by the crew. It showed battles fought and ports visited—untouched since the ship sank.

A Glimpse into War and Peace

The Ford Woody now rests inside the steel remains of the Yorktown, frozen in time. It represents a strange blend of peace and war. A family car, meant for Sunday drives, trapped inside a ship built for battle. Historians see it as more than just a car—it’s a reminder of personal lives interrupted by global conflict.