Nearly 80 years ago, on a bright day, five aircraft belonging to the US Navy departed from a base in Florida for a routine training mission known as Flight 19. However, neither the planes nor the pilots were ever found again. These mysterious disappearances took place in the Bermuda Triangle, which encompasses Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. While there are no official statistics available, according to National Geographic, numerous ships and aircraft have vanished without a trace in the past decade.
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Nаvy рilots flyіng Avenger аircrаft durіng а bombіng trаining mіssіon рrior to dіsappearance. Photo: Nаtionаl Geogrаphic
Unusual phenomena in this region have been recorded in the past. Christopher Columbus mentioned peculiar compass readings in his journal while exploring the area. However, it wasn’t until August 2021 that the term “Bermuda Triangle” was coined by Vincent Gaddis, referring to the disappearance of Flight 19.
Various bizarre theories have emerged to explain the fate of those who encountered misfortune in the Bermuda Triangle. Their disappearances and the vanishing of their vessels have been attributed to sea monsters, giant whirlpools, or extraterrestrial beings. Additionally, theories involving alien abductions, the existence of an unknown species causing a rift in the space-time continuum, and the phenomenon of “methane burps” resulting from sudden methane eruptions have also been suggested. However, experts believe that more ordinary explanations are likely. They propose that harsh natural conditions, human error, construction or design flaws, and sheer misfortune can account for many of the cases of disappearance.
The dіѕappearance of Flіght 19
The tale of the Bermuda Triangle will forever be linked to the ill-fated Flight 19, which occurred on December 5, 1945. Flight 19 consisted of five TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers carrying 14 crew members, departing from the US Navy airbase in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Their mission was a routine maritime training exercise. Under the command of Lieutenant Charles Taylor, their objective was to fly along a triangular route and practice bombing runs at the Hen and Chickens shoals.
During that era, before satellite navigation became a common tool for navigation, Taylor became disoriented shortly after the bombing runs. Flying over water, pilots had to rely on compasses and estimate their direction and flight time. Both compasses on Taylor’s aircraft malfunctioned. Radio communications during the flight indicated that Taylor had no watch and no landmarks in the vast ocean.
The aircraft flew in one direction, then changed course as the pleasant daytime weather turned into an evening storm. Taylor had made a plan that if the fuel level of the first aircraft dropped below 381, all five aircraft would ditch into the sea. The Avenger was renowned for its durability, built like a tank, according to Mark Evans, a historian at the Naval Aviation History Branch. They were also heavy, with an empty weight exceeding 4,535 kg. Upon landing, the Avenger would not descend too fast or violently.
The chances of survival in rough seas were extremely slim, especially at night and in cold water. It was highly likely that the aircraft would quickly sink to the ocean floor. However, despite an extensive search at sea and on land, no wreckage or remains of the pilots were found. Additionally, a search and rescue aircraft also disappeared, along with its 13 crew members. In the Navy’s final report, the blame for the disappearance of Flight 19 was placed on the pilot. However, after protests from Taylor’s family and several reevaluations, the verdict was changed to “cause or reason unknown.”
The Grаveyаrd іn the Atlаntіc Oсeаn
The characteristics of the Bermuda Triangle are quite remarkable. It is one of the rare locations on Earth where true north aligns with magnetic north, causing compasses to point inaccurately. Additionally, it is known for harboring some of the deepest underwater trenches worldwide, where sunken wrecks can descend into deep-water graves several kilometers away from the coastline. The majority of the seafloor within the Bermuda Triangle lies at a depth of 5,791 meters, with the Puerto Rico Trench reaching an impressive depth of 8,229 meters below sea level near the triangle’s southern tip.
The area is marked by shallow coral reefs and perilous rocky shoals along the continental shelf. Strong currents passing over these reefs often pose a threat to seafarers, as reported by the Coast Guard. Weather conditions also pose a significant concern in the region. The primary issue is the frequent occurrence of storms, according to Dave Feit, Chief Marine Weather Forecaster at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean Prediction Center.
The Gulf Stream, a powerful ocean current, flows along the western edge of the triangle and may contribute to the area’s unique characteristics. Resembling a wide river spanning 64 to 80 kilometers within the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf Stream circulates in the North Atlantic. The warm water and swift current, flowing at speeds of 3.7 to 7.4 kilometers per hour, can create unpredictable weather patterns and generate unexpectedly high waves. Waves outside the Gulf Stream measuring 2.4 meters can be two to three times higher within the current. Mariners sometimes identify the Gulf Stream by the thunderclouds above it. The Coast Guard also emphasizes that the unpredictable nature of Caribbean-Atlantic storms can potentially create waterspouts, posing hazards to pilots and seafarers alike.
( According to National Geographic. )