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Beyond the Blue: Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping

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Mission to USS Yorktown: Dive Highlights

April 22, 2025

On April 19 and 20, 2025, as part of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners explored the final resting site of USS Yorktown (CV-5). This U.S. Navy aircraft carrier took part in several World War II operations before being sunk by a Japanese submarine following the Battle of Midway. These non-disturbance dives were the first to explore the ship’s hangar deck, revealing a number of unexpected discoveries, described below.

On April 19 and 20, 2025, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners explored the final resting place of USS Yorktown, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier lost in the Battle of Midway. The dives revealed several significant discoveries. Download largest version (mp4, 235 MB)

It is important to note that the 2025 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives were not the first to explore the shipwreck. Several investigations of Yorktown have occurred since its 1998 discovery and initial documentation by Dr. Robert Ballard, the National Geographic Society and the U.S. Navy, including a characterization mission in 2023 led by Ocean Exploration Trust on Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus. The dives in 2025 built on this previous work, providing answers to existing questions and resulting in new mysteries for historians and scientists to puzzle out.

Mural: “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown”

During the dive on April 19, for the first time ever, we were able to image the mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” hand-painted inside the ship’s #2 elevator shaft. This mural had only partially been visible in historic photographs of other subjects when Yorktown was afloat. The mural displays a world map that tracks the voyages of Yorktown. Measuring approximately 42 feet by 12 feet, its motifs showcase the pride that Yorktown‘s sailors had for their ship, the global scale of Yorktown’s activities, and the strategic role that the ship played in defending the United States.

A vintage world map with blue continents and cream oceans, marked by dark vertical streaks.
View of the mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” hand-painted inside the ship’s #2 elevator shaft, seen during the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition dive on April 19, 2025. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Underwater mural on shipwreck illuminated by purple lights with an ROV visible.
Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer images the hand-painted mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown.” For scale reference, the ROV measures 10.4 feet long, 6.4 feet wide, and 8.5 feet tall. Seen during Dive 06 of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition dive. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Yellowish corroded metal surface with blue stamped text and maroon stripes on the U.S.S. Yorktown's hull section.
A faded mural of a compass rose with ornate wings on a weathered surface.

Close views of the mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” reveal the intricacies and detail in this painting depicting the travels of Yorktown. Imaged on April 19 during the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
Download largest version of the left image (jpg, 2.92 MB). Download largest version of the right image (jpg, 2.42 MB).

Underwater scene with a robotic arm illuminating a faded world map on a shipwreck wall.
The lights of remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer illuminate the hand-painted mural, “A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,” during the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition dive on April 19, 2025. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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A Surprise Automobile

Exploration often provides some surprises. During the dive on April 19, we noticed a faint outline of an automobile while peering into the aft hangar deck from the port side of USS Yorktown. The team aboard Okeanos Explorer and contributors ashore analyzed diagnostic features of the vehicle observed during the follow-up April 20 dive and tentatively identified the car as a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe ‘Woody’ in black. With “SHIP SERVICE ___ NAVY” written on part of its front plate. This car served a variety of roles from ship command to ship supply and traveled everywhere the carrier went.

An underwater image of a decaying car on the ocean floor, surrounded by debris and marine life.
During the April 20 Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition dive, we imaged this automobile, likely a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe ‘Woody,’ in the hangar deck of USS Yorktown. Visible in this image are rectangular rear windows, chrome detail on the fenders, a split windshield, parking lights above the headlights, and a chrome bumper. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Underwater shipwreck scene with debris and parts of a remotely operated vehicle.
View of the Ford automobile in the hangar of USS Yorktown upon approach during Dive 07 of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Why, though, did the car remain stowed in the hangar deck after a brief 48-hour repair period in Pearl Harbor, when the ship’s officers knew it was heading to the Battle of Midway? During the valiant efforts to right Yorktown’s list, why too wasn’t this car jettisoned like the anti-aircraft guns and the aircraft? Did this automobile carry any particular importance to crew and officers who hoped it could be saved?

Underwater shipwreck with a barnacle-encrusted metal plate and submerged debris.
The front plate of the automobile discovered in the hangar of USS Yorktown during the seventh dive of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition on April 20. The top line reads “SHIP SERVICE;” the bottom line is more obscured, but could read “CV-5 NAVY” or “US NAVY.” Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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A sunken vehicle partially buried on the ocean floor with surrounding debris.
This image of an automobile on USS Yorktown first discovered during the April 19 dive and further explored on April 20 shows the car’s boxy shape, canvas top, chrome bumper, and spare tire on the back. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bombers

Previous exploration at Midway investigated ships engaged in the battle; however, the dive on April 20 resulted in the first-ever discovery of aircraft that fought at Midway — a seminal clash between sea and air power — on the actual battlefield.

Underwater bomber wreck with corroded metal and marine growth.
The legible markings on the fuselage beneath the gunner’s ring mount (“B5” in the center of the frame) and the right wing (“5” near the bottom of the frame) of this Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber enabled researchers to identify it as Bureau Number 4542. Crewed by Ensign George H. Goldsmith (pilot) and Radioman 1st Class James W. Patterson, Jr, the SBD-3 was one of two battle-damaged planes from USS Enterprise’s Bombing Squadron Six that landed on Yorktown following their successful attack on the Japanese Imperial Navy carrier Kaga. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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ROV exploring a sunken bomber with bright lights in dark, murky water.
Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer was used to survey at least three damaged Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers that had been stowed in the hangar deck of USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway and sank with the ship. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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With the incredibly skilled and experienced pilots from the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration, ROV Deep Discoverer observed Yorktown’s hangar deck by means of the #3 elevator shaft. Deftly avoiding a number of entanglement hazards, ROV cameras soon revealed the jumbled wreckage of at least three Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers resting in the aft starboard quarter. One of the planes, likely part of Yorktown’s reserve force on the first morning of the battle, was seen fully armed, lying inverted with a 500-lb bomb still secured in the release cradle. Another plane, with “B5” boldly legible on its fuselage, has been identified as Bureau Number 4542, an SBD-3 assigned to Bombing Squadron Six from USS Enterprise (CV-6). Damaged during the attack on the Japanese Imperial Navy aircraft carrier Kaga that morning and low on fuel, the plane landed on Yorktown, where it remains today. Its crew included Pilot Ensign George H. Goldsmith and Radioman 1st Class James W. Patterson, Jr.  These refugee aircraft were stowed at the rear of the carrier and later set on fire by one of three enemy bombs that ignited ordinance and aviation fuel in Yorktown’s hangar deck.

The team was also able to confirm that an aircraft wing imaged forward of the #2 elevator during the 2023 expedition on E/V Nautilus belonged to a Grumman F4F Wildcat, the primary U.S. Navy fighter used during the Battle of Midway. In addition, the team located a pair (or potentially folded set) of wings in the hangar deck; these wings likely were spares.

 

Underwater aircraft wreckage with twisted metal and damaged components.
At least three planes were located within the aft Elevator #3 of USS Yorktown during the dive on April 20, including an overturned SBD Dauntless that was still armed with a 500-lb bomb mounted in its release cradle. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Underwater aircraft wing with a faded star symbol, covered in marine growth.
During the dive on April 19, the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition team was able to confirm an aircraft wing imaged during a 2023 expedition on Exploration Vessel Nautilus and located another set of potentially folded wings also in the hangar deck. These wings likely were spares. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Shipwreck Biology

In addition to being a historic time capsule, the wreck of USS Yorktown provides habitat for a variety of marine life. Observations of this life made throughout the ROV dives on April 19 and 20 are important in helping us better understand how the deep-ocean environment changes over time. A few of the animals encountered during the dives are shown below.

A red jellyfish with tentacles against a deep blue background.
While exploring the wreck of USS Yorktown during Dive 06 of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition, we imaged this colorful red jellyfish, which may be a new species. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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A cluster of tubeworms attached to a blue underwater surface.
These tubeworms were observed growing on the outside of USS Yorktown during the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition dive on April 20. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Underwater shipwreck with rust and marine life.
Shipwrecks provide hard structures on which organisms in the deep ocean can attach and grow. These anemones were seen during the seventh dive of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition, having made the sides of USS Yorktown their home. Currents and shipwreck seabed scour could explain why the density of anemones was higher on the starboard side than the port side. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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This mission was only possible through the contributions of partners including the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration, NOAA Office of Marine and Aircraft Operations, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Naval History and Heritage Command, SEARCH, Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Nauticos, Ocean Networks Canada, Ocean Exploration Trust, Chuck Haberlein, Jonathan Parshall, and Anthony Tully.

The wreck of USS Yorktown is a protected sunken military craft managed by the Naval History and Heritage Command, and, most importantly, serves as the final resting place for hundreds of servicemen that gave their lives in defense of the nation. In recognition of the importance of the Battle of Midway to the United States as well as the incredible state of preservation, in 2023, the United States Navy designated the wreck of USS Yorktown (CV-5) as a Site of Extraordinary Character.

Underwater view of Yorktown shipwreck illuminated by an ROV.
Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer images the wreck of USS Yorktown during a dive on April 19 as part of the Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue.
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Acknowledgements

This mission couldn’t have been made possible without the contributions of Chuck Haberlin, Anthony Tully, Jon Parshall, Russ Matthews, James Delgado, Mike Brennan, Frank Thompson, Alexis Catsambis, George Schwarz, Hannah Fleming, Annie Wright Nunn, Sara Kahanamoku-Meyer, Brian Kennedy, Willie Hoffman, and many others. Thank you for your contributions.

Published April 22, 2025 • Last updated April 24, 2025