FILEY & HUNMANBY MERCURY,
The vessel was the first ship to defeat the Royal Navy in British waters
The wreck of the first US ship to beat the Royal Navy in British waters has been found off the coast of Filey, marine historians believe.
British satellite historians claim to have discovered the resting place of the American ship USS Bonhomme Richard, which sank on September 24, 1779, after a battle with British ship Serapis in the American War of Independence.
The discovery has been made by Merlin Burrows, a satellite firm based in Harrogate.
CEO Bruce Blackburn said: “We used the same satellite technology used by Google which turns images into x-rays. We knew it was in that location because of the witness accounts and logs and we’re 100% convinced that it’s the Bonhomme Richard because we already recovered 35-40 timbers that show extensive evidence of the fire that caused the ship to go down.” In 1779, the Bonhomme Richard engaged in a four-hour firefight north of Flamborough Head after being intercepted by HMS Serapis.
Both ships sustained horrific damage but it was American Captain John Paul Jones who eventually won the battle before abandoning his sinking vessel.
According to Mr Blackburn, the discovery of the wreck could have great implications on the local economy.
He added: “The Bonhomme Richard was the first ship of the American Navy. Its history is taught in their national curriculum. Tourists from the US will flock to the Yorkshire coast to see the place where their navy was born. It will create a sort of pilgrimage.
“We want to sit down with the local council and come up with an economic impact assessment. We’ll have to develop a visitor centre, tourist trails. It’s going to create jobs.”
The location of the wreck had long been a mystery and previous attempts to identify it had failed. The find has been registered with the Receiver of Wreck and US authorities have been contacted.