The Disappearance Of Flight 19
By: Dylan Safai 1/6/16 Period 2
Background information on The Bermuda Triangle
Over the past centuries, many ships and airplanes have disappeared or met with fatal accidents in the triangular area on Atlantic Ocean known as Bermuda Triangle. In several cases, no trace of the ships and aircraft were found even after thorough search operations were carried out for hundreds and thousands of square miles in the ocean. Such incidents of disappearances have been known since 1400s and have continued even in 21st century. While there are various explanations and theories behind such incidents, in many cases the incidents have remained unexplained.
I chose the topic of Flight 19 to show people how dangerous the Bermuda Triangle by choosing one specific topic to show that.
The Disappearance
The Search
Lt. Dave White of Hillsboro Beach, who was a Senior Flight Instructor at NASFL, remembers that fateful day, as he was playing bridge when he heard a knock on the door of his friend's house: “It was the duty officer, and he said all flight instructors were due at the hangar at 5 am because five planes were missing.” For the next three days, White, his assistant instructor and 20 of his students flew up and down the Florida coast at low altitudes, but they couldn't find a trace of the airmen or the wreckage. Today, he's convinced the planes rammed into rough seas about 60 miles east of Daytona Beach: “I don't think anybody got out of their planes at all. I don't think anybody survived.”
In my opinion I believe that the planes ran out of fuel and fell into the rough Bermuda seas. When the planes hit the water, I believe they blew to peices. Thats why they didn't find any wreckage.
Three of the Pilots
Lt. Charles C. Taylor, USNR
Born October 1917, in Nueces County, Texas. Graduate of Texas A&M University.
United States Naval Officer. Served in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II.
He had 2,509.3 flight hours, 616 in Avengers. Leader Pilot in FT-28. He was 27 years old.Capt. George William Stivers, Jr., USMC
Born 1920 in Piedmont, Missouri
Graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
He had 374.7 flight hours, 579 in Avengers.
Pilot of FT-117. He was 25 yrs old.
Sgt. George R. Paonessa, USMCR
Born 1918 in Mamaroneck, New York.
Paonessa's family would receive a telegram days later reading
"You have been misinformed about me. Am very much alive."
Signed with his nickname “Georgie” (reportedly a hoax).
Radioman on FT-36. He was 27 yrs old.