USS INDIANAPOLIS FOUND AFTER 72 YEARS

On August 19, 2017, the USS Indianapolis was located by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, after 17 years of unsuccessful expeditions. She was finally found at a depth of 5,500 metres in the North Philippine Sea.

The Indianapolis was a key player in World War II; just before her sinking on July 30, 1945, she was sent on a secret mission to deliver components of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima that ended the war in the Pacific. The mission was completed successfully before she was attacked by a Japanese submarine, which brought her down in just 12 minutes.

For over 70 years, no one could locate her whereabouts till a vital clue was found in 2016. Dr. Richard Hulver, a historian of the Naval History and Heritage Command, confirmed that the Indianapolis passed the ST-779, a tank landing ship, 11 hours before it sank. Researchers used this vital clue to narrow down the wreck’s location, leading to the successful discovery by Allen’s team.