Exploring the Sunken Heritage of Midway Atoll: Honoring the Legacy of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway: Image and Video Gallery: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

The NOAA Martime Heritage Team investigates a sunken Brewster F2A-3 site at Midwall Atoll.

Some of the servicemen involved in the near shore crashes.

A National Park Service diver swims around the upside down wings of an World War II era F4U Corsair lost at Midway Atoll.

The Team

The team with Midway Atoll Refuge Manager Bob Peyton.

Photogrammetry

An example of photogrammetry work of an upside down F4U Corsair at Midway Atoll.

Midway Lanes

A glimpse back in time at the Midway lanes.

Bowling

The team tries their hand at bowling after a long day on the water.

Behind The Scenes

Behind the scenes at the Midway bowling alley.

Keeping Score

Keeping score at the Midway bowling alley.

Bowling Shoes

A sign that provide a glimpse in to the past at Midway Atoll.

Brian Hauk

Snorkler Brian Hauk getting ready to plunge into the cold.

Wetsuits

The layers that keep the diving scientists warm in chilly May Midway conditions.

Cold Science

Diver Brian Hauk doing science despite the cold.

Surveys

Diver Brian Hauk doing surveys.

Cold Surveys

Diver Brian Hauk doing surveys in the cold.

Dr. Kelly Keogh

Dr. Kelly Keogh training the next generation of underwater explorers: her daughter.

Two Brothers

Dr. Keogh examining the jar associated with the Two Brothers whaling shipwreck site.

Invasive Species Quadrat

Brian Hauk sets an invasive species quadrat on the stern of the USS Macaw.

Fighting the Wind and Waves

Fighting the wind and waves during daily dives on the anomaly boat with Brian, Russ, and Jason (left to right).

Machine Gun

Brian Hauk sketches the .50 caliber machine gun from the Brewster Buffalo.

Radial Engine

Jason Leonard photographs the remains of the radial engine from the Brewster Buffalo fighter plane.

Whaling Anchor

Brian Hauk takes notes on a recently discovered potential whaling anchor.

Whaling Anchor Revisited

Jason Leonard examines the discovered anchor outside the reef during yesterday’s anomaly diving.

Alien Invasive Species

A diver documents a structure, discovered by magnetometer survey, for any alien invasive species.

Surveying the Reef

A diver surveys the reef in an area where magnetometer survey recorded anomalies.

Underwater Debris

Underwater debris like this is scattered throughout the lagoon at Midway, reminding divers of the human history that has affected this place.

Magnetometer Anomaly

A diver investigates a magnetometer anomaly on the Midway seafloor and finds an old cable.

A Diver Investigates

A diver investigates a magnetometer anomaly on the seafloor. Unfortunately, this was not a sunken aircraft but it still proves the magnetometer is doing its job!

Alien Species

A diver investigating a survey anomaly for alien species and cultural significance.

Anchor Anomaly

Another anchor anomaly being surveyed for alien species and cultural significance.

Hull Inspection

A diver conducting a hull inspection for Monument entry.

Historic Guns

Historic guns placed in the mall at Midway Atoll as a reminder of its military history.

Dozens of Albatross

Old officers homes at Midway Atoll and dozens of albatross finding their new homes on the lawn.

Dining Facility

Historic sign marking the original Dining Facility at Naval Air Facility Midway Island.

Yellowstripe

School of Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (weke, yellowstripe goatfish) spotted underwater during one of the team’s dives.

Young Albatross

NOAA resource protection specialist Brian Hauk fills scuba tanks for the next day’s dive with a young albatross in the foreground.

Fish and Wildlife Service Boat

The team readies one of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service small boats for operations at Midway Atoll.

Readiness

The team getting the boat ready to get in the water for survey at Midway Atoll.

Boat Launch

The team launches the boat for remote sensing survey operations at Midway Atoll.

Team Meeting

The team discusses safety protocol and the next day’s operations.

Visitor Center

The team heads in to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge visitor center for an orientation of the island.

Orientation

The new visitors to the island receive a briefing from Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Manager Bob Peyton.

Boat Check

Team member Russell Reardon conducts boat checks as the team gets ready to start survey work.

Survey Work Boat

The team will be using one of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s small boats to conduct their survey work at Midway Atoll.

Midway Atoll Aerial

An aerial view of Midway Atoll.

Midway Atoll Map

A map of Midway Atoll.

Papahānaumokuākea

Map of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Japanese Air Raid

Photo of a recreation of the Japanese air raid on Midway on June 4, 1942.

Maritime Archaeologists

A team of maritime archaeologists prepare to survey at Midway Atoll.

Midway Atoll - 1945

Aerial view of Midway Atoll in 1945.

Submarines

Submarines docked at Midway Atoll.

Pillbox

A pillbox remains in the sand at Eastern Island at Midway Atoll.

Cable Station Building

One of four cable station buildings remaining at Midway Atoll constructed in 1904.

Invasive Sponge

Crella Spinulata is an invasive sponge that the team will be surveying for on aircraft sites at Midway Atoll.

Invasive Hydroid

Pennaria disticha is an invasive hydroid that the team will be surveying for on sunken aircraft sites.

Polychaete Worm

Sabellastarte spetabilis is an invasive polychaete worm that the team will survey for on sunken aircraft sites.

Invasive Bryozoan

Zoobotryon verticillatum is an invasive bryozoan that the team will survey for on sunken aircraft sites.

Top View Corsair

Top view of a model of a Corsair, compared with model showing camera locations.

Side View Corsair

Side view of a model of a Corsair, compared with model showing camera locations.

45 Degree Angle Corsair

Model of a Corsair from a 45 degree angle, compared with model showing camera locations.

Magnetometer

Magnetometer being towed through the water column.

Magnetometer Deployment

National Park Service archeologist ready to deploy the magnetometer during survey operations.

Collecting Magnetometer Data

National Park Service archeologist driving survey lines collecting magnetometer data.

F4U Corsair

An underwater filmmaker documents the wing section of a F4U Corsair at Midway Atoll.

P-40K Warhawk

Maritime archaeologist Jason Raupp documents the engine of a P-40K Warhawk Discovered outside of the reef at Midway Atoll.

Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo

Maritime archaeologists document the remains of a Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo at Midway Atoll.

Marine Corps Fighter Squadron

VMF 221, a Marine Corps fighter squadron at Midway Atoll in January of 1942. The Brewster discovered in the lagoon was part of this squadron.

Exploring the Sunken Heritage of Midway Atoll: Honoring the Legacy of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway

Image and Video Gallery

Mission Logs

Image and Video Gallery

For Educators

Background Information

Media Resources

Meet the Explorers

Exploring the Sunken Heritage of Midway Atoll: Honoring the Legacy of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway

Image and Video Gallery

Mission Logs

Image and Video Gallery

For Educators

Background Information

Media Resources

Meet the Explorers

Related Links