Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum
The Disappearance of Flight 19 - Visual Exhibit

Echelon of TBM/TBF Avengers, 1944
This exhibit presents SAMPLE artifacts and sample archival items from the Museum's collection relating to the disappearance of Flight 19 over the so called Bermuda Triangle, 5 December 1945, and the investigation that followed.
- Headlines & Flight 19 Crew
- The PBM-5 Mariner from NAS Banana River
- Aerial Photographs of Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale
- Sample pages from the Air & Sea Rescue Log
- Call Signs Samples
- Sample Documents from the Board Opinion
- Nautical Charts & Weather Observations
- Naval aviation article, circa 1975
- Witness stories
- Photographs of Search & Rescue Individuals
- Letters: "Mental Aberration" "Exoneration" and "Case Closed"
- Headlines & Flight 19 Crew
- The PBM-5 Mariner from NAS Banana River
- Aerial Photographs of Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale
- Sample pages from the Air & Sea Rescue Log
- Call Signs Samples
- Sample Documents from the Board Opinion
- Nautical Charts & Weather Observations
- Naval aviation article, circa 1975
- Witness stories
- Photographs of Search & Rescue Individuals
- Letters: "Mental Aberration" "Exoneration" and "Case Closed"
Flight 19 Crew
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NAS Banana River 13 more Men lost 5 December 1945
Two PBM Mariner flying boats were dispatched from NAS Banana River in Melbourne, Florida (now Patrick Air Force Base), carrying rescue equipment. Less than a half hour after take-off (at approximately 19:27), one of the PBM's (Trainer 49 - BuNo 59225) radioed the tower that they were nearing Flight 19's last assumed position. The rescue plane with a crew of 13 men was never heard from again.
Two PBM Mariner flying boats were dispatched from NAS Banana River in Melbourne, Florida (now Patrick Air Force Base), carrying rescue equipment. Less than a half hour after take-off (at approximately 19:27), one of the PBM's (Trainer 49 - BuNo 59225) radioed the tower that they were nearing Flight 19's last assumed position. The rescue plane with a crew of 13 men was never heard from again.
Aerial Photographs of the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Base
- Flight 19 Complete Naval Report - Testimony & Exhibits: Get the naval investigation from original microfilm, published in book form (proceeds go to Museum).
- Support Project Mariner: An Expedition of the NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum
Sample pages from the Air & Sea Rescue Log
5 December 1945
5 December 1945
Call Signs Sample Documents
Sample Documents from the Board of Opinion
There are 500+ pages of the Board of Opinion
There are 500+ pages of the Board of Opinion
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Nautical Charts & Weather Observations
Naval Aviation News article circa 1975 - Sample pages
Witness Stories
Lt. David White, a Senior Flight Instructor at the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale remembers flight 19:
Lt. David White, a Senior Flight Instructor at the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale remembers flight 19:
Witness story - Sample pages
Short story "A Remembrance of Things Past - Flight 19 Redux",
by NASFL Navy Photographer John Evans, dated 5 December, 1988.
A rough draft Evans was working on before he passed away.
Warning: some explicit language.
Short story "A Remembrance of Things Past - Flight 19 Redux",
by NASFL Navy Photographer John Evans, dated 5 December, 1988.
A rough draft Evans was working on before he passed away.
Warning: some explicit language.
Witness Story: A December 16, 1975 typed short story, from unknown source, interviewing a "Lt. Commander Wirshing", a Station Officer on duty December 5, 1945, the same day as Flight 19's disappearance.
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The Search for Flight 19 & the PBM Mariner
Lt. Taylor "Mental Aberration" & "Exoneration" letters
and Navy letter declaring the "Case Closed"
and Navy letter declaring the "Case Closed"
Flight 19 Complete Naval Report - Testimony & Exhibits: Get the naval investigation from original microfilm, published in book form (proceeds go to Museum).
Support Project Mariner: An Expedition of the NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum
Support Project Mariner: An Expedition of the NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum
NASFL Museum Director relates the History of FLIGHT 19 on C-SPAN3 - American History TV
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