Car, Planes, and Secrets Found in USS Yorktown Wreck

Mystery at the Bottom of the Pacific

On April 19–20, during a deep-sea expedition, NOAA Ocean Exploration made a series of stunning discoveries aboard the wreck of the USS Yorktown, a legendary World War II aircraft carrier sunk during the Battle of Midway in 1942. Among the eerie remains of the ship, one find stood out most: a full-sized car, still upright after more than 80 years on the seafloor.

The USS Yorktown, nicknamed the “Fighting Lady”, played a pivotal role in battles like Coral Sea and Midway before being torpedoed and lost. The carrier was rediscovered in 1998 by Titanic explorer Robert Ballard, and today lies over 5,000 meters deep, within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, northwest of Hawaii.

A Civilian Car in a War Zone?

The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) captured clear footage of what appears to be a 1940–41 Ford Super Deluxe Woody—a luxury car more at home in a quiet suburb than on a warship. Its presence has baffled researchers.

Two theories have emerged:

• It may have been a “flag car” for Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher, used during port visits.

• Or it was brought aboard for repairs after damage during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

The car bears the label “SHIP SERVICE ___ NAVY” on its plate, but no official records mention a vehicle aboard during Yorktown’s final voyage. NOAA is now calling on the public—especially car enthusiasts—to help solve the mystery.

Aircraft Frozen in Time

In addition to the car, NOAA’s dive uncovered the first underwater discovery of aircraft that flew in the Battle of Midway. Three Douglas SBD Dauntless bombers were found inside the hangar deck:

• One still armed with a bomb in its cradle—likely a reserve aircraft.

• Two were heavily damaged, believed to have landed from the USS Enterprise and later moved and set ablaze during the attack on Yorktown.

The team also found spare aircraft parts, including multiple wings, and a hand-painted mural in one of the elevator shafts titled “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown.” Measuring 42 by 12 feet, the mural had not been seen since before the ship sank.

Wreck and Remembrance

The Yorktown now serves as a war grave, managed by the Naval History and Heritage Command. It honors the 362 American sailors who perished in the Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific War that also cost Japan four carriers, one cruiser, and hundreds of aircraft.

From aircraft and murals to a mysterious luxury car, the Yorktown continues to tell stories from the depths. And NOAA’s team hopes the public will help piece together one of its strangest puzzles yet.