Season 2017 Episode 1 | 56m 6s | Video has closed captioning.
Take a live tour of the wreckage from the USS Indianapolis, the WWII vessel lying at the bottom of the Pacific since its sinking in 1945. Video of the vessel, which was found in August, will be transmitted from a remotely operated vehicle.
Aired: 09/13/17
Expired: 10/11/17
>> THAT'S IT, WE'VE GOT IT.
>> WE WERE GOING TO SEARCH.
>> A DEDICATED TEAM OF HI-TECH EXPLORERS UNLOCKS THE MYSTERY OF THE "U.S.S.
"INDIANAPOLIS."
>> IT'S THE WORST LOSS OF LIFE IN U.S.
NAVAL HISTORY.
>> WE'LL MEET ONE MAN WHO BEAT THE ODDS.
>> WHY IT DIDN'T TAKE ME, I'VEE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR 72 YEARS.
>> O'Brien: WATCH AS WE GO LIVEE TO WITNESS A WAR MEMORIAL REVEALED.
>> WHAT THEY DID NEED TO BE REMEMBERED.
THEY WERE HEROES.
>> O'BRIEN: HELLO AND WELCOME.
LIVE FROM NEW YORK AND 8,000 MILES ACROSS THE PLANET, LIVE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA, AT THE NEWLY DISCOVERED SITE OF THE WRECK OF THE "U.S.S.
INDIANAPOLIS", HER SINKING 72 YEARS AGO IN THE FINAL DAYS OF WORLD WAR II WAS THE WORST DISASTER IN U.S. NAVYII HISTORY.
880 MEN PERISHED.
FOR MANY YEARS, TEAMS HAVE TRIED AND FAILED TO FIND THE WRECK.
THEN, THREE AND A HALF WEEKS AGO, AFTER THREE YEARS OF HARD WORK, A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS FROM PAUL ALLEN'S "VULCAN", FOUND THE SHIP'S FINAL RESTING PLACE.
VULCAN PRODUCTIONS IS ALSO AS PRODUCER OF THIS PROGRAM.
FOR THE NEXT HOUR WE ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO THE SITE FOR AOU LIVE TOUR OF THE SHIP THAT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DECADES.R GETTING TO THIS POINT WAS NO SMALL TASK.
THIS AREA IS DEEP, DARK AND RUGGED AND ONLY RECENTLY HAS TECHNOLOGY MADE THIS POSSIBLE TO HUNT FOR THE WRECK.
OUR GUIDES: MEMBERS OF PAULID ALLEN'S TEAM ABOARD THE RESEARCH VESSEL "PETREL", AND HERE IN THE STUDIO RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN BILL TOTI, WHO ONCE COMMANDED ANOTHER "U.S.S.
INDIANAPOLIS"-- A LOS ANGELES CLASS ATTACK SUBMARINE IN THE '90s.9 HE JOINS US HERE TO GIVE US HIS EXPERTISE.RT BILL, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH US.
WE'RE IN FRONT OF THIS BEAUTIFUL MODEL JUST TELL US PRIOR TO THE SINKING IT HAD QUITE A STORIED CAREER.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT?
>> OUR FOCUS IS ON THE SACRIFICE, IT'S IMPORTANT TOM REMEMBER THAT THIS SHIP HAD A REMARKABLE WAR-TIME RECORD AS WELL.AB IT SERVED IN OVER TEN OF THE MAJOR BATTLES OF THE PACIFIC THEATER.
IT WAS THE FLAGSHIP AND OF COURSE BARELY SURVIVED A COME CHAZ SEE ATTACK AND DELIVERED -- >> FOR STUDENTS EVER HISTORY YOU COULD THINK OF PEARL HARBOR AS STARTING POINT FOR THE WAR AND THE SINNING OF THIS A SHIP AS THE END.
WOULD YOU GO ALONG WITH THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
A THE END OF THE WAR BEGAN WITH A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT STARTED WITH THIS SHIP DELIVERING THE ATOMIC BOMB TO AN ISLAND.
>> O'Brien: VERY SIGNIFICANT MOMENT.
A TREMENDOUS LOSS OF LIFE AT THE END OF THE WAR.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDING THAT WRECK AFTER ALLTH THESE YEARS?
>> MILES, THERE ARE TENS OFE THOUSANDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS OFMB CREW MEMBERS WHO WERE LOST AT SEA WHEN THE SHIP SANK.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THEY'RE FINALLY BE TABLE PUT A PIN ONPI THE MAP SAY THIS IS WHERE MY LOVED ONES LIE.
FOR THE SURVIVORS, BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS SHIP REMARKABLY AFTER 72 YEARS, REALLY DOESLY CLOSE A CHAPTER FOR THEM.
>> O'Brien: CAPTAIN BILL TOTI COMMANDER OF ANOTHER NEW MEXICO WE'LL TALKCO ABOUT YOUR LINKS TO T THIS TRIP IN THE EXCITING HOUR AHEAD.
HE WILL BE WITH US ALL ALONG THE WAY.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE DEEPEST SHIPWRECKS EVER DISCOVERED.
HERE'S HOW IT HAPPENED.
.
THEY USED AN AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE, A DRONE CARRYING SONAR TO MAP THE OCEAN FLOOR IN A LAWN MOWER STYLE PATTERN.
AFTER TWO DOZEN LONG DAYS OF SEARCHING IN THIS DEEP, RUGGED REGION, THE SOUND WAVES BOUNCED OFF THE OCEAN FLOOR REVEALING THIS TANTALIZING IMAGES LIKE THAT ONE.
THAT IS A POLICE WHERE THE SUNU NEVER SHINES.
IT WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON TO LAUNCH A TETHERED REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE, WHICH GETS CLOSE, SHEDS SOME LIGHT AND BEAMS BACK HIGH DEFINITION IMAGES.
THAT'S HOW THE SAW THE HULL NUMBER 35, AND THAT'S WHEN THEY KNEW THEY HAD FOUND THE "INDIANAPOLIS".
THIS IS THE IMAGE FROM THE DARKNESS, PROOFER THEY HAD FOUNDOO THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADUE LET'S GOTH LIVE TO THE RESEARCH VESSEL "PETREL" SOMEWHERE BETWEEN GUAM AND THE PHILIPPINES HOVERING OVER THE SIDE OF THE WRECKAGE.
THE EXPEDITION DIRECTOR IS ROB KRAFT AND HE IS JOINED BY RESEARCHER PAUL MAYER.
READY TO GIVE US UNPRECEDENTEDN LOOK AT SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF HISTORY AND UNDER WATER GRAVEYARD.
AHOY TO THE CREW ON "PETREL."
>> WELCOME TO PAUL ALLEN'S RESEARCH, EXPLORATION VESSEL "PETREL."
I'M ROB KRAFT THIS IS PAUL OUR SCOTT.
WE ARE LIVE ABOVE THE USSS "INDIANAPOLIS" IN AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN THE PHILIPPINE SEA.
SHE IS 18,000 FEET BELOW US.
LET'S GO TO OUR VIDEO.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS THE FRONT, JUST THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
ON THE RIGHT -- LEFT SIDE OFSI YOUR SCREEN AT THE LOWER PORTION YOU CAN SEE THE HULK, IT WAS ACTUALLY TORN AWAY FROM THE SIDEM OF THE SHIP.
AS THE BOW SEPARATED.
S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE FROM THE TOP OF THE DECK TO THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE SEA FLOOR IS ABOUT 25 FEET.
20 FEET OF "INDIANAPOLIS" IS BURIED IN THE MUD. "
PUSH IN A LITTLE BIT, SCOTT.
JUST COMING IN TO VIEW YOU CANYO SEE THIS PIECE OF METAL, THIS IS WHAT REMAINS OF THE DECK.C THE FORWARD DECK AREA.
THE ROUND OBJECT IN FRONT OF YOU IS ABELARD WHICH IS USED TO TIE THE SHIP UP.
YOU CAN SEE THE WOOD, THE DECKING IS STILL IN PLACE AND PRESERVED AFTER 72 YEARS.
LET'S GO OVER HERE TO THE MODEL I'LL SHOW YOU.
YOU'VE SEEN THE BOW OF "INDIANAPOLIS."
WE ARE ABOUT RIGHT HERE WE'RE MOVING IN THIS WAY HERE TOWARDS THE STERN OF THE SHIP.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE RESTRE OF "INDIANAPOLIS."
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE DORE HA LET'S GO OVER TO PAUL AND HE'S GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW THE T WRECK IS LAYING ON THE SEA FLOOR.
>> WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A SONAR IMAGE.
WE SEND IT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM IT I DOES A PRE-PROGRAMMED TASK BACK AND FORTH AND PAINTS THE BOTTOM WITH SOUND.SO WE RECOVERED 18 HOURS LATER,LA STITCH IT TOGETHER THIS IS THE IMAGE WE GET.
AS ROB MENTIONED, THE "INDIANAPOLIS" ISNT MOVING ALONG WESTERLY AT ABOUT 17 KNOTS.
RIGHT HERE IS WHERE THE BOW S. IT CONTINUES ALONG ON THE WESTERLY TRACK, EVENTUALLY CAPSIZED THAT'S WHERE THE GUNS G CAME OUT.
ONE RIGHT HERE, ONE RIGHT OVER HERE.
ALSO COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS IN THIS DEBRIS FIELD, ONE IS THE BRIDGE, THERE'S A FIVE-INCH, AND ONE UP HERE WE'RE NOT SURE WHY THAT'S UP THERE.
"INDIANAPOLIS" CAME TO REST DOWN HERE AFTER TRAVELING 3.5 MILES THROUGH THE WATER.
WHEN IT LANDED, IT LANDED MADE A HUGE CRATER.
FROM WHERE IT IS NOW TO WHERE THE BOW IS, THAT'S JUST OVER A MILE.
>> SO ABOUT 70 YEARS THIS IS THE I FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE AN OVERALL PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO "INDIANAPOLIS" INOL HER FINAL RESTING PLACE.L >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THEE MIDDLE OF YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS THE BARBET FOR NUN NUMBER TWO.
THIS IS THE MOUNT THAT THE GUN WOULD SILT IN TO.
EACH ONE OF THESE, THERE WERER THREE ON BOARD "INDIANAPOLIS."
IT WAS AN 8-INCH TRIPLE TOUR RECEIPT CONFIGURATION, THESE GUNS WERE 250 TONS EACH.
SO, AS PAUL MENTIONED WHEN THEE SHIP CAPSIZES IT TURNS UPSIDE DOWN AND BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY HELD IN BY GRAVITY THESE GUNS TYPICALLY FALL OUT.CA NOW WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED SHEER THAT GUN NUMBER ONE AND GUNN NUMBER TWO HAVE FALLEN OUT BUT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON GUNN NUMBER THREE IS STILL IN PLACE.L WE'RE NOT SURE WHY.
>> LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THOSE GUNS.T THESE GUNS AS WE MENTIONED ARE 250 TONS, THE BARREL LENGTH IS 36 FEET.E IT SHOOTS A SHELL 350 POUNDS, PROBABLY RIGHT AROUND 18 NAUTICAL MILES.
>> OKAY.
>> LET'S JUST MOVE OUT A LITTLET BIT IF YOU CAN, SCOTT.
>> DON'T FORGET, THOSE ARE ABOUT 20 FEET ACROSS.
>> GOOD POINT, PAUL.
>> SO RIGHT BEHIND THE BARBET UP AT THE TOP YOU CAN SEE THIS DAMAGE HERE THIS IS PROBABLY A RESULT OF TORPEDO THAT HIT ABOUT ABOUT, LET'S CALL IT 4E 40 FEET BELOW HERE THAT EXPLOSIVE FORCEX CAME UP THROUGH THE SHIP AND PEELED THIS PLATING BACK.
RIGHT UNDER THIS AREA YOU CANR SEE AN OPEN DOOR.
THAT DOOR WOULD HAVE BEEN LEADING INTO A PASSAGEWAY THAT WENT TO CAPTAIN McVAY'S CABIN.
THAT IS THE CABIN AREA RIGHT IN HERE.
>> WE MOVE DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT YOU CAN START TO SEE COMING TOWN VIEW ARE THE PORT HOLES.
AND THIS LINE OF PORT HOLES WOULD HAVE BEEN TO THE WARD ROOM OR OFFICERS' MESS, THERE WERE SIX TORPEDOES FIRED BY THE JAPANESE SUBMARINE.
AND TWO OF THEM FOUND THEIR MARK.
THE FIRST ONE HIT IN THE BOW AREA ANDTH THAT CAUSED 'DA ARE -- THE BOW TO STRAIGHT FROM THE T SHIP.
THE SECOND ONE HIT DIRECTLY BELOW HERE AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'VE COME DOWN ABOUT -- JUST- COMING INTO VIEW IS THE TORPEDO DAMAGE.
WE'RE DOWN ABOUTDO 25 FEET FROM THE DECK OF THE SHIP.
SO, REMEMBER, 20 FEET IS BURIED INTO THE MUD, WHAT WE'RE SEEINGRE HERE IS A FRACTION OF THIS DAMAGE.
IN THIS AREA WOULD HAVE BEEN CREW AREA AND CREW BERTHING, B THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF MEN THAT WERE INSTANTLY KILLED AS THIS OCCURRED.
SO THESE WERE A TYPE 5 TORPEDO, MOD 2 WHICH WOULD PACK 1200 WARHEAD, TRAVELED AT 48 KNOTS, ABOUT 6-7 KILOMETER RANGE ON THEM.
>> START TO MOVE UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
THE CONDITION OF THE SHIP RIGHT T NOW, TOO.
>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
I MEAN, FOR HER 72 YEARS BEING DOWN AT THIS DEPTH THE HULL, THE STRUCTURE IS UNIQUELY INTACT AND WELL PRESERVED.
AND WHY DO WE THINK THAT IS, PAUL?
>> JUST AN ENVIRONMENT, VERY LITTLE OXYGEN, VERY COLD.
JUST ABOVE FREEZING.
>> YEAH.
THIS IS 18,000 FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL.
APPRECIATE SUFFER DOWN HERE ARE 8-,000 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH IT'S AN IMMENSE PRESSURE.
AGAIN, NOW WE ARE BACK UP TO WHERE THE CAPTAIN McVAY'S CAPTAIN WAS, RIGHT ABOVE THATH DOOR YOU WILL SEE THERE ARERE THESE BASKETS, THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE FLOATER NETS,ET THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN LYING IN L THESE BASKETS.
AS THE SHIP SINKS, THESE COME OUT.
THE NETS SAVE MANY LIVES ON THIS SHIP OR DURING THIS ACCIDENT.
FOR NOW LET'S GO BACK TO THE STUDIO.
>> ROB, BALL, SCOTT, THANK YOU SOTH MUCH FOR THAT GLIMPSE.
G MORE TO COME.
WHILE YOU NAVIGATE THE HANGAR, LET'S SPEND A FEW MINUTES HEARING THE DRAMATIC STORY OF THE "U.S.S.
INDIANAPOLIS".
>> THE STORY OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS" IS FILLED WITH COURAGE AND CONTROVERSIAL.
FAME AND MISFORTUNE.
COMMISSIONED BY THE NAVY IN 1932, THIS HEAVY CRUISER WAS THE SHIP OF STATE FOR PRESIDENTE ROOSEVELT.
A FLAGSHIP FOR ADMIRALS, A FLOATING COMMAND CENTER AND A KEY PLAYER IN SOME OF THE EPIC BATTLES OF WORLD WAR II.
IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA AMONG THEM.
>> SHOT DOWN NUMEROUS PLANES,PL IT'S A VERY STORIED HISTORY THATHA IS UNFORTUNATELY OVER SHADOWED BY THE WORST 12 MINUTES OF HER 12-PLUS YEAR SERVICE.
>> THAT'S HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR TWO JAPANESE TORPEDOES TO SENDDO HER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA.
BUT THE 4.5 DAYS THAT FOLLOWED ARE WHAT REALLY CHANGED THEE STORY FOREVER.
ABOUT 800 MEN BOBBING IN THE OPEN OCEAN ALIVE, AFRAID ANDAI FORGOTTEN STILL UNDER ATTACK BUT FROM A DIFFERENT ENEMY.
NATURE ITSELF.
>> THE STORY OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS" IS AT STORY OF A CRISIS, WHO AM I GOING TO BE,I WHAT AM I GOING TO DO TO STAY ALIVE.
>> HE IS ONE OF THE 317 MEN WHO ENDURED FOUR DAYS AND FIVE NIGHTS OF AGONY AND TERROR AND YET SOMEHOW SURVIVED.
>> HOW I GOT THROUGH THIS, I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST DAMN LUCKY THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.E >> NOW 90, HE IS AMONG 19 "INDIANAPOLIS" SURVIVORS STILL WITH US.ND >> THROUGH THE YEARS ROT OF PEOPLE ASK ME, HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, I SAID, DAMN FEW DAYS THAT I DON'T THINK OF SOME PART IN THE WATER, BEING RESCUED OR SOME PART OF THETH STORY.
>> NEWLY ASSIGNED TO THE SHIP HE WAS 18-YEAR-OLD SEAMAN SECOND CLASSA GUNNER.
JULY 16, 1945, THEY LEFT SAN FRANCISCO STEAMING FULL SPEED AHEAD INTO THE PACIFIC.
>> GOT UP TO 28-30 KNOTS THAT'S T WHERE WE KEPT IT.
ALL THE OLD-TIMERS, WHAT IN HELL IS OUR HURRY?
THERE FOR NINE DAYS.
EVERYBODY WAS BOGGLED WHAT WASAT OUR HURRY TO GET OVER THERE.
OF COURSE LATER ON WE FOUND OUT WHY.
>> JUST HOURS BEFORE THEY LEFT MANHATTAN PROJECT SCIENTISTS TESTED THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB INBO THE NEW MEXICO DESERT.E THE "INDIANAPOLIS" WAS DESTINEDS FOR TINNIAN ISLAND CARRYINGC COMPONENTS OF LITTLE BOY, THE ATOMIC BOMB THAT WOULD DEVASTATE HIROSHIMA.
>> THEY SET A SPEED RECORD TO THE COMPONENTS, WHICH STILL STANDS TODAY.
AND THEY DROP IT OFF AND REST IS SUPPOSED TO BE EASY SAILING.
>> AFTER A STOP IN GUAM, THEY WERE ORDERED TO GO TO THE PHILIPPINES FOR GUNNERY TRAINING IN ADVANCE OF THE PLANNED INVASION OF THE JAPANESE MAINLAND, JUST PAST MIDNIGHT ON JULY 30th, 1945, TWO JAPANESE TORPEDOS HIT THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT BELOW, NICK HAD BEEN ASLEEP ON DECK.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WENT TWOO FEET, I DON'T KNOW IF I WENT 20 FEET.
>> Reporter: THERE WERE 1196 MEN ON BOARD.
ABOUT 300 WENT DOWN WITH THE SHIP, ABOUT 880 WERE IN THE WATER IN LIFE JACKETS, RAFTS AND FLOATING NETS.
THE SHIP'S RADIO OPERATORS WERE CERTAIN THEY TRANSMITTED A DISTRESS SIGNAL, BUT IF IT WAS I HEARD IT WAS DISMISSED.
AND IN THE PORT WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE ARRIVED THERE WAS CONFUSION ABOUT AN ORDER NOT TOO REPORT THE ARRIVAL OF WARSHIPS.
>> THIS YOUNG OFFICER INTERPRETS THAT TO MEAN WHEN HE SEES THE "INDIANAPOLIS" NOT IN THE BERTH ON THEH ARRIVAL DATE, THEREFORE, THE NON-ARRIVAL SHALL ALSO GO UNREPORTED.
>> Reporter: THEY WERE 600 MILES M AWAY IN THE WATER FIGHTING FORF THEIR LIVES.
>> BE EASIER TO DIE OUT THERE TO STRAY TO STAY ALIVE.
HAD TO WORK AT IT.
>> Reporter: SHE SUFFER FRED S HYPOTHERMIA AS WELL AS DEHYDRATION.
MANY COMMITTED SUICIDE.
>> YOU TAKE OFF YOUR LIFE JACKET AND THINK THAT'S IT, CLEARLY WITHIN TWO HOURS.
>> Reporter: IT WASN'T LONGS BEFORE THEY WERE STALKED BY SHARKS.
>> TWICE, THE NOSE OF THE SHARK POKING ME IN MY LIFE JACKET.
I SAW THAT SHARK'S EYEBALLS AND MY EYEBALLS ABOUT THIS FAR APART.
DID THAT TWICE.FA BUT TWICE THAT HAPPENED.
WHY THAT SHARK DIDN'T TAKE MET I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR 72 YEARS.
>> Reporter: OTHERS WERE TAKENep BY SHARKS.
THEN THREE AND A HALF DAYS LATER ON THURSDAY A STROKE OF IMPROBABLE LUCK.
A SUBMARINE HUNTING AIRCRAFTTI JUST HAPPENED TO FLY OVER THE OIL SLICK.
THE RESCUE EFFORT WAS NOW ON.
4.A DAYS AFTER THE "INDIANAPOLIS" SUNK, 317 MEN MADE IT OUT OF THE WATER ALIVE.
>> EVERY TIME I WAS READY TO GIVE UP THERE WAS MY DAD'S WORDS, I GOT HOME I TOLD HIM SO.
HE BROUGHT ME HOME.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE EVERY TIME I WAS READY TO GET UP I FEEL A GRIP IN MY HAND, SEE DAD'S FACE.
IT'S TRUE.
>> O'BRIEN: WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE SURVIVOR DICK THELEN HERE WITH US TONIGHT LIVE, WATCHING THESE IMAGES ALONG WITH YOU.UR YOU'LL HEAR HIS REACTION TO WHAT HE SEES A LITTLE LATER IN OUR PROGRAM.
FOR NOW LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHILIPPINE SEA AND THE "PETREL".FO SO, WE'VE SHOWN YOU THE BOW.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS AREA HERE, THE BARBET THE CAPTAIN'S CABIN.
THE TORPEDO STRIKE HIT HERE AND HERE.T NOW WE'RE MOVING AFT ON THE SHIP.
NEXT, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE AIRPLANE HANGER DECK.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE FEED.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN FRONTIN OF YOU ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN IS THE REST -- THE CRANE.R THERE WAS A CRANE ON BOARD.O MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THATE THERE WAS AIRPLANES ON BOARD "INDIANAPOLIS.
"S SO, THE CRANE WAS USED TO HANDLEN THE AIRPLANE IN AND OUT OF THEIN WATER AND WHEN THEY WEREN'T USING IT WOULD LAND IT ON THISH REST AND LOCK IT DOWN.
>> COMING IN TO VIEW IS GOING TO BE THE STARBOARD AIRPLANE HANGAR.
NOW, "INDIANAPOLIS" HAD TWOTW HANGERS ON BOARD ONE ON THE PORT SIDE, ONE ON THE STARBOARD SIDE THAT WE'RE SEEING.E NOW, DURING ITS TOP SECRET MISSION TO DELIVER THE BOMB, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED IN ONE OF THESE PARTICULAR HANGARS HERE.
PRIMARILY THESE WERE USED FOR THE AIRCRAFT, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN WHERE THEY FOLDED UP THE WINGS AND STOWED THE AIRCRAFT INSIDE THESE HANGARS.
>> WE CAN COME IN THERE A LITTLE BIT.
BETTER SHOT.
>> THE AIRPLANES THAT WERETH CARRIED ON BOARD WERE AN SC-1 SEAHAWK FLOAT PLANEA DROUGHT PLANE BY DESIGN THEY WERE ABLE TO CARRY A BOMB UNDER EACH WING.
W AS WE UNDERSTAND IT THERE ARE NO SURVIVING EXAMPLES OF THISTH PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT ANY MORE.
LET'S BRING UP THE IMAGE OF THE THE -- THIS IS MOOTER OF A WING THAT WE HAVE FOUND.
THESE AIRCRAFT.
>> THE WIDEST PART OF THESEE SHIP.
>> Reporter: 20 METERS WIDE OR 60 FEET ISN'T IT?
F >> YEAH.
FOR NOW LET'S GO BACK TO THEA STUDIO.
>> O'Brien: A LITTLE BIT IDEA OF WHAT WHERE WE WERE NOW UNDER THE SEA.
THE HANGAR AREA ON THE "INDIANAPOLIS," POINT THAT OUT.
>> RIGHT IN HERE, MILES.
OUR VIEW MOVING JUST ALONG LIKENG THIS.
>> YOU'LL NOTE THAT THE AIRCRAFT OF COURSE HAD THEIR WINGS TUCKEDU IN THERE AS I UNDERSTAND IT TWO PLANES COULD FIT IN EACH HANGAR, ONE IN EACH SIDE.
HOW WAS IT CONFIGURED WHEN IT WENT DOWN, NOT QUITE LIKE THIS, RIGHT?
THE OTHER ONE IN THE STARBOARD HANGAR.
PORT WAS RESERVED FOR ATOMIC BOMB MILES ONE OF THE CATAPULTS HAD BEEN REMOVED.
>>HA YEAH, THE STARBOARD CATAPULT HAD BEEN REMOVED TO SAY, WAIT, BECAUSE THEY ADDED BUNCH OF NEW RADARS IN THAT FINAL REFIT.
>> O'Brien: TAKE A LOOK AT A ANOTHER DEBRIS FIELD WHERE SOME OF THE WRECKAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT ARE.
>> THAT LOOKS LIKE A TAIL SECTION, REMARKABLE OF ONE OF THESE SKYHAWK AIRPLANES.
PART OF THE FUSELAGE IT LOOKS LIKELA THESE ARE INCREDIBLE IMAGES IMAGES.
>> O'Brien: THIS IS 134 DISTANCE O AWAY FROM THE MAIN BODY OF THE SHIP.
SOME SORT OF PLACARDS WHICH YOU MIGHT FIND IN AN INSTRUMENT FLANNEL FOR AN AIRCRAFT, OF O COURSE, ANY AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE W A FIRST AID KIT, OF COURSE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
O'Brien: THEN THIS.
POINT ON THE MODEL WHAT THAT IS?
>> THAT'S THE CRANE THAT WAS USED RIGHT HERE TO LIFT THE AIRPLANES BACK ABOARD.S THEY WOULD LAND IN THE WATERE THEN CRANE WOULD LIFT THEM BACK ABOARD.
>> O'Brien: LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT THERE WERE AIRCRAFTS ON THIS TYPE OF SHIP.
PROBABLY THINK OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
IN THIS CASE, WHAT WERE THE CARETH CRAFT USED FOR?
>> BACK IN THE DAYS BEFORE RADAR WHEN THE SHIP WAS FIRST BUILT, AIRPLANES WERE USED THE WAY RADAR MIGHT BE USED TODAY.
TO SEE OVER THE HORIZON, USED FOR RECONSONS AND TARGETING THEY WERE EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY A RADARS BUT BATTLESHIP WOULD CARRY UP TO SIX OF THESE SMALL AIRPLANES, CREWS UP TO FOUR.
>> O'Brien: THIS SHIP IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED.TA RADAR HERE WHICH OBVIOUSLY WASN'T THERE IN 193.
AND THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT DEPICTED HERE ACTUALLY A PREVIOUS GENERATION OF AIRCRAFT, CONSTANTLY UPDATING.
>> THEY WERE.
THE FINAL REFIT BEFORE THEY GOT UNDERWAY TO DELIVER THE ATOMIC BOMB HAD MAJOR HOTFICATIONS.
>> O'Brien: NAVAL AVIATION HAS PROGRESSED FROM THE SEAHAWKM FLOAT PLANE TO THE F- 2/3rds 35.
UNDERSEA SEARCHING HAS SEE INVOLVED TO SOPHISTICATED UNDERIS WATER DRONES.
IT'S NOT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
THE "INDIANAPOLIS" WAS PLYING SOME OF THE DEEPERS WATERS ON THE PLANET.
>> TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING IN THERE IS INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE.
>> O'Brien: THEY NEW THE SHIPen WAS SIGNIFICANT SANG BEFORE A FEW HOURS BEFORE SHE WAS SIT AND ATTEMPT TO FOOL JAPANESE SUN MARINES.
>> IT IS UNFORTUNATE FACT WE W HAVE KNOW WAY TO PROVE WHAT PATTERN THEY WERE USING BECAUSE NAVIGATOR DID NOT SURVIVE, ALL THE PAPERS WENT DOWN WITH THE SHIP.
THEY JUSTE DON'T MENTION THAT IN THE TESTIMONY.
>> O'Brien: OTHERS HAVE TRIEDR AND FAILED TO FIND THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
BUT THIS TIME A COMBINATION OF BETTER TECHNOLOGY AND SOME CLEVER SLEUTHING MADE THE DIFFERENCE.
>> NEW MEXICO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THIS ROUTE.FF >> SPENT A LOT OF TIME POURING THROUGH ORIGINAL DOCUMENTSUG CAREFULLY ANALYZING THE APPROVED ROUTING OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS" RATHER THAN RELYING ON THE CAPTAIN'S RECOLLECTION.C THEY DECIDED TO RENAVIGATE THE SHIP'S ORIGINAL ROUTE.U DISCOUNTING PREVIOUS THEORIES HOW FAR THE SURVIVORS MIGHT HAVE M DRIFTED.
THEN CAME NEW CLUE THAT GAVEA THEM CONFIDENCE THEY WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
THE CREW OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS" HAD SEEN ANOTHER U.S. NAVY VESSEL.
A TANK LANDING SHIP OR LST ABOUT 11 HOURS BEFORE THEY WERE TORPEDOED.
>> LOOK AT THE LOGBOOK TRY TO CALCULATE WHERE THEWH "INDIANAPOLIS" WAS AT THAT SNAPSHOT IN TIME.
THEREFORE, WHERE WHEN IT WASN SUNK.
>> ALL OF THIS NEW DATA LED THEM TO SEARCH MUCH FARTHER WEST THAN T OTHER EXPEDITIONS.
THEY WERE FINALLY IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND AT THE RIGHT TIME.
THEY DEPLOYED A STATE-OF-THE-ART AUV, OR AUTONOMOUS UNDER WATERT VEHICLE, UNTETHERED SUBSURFACE DRONE.
>> WE DID 18 SEARCH GRIDS, EACH ONE 120 SQUARE KILOMETERS.
AND THAT TOOK US OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF MONTHS IT WAS ABOUT 26 DAYS OF SEARCHINGE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> AUVs CAN WORK SEVERAL HOURS UNPHYSICAL THEY START TO BECOME DELETED.
IT'S POSSIBLE NOW TO FIND THINGS THAT THERE WOULD BE FOUND NEVER.
>> THE AUV IS HOME ABOARD RESEARCH VESSEL PETREL, ORIGINALLY BUILT TO SERVICE OIL RIGS SHE IS EXTREMELY STABLE ABLE TO HOLD HER POSITION ON THE SEA SURFACE WITHIN THREE FEET.
MICROSOFT COFOUNDER PAUL ALLEN PURCHASED THE VESSEL IN 2016.
AND HAD IT MODIFIED TO SEARCH FOR SHIP WRECKW IS EQUIPMENTU THAT CAN OPERATE DOWN TO 6,000 METERS OR ABOUT 20,000 FEET.
>> THE AUV WOULD BE WITHIN TEN KILOMETERS.
>> ONCE THE AUV PAINTS ANA INTERESTING SONAR IMAGE THE "PETREL" CREW DEPLOYS AN ROV BUTO IS TETHERED TO THE SHIP.
>> THIS IS VERY, VERY DEEP.
THERE ARE VERY FEW ASSETS THAT ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE.
WE DO IT ROUTINELY.
THIS IS NOT A ONCE IN A PROJECTR THING WE'RE DOING THIS DAILY.
>> THERE IT IS.
THAT'S IT.
WE'VE GOT IT.
>> THE INDY.
ASIDE FROM THE "INDIANAPOLIS," THEY HAVE FOUND OTHER SHIPWRECKS, INCLUDING ITALIANA WARSHIP SUNK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN IN 1940.
>> WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THESE EXPLORATIONS TO TRY TO FIND SUNKEN SHIPS.
WE TRY TO DO THESE BOTH AS REALLY EXCITING EXAMPLES OF UNDER WATER ARCHAEOLOGY AND TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE MEN THAT WENT DOWN IN THESE SHIPS.
>> YOU HAVE PILOTING THESE VEHICLES AND DIVING ON SHIPWRECKS WHERE THERE IS CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF LIFE.
EVE VESSEL OF THE SEAOF IS AUTO FEBRUARYTIVELY A GRAVEYARD AT THAT POINT.
SO YOU MUST TREAT THEM WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT.
>> O'Brien: THE CREW OF THE "PETREL," "VULCAN," U.S. NAVY ALL AGREE ON THIS.
THIS IS A SACRED PLACE.
PLACE ON THE PLANET AND SHOULD NEVER BE DISTURBED AS IT IS AN UNDERWATER MEMORIAL.
LET'S RETURN NOW TO THE SITE OF THIS HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT FIND.D BE >> WE'RE BACK LIVE OVER THE USS "INDIANAPOLIS," 18,000 FEET, WE'RE ON THE STARBOARD SIDE HEREE THIS IS A 40 MILLIMETER ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN IN QUAD ARRANGEMENT WHICH WAS SPECIFIC TO THEP U.S. NAVY AND THE COAST GUARD.
WHAT ELSE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS GUN, PAUL?
>> SIMPLY PUT IT WAS ALWAYS REFERRED TO AS THE BOFERD.
>> YOU CAN SEE HERE, WHICH IS PROTECTION FOR THE CREW.
40 MILLIMETER BY 311 MIL MEETER CHER IS A FOOT LONG SHELL.E FIRED AT RATE OF 120 PER MINUTE, 3500 FOR THE WHOLE GUN.U A CREW OF 11 PEOPLE AND -- EIGHT OF THOSE PEOPLE THEIR JOB TO FEED IT WITH THE AMMUNITION.
IT COULD BE FIRED REMOTELY ORY AIMED REMOTELY OR IF THERE WAS DAMAGE.
IT COULD BE LOCAL CONTROL BY GUN CAPTAIN.
>> LOOKS LIKE WE CAN SEE THE SHELLS THAT ARE STILL LOCKED AND LLOYDED IN THIS GUN.
>>D YES, WE CAN.
>> PULL BACK.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE INSIDE YOUS CAN SEE BRACKETS THEY USED TO KEEP EXTRA AMMUNITION THERE.
>> I REMEMBER SEEING THE PICTURES THAT THIS GUN WOULD BEOU THIS WHOLE AREA WOULD BE FULL OFFU SHELLS.
>> SCOTT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FIVE-INCH GUN.
>> WE'RE MOVING AFT, WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO REALIZE ABOUT THE USS "INDIANAPOLIS" AND SHIPS S LIKE HER THEY WERE PLATFORMS FORR THE GUNS.
EVERYTHING THERE ON THAT SHIP, ALL OF ITS RESOURCES, ALL OF ITS MEN WERE THERE TO HOST THESE GUNS.
SHE HAD THREE 8-INCH TRIPLE GUNS, SHE HAD EIGHT 5-INCH GUNS SHOULD HAD TWO DOZEN 40-MILLIMETER GUNS AND 16 20-MILLIMETER ANTI-AIRCRAFT0- GUNS.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SHIP A WAS FOR THE GUNS.
NOW THIS GUN HAS A VERY PERSONAL STORY, DOESN'T IT, PAUL?
>> I LIVE IN CHATTANOOGA, C TENNESSEE.ES WHILE I WAS OUT HERE I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A SURVIVOR INVI CHATTANOOGA, HIS NAME IS LEWIS KYLE IRWIN.KY BEFORE WE LEFT I SPOKE WITH HIM ON THE PHONE AND HE WAS ONE OF THE 5-INCH GUN CREW.
HE WAS WHAT THEY CALLED THE GUNNER MAN, SHELL WOULD BE PUT IN HE'D CLOSE THE BREACH THE GUN WAS READYTH FOR FIRING.
HE ALSO TOLD ME WHERE -- HE WAS ONW DECK, IT WAS SO HOT HE WAS SLEEPING IN AN HAMMOCK ON THE PORT SIDE.
>> HOW BIG OF A SHELL DID THISS FIRE?
>> THIS FIRED A 50-POUND SHELL ABOUT SEVEN MILES.
IT IS A SECONDARY BATTERY ALSO FOR ANTI-AIRCRAFT.
>> SO HE WAS ON BOARD FOR TWO YEARS AND -- FOR EIGHT OF THEIG TEN BATTLE, IS THAT THE "INDIANAPOLIS" EARNED.
>> WOW.
OKAY.
>> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.
LET'S PULL AROUND THERE, SCOTT,O GET A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SHOT OF IT.
>> THIS WAS HIS GUN.
IT WASN'T JUST ANY GUN.
>> THIS WAS HIS GUN, HE WAS THE GUN CREW ON THE NO.
8 GUN THIS IS THE FOURTH 5-INCH GUN ON THE STARBOARD SIDE.
>> UNBELIEVABLE THE CONDITION THESE -- THEY'RE STILL IN.E >> GO BY THE BOW YOU CAN STILL SEE THE RIFLING.
>> PULL UP THERE JUST A LITTLE BIT, SCOTT.
>> ZOOM IN.
JUST A LITTLE BIT.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
IMPRESSIVE.PR LET'S GO BACK TO THE STUDIO.
>> O'Brien: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ROB AND PAUL.
WE KNOW MR. IRWIN IS WATCHING TONIGHT.
A LITTLE SHOUT OUT TO HIM AND ALL HIS -- WE APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE, OF COURSE.
THE WRECKAGE OF THEKA "INDIANAPOLIS" IS SPREAD OUT TOO FAR IN THE OCEAN FLOOR FOR US TO TRAVEL THERE LIVE IN THETR CONFINES OF AN HOUR.
WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED IMAGES FROM OTHER DEBRIS FIELD.
BASICALLY YOU'VE GOT THE BOW OFE THE VESSEL.
WE'VE BEEN SPENDING LOT OF TIME LIVE IN THE MAIN SECTION.
WE SHOWED YOU SOME OF THE AVIATION RECORDS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE BRIDGE AREA.
LOOK AT THE BELL OF THE SHIP.
ON ITS SIDE THERE HIGHLIGHTED.
CAPTAIN TOTI, EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE FOR LAND LOVERS OFV WHAT THE BELL IS ALL ABOUT ON THE SHIP.
>> MANY WAYS THE BELL IS THE SYMBOL OF THE SHIP.
IT'S RUNG ON EVERY SIGNIFICANT OCCASION OF THE SHIP'S LIFE,LI EVEN THINGS AS MUNDANE ASS CAPTAIN COMING ABOARD IN THE A MORNING.
>> O'Brien: WHAT DO THEY SAY?
>> IN THIS CASE'B THEY WOULD SAY "OOMS ARRIVING, THEY MAKE THAT ANNOUNCE."
>> YOU ARE THE SHIP WHEN YOU'RE THE CAPTAIN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
O'Brien: I'M SURE LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS IS APPROPRIATE AS WE LOOK AT THE L BELL ONE OF THOSE ITEMS IT APPROPRIATE TO TAKE ANYTHING FROM THIS WRECK?
>> IT'S NOT.
TURNS OUT WE HAVE A BUILDER'S BELL FROM THE SHIP.
SO THERE WOULD BE NO REASON TO DISTURB THIS WRECK AND IT A SHOULDN'T BE DONE.
>> ANOTHER THING THAT'S VERY INTERESTING IN THE BRIDGE SECTION IS, THE VICTORY TALLY.
T EVERY TIME THEY WERE IN BATTLE, SUNK A SHIP OR DOWNED A PLANE, IT WAS A REMEMBRANCE OF THAT OR BRAGGING RIGHTS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
>> EVERY TIME THEY SUNK A SHIP WOULD YOU PUT A JAPANESE FLAG ONG THE VICTORY TOWER.
>> O'Brien: A LOT OF SHIPS.
>> THEY PUT THE AIRPLANE SYMBOL FOR SHOOT DOWN AIRPLANES AS WELL.
WE FOUND SOME PERSONAL EFFECTS, SHOES AND WHAT NOT WE'RE GO NOT GOING TO SHARE THAT, WE DON'T FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE GIVEN THEOP NATURE OF THIS, IT IS A GRAVE G AFTER ALL.TE BUT LOOK AT THIS BOWL.
IT'S SO -- IT'S INTERESTING.
>>' HUMANIZES THE SHIP.
THE WRECKAGE.
I COULD SEE WALKING DOWN THE PASSAGEWAYS OF THE SHIP SEEING THESE PERSONAL THINGS,P A TOOLBOX, A WASH BAY IS IN, IT REALLY DOES BRING YOU IN TO THE HUMANITY OF THIS CATASTROPHE.
>> O'Brien: ANOTHER POINT TO POINT OUT HERE IS THAT ROV HAS NOT GONE INSIDE THE SHIP.
THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SANCTITY TO THIS PLACE, RIGHT?CE >> IT IS HALLOWED GROUND.
IT'S BEING TREATED AS SUCH WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL TIME.
>> O'Brien: IT IS SOMETHING THATHI WE'RE NOT TELLING EXACTLY WHERELY IT IS, IS IT REALISTIC TO THINK THAT SOMEBODY WOULD GO AND DISTURB THIS?
>> NOT AT THIS DEPTH.
18,000 FEET, COST A LOT OF MONEY AND LOT OF TECHNOLOGY TO GET AT THIS WRECK.
IT'S PRETTY SAFE.
>> O'Brien: REALLY IS A SUNKEN MEMORIAL IN VERY REMOTE LOCATION YET IT IS, I SUPPOSE, GRATIFYING FOR FAMILIES TO SEE IT.
>> THE SURVIVORS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO ARE ALL VERY HAPPYRY THAT THE WRECK HAS BEEN FOUND.FO VERY GRATIFIED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AFTER 72 YEARS.
>> O'Brien: WE'LL GET BACK TOT YOU.
THE REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE HASED BEEN MAKING IT'S WAY LIVE ALONG THE LARGEST INTACT PORTION OF THE WRECK.
ROB KRAFT AND PAUL MAYER OUR GUIDES.
>> 18,000 FEET BELOW US THE USS "INDIANAPOLIS" LIVE.
WE'VE JUST LEFT THIS FIVE-INCH GUN HERE, MR. IRWIN'S GOWN NOW WE'RE HAVING AFT WE'RE BACK HERE ON THE NUMBER THREE 8-INCH GUN.8- THAT IS A MYSTERY.
WHY IS THIS GUN STILL IN PLACEL WHERE THE OTHER TWO FELL OUT?
ALSO "INDIANAPOLIS" IS BURIED NEARLY RIGHT UP TO HERE, UP TO T HER WATER LINE.
LET'S GO BACK LIVE.
>> O'Brien: OKAY, WHAT YOU'RE: SEEING HERE IS THE NUMBER THREE GUN ON THE STERN.
250 TONS, SHE'S STILL IN PLACE.
ALL AROUND HER YOU CAN SEE THEEE DECK IS BUCKLING AND COLLAPSED.
THE BARRELS ARE STARTING TO COME INTO PLACE THERE'S A 36-FEET LONG.
THE HATCH THAT YOU SEE WERE MEN WOULD ENTER AND EXIT THIS TURRET IS FOUR-FEET TALL.
THERE'S SOME WHITE MATERIAL INSIDE THIS AREA AND STARTING TO S FALL OUT.
AND FOR THE LONGEST TIME WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS WAS.
BUT JUST LAST NIGHT WE GOT SOME INFORMATION ON THIS.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS, PAUL?
>> WHAT IT'S CALLED AN ILLUSIVEE RUSTICAL, NORMALLY WE QUITE AFTERNOON SEE AN ORANGE RUST-COLORED ONES.
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE W SEEN THIS, APPARENTLY HAVE SEEN COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES, ONE BEING THE BISMARK, ANOTHER SHIP IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
>> THIS IS A BACTERIA, RIGHT?
IT IS A LIVING BACTERIA THAT'S CAUTIONING THAT JUST LIKE A RUSTICAL THIS FEEDS ON ALUMINUM.
IT THRIVES IN THAT COLDL ENVIRONMENT.
>> COLD, OXYGEN-FREE ENVIRONMENT.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW UNDERNEATH THE BARREL IS THE COLLAPSED DECK AND STERN OF "INDIANAPOLIS."
NOW WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN SHE IMPACTED THE BOTTOM SHE HIT STERN FIRST, WHICH IS PROBABLY RESULT OF ALL THIS WEIGHT STILL IN THIS STERN.
ALL OF THE DAMAGE HERE THAT YOUU CAN SEE IS DUE TO THE IMPACT.P THE CRATER AND NEW MEXICO ISAN SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS IN DIAMETER, IT'S MASSIVE.
COMING INTO VIEW YOU CAN SEE THE 40 MILLIMETER QUAD GUNS THATR WERE ON THE STERN.
DUE TO THE IMPACT OFAC "INDIANAPOLIS" ON THE BOTTOM.
YOU CAN SEE THE MUD LINE DOWN THERE.
COMING UP ON THE VERY STERN INR THE CENTER OF YOUR SCREEN THERE'S AN OBJECT, THESE WERE THE SMOKE GENERATORS, WHICH ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ON EITHER SIDE OF "INDIANAPOLIS," THESE WERE USED AS A DEFENSIVE MEASURE TO CREATE A SMOKE SCREEN.
AGAIN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT S EVERYBODY REALIZES THIS IS A WAR GRAVE.
THIS IS A CONFIDENTIAL LOCATION.
THE SHIP STILL BELONGS TO THE U.S. NAVY.L LET'S GO BACK TO THE STUDIO.
>> O'Brien: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.H PAUL, THANK YOU FOR THAT, RUSTICAL, WHO KNEW?AL LET'S STOP FOR A MOMENT AND REMIND OURSELVES HOW AMAZING IT IS TO BE LIVE FROMAZ THE DEEPEST PARTS OF THE OCEAN, 8,000 MILES AWAY FROM US.
THIS IS PART OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS MADE THIS DISCOVERYAT POSSIBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE FAMILIES OF THOSE LOST ATE SEA HAVE EX REED GRATITUDE THATED THE WRECK HAS BEEN FOUND BUTD ALSO HAS REKINDLED SOME TOUGH MEMORIES FOR SURVIVORS OF THE SINKING.
THE LONG SAD TALE OF THE SINK OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS" MAY FINALLY HAVE A PROPER ENDING.
>> SEE HOW THE DECK HAS COLLAPSED.
>> NOT LONG AFTER THE WRECK WAS FOUND, 18,000 FEET BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA EXPEDITION LEADER SHARED HIS VISUAL QUERY WITH ONE OF THE FEW SURVIVORS STILL WITH US.
>> THIS IS THE FORWARD PART OF THE AREA WHERE I WAS.
FIVE MINUTES BEFORE.
THIS IS WHERE THE MAIN BLAST WAS.
IT'S AFT OF WHERE WE THOUGHT IT WAS.
>> JOHN WAS A YOUNG ENGINEERING OFFICER PROUD TO BE ON THE CREW OF -- >> THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
AND ALL HER GLORY.RY >> THE ANYDY WAS HIS FIRST SHIP AND SEEING HER 72 YEARS AFTER SHE VANISHED INTO THE INKY DARK SEA IN A WORD -- >> FANTASTIC.
I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE A TO SEE IT.
THIS IS AN EYE OPENER THAT'S FORT SURE.
>> IT'S ALSO A REMINDER OF SOME VERY DIFFICULT MEMORIES.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED DIED AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM DIED IN SOMEBODY'S ARMS.
COUPLE IN MINE.
NOT A NICE TIME.
>> O'Brien: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS THE CHAPTER IN THE "INDIANAPOLIS" STORY THAT IS MOST WIDELY KNOWN.
YOU WERE ON THE "INDIANAPOLIS"?
WHAT HAPPENED?
IT WAS MEMORIALIZED BY ACTOR ROBERT SHAW IN THE 1975 MOVIE "JAW."
>> THIS WENT DOWN IN 12 MINUTES.
>> THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER ABOUT THE WHOLE MOVIE WAS THAT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES THEY TALKED ABOUTD THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
>> O'Brien: DAVID THELEN WAS 18 YEARS OLD HIS FATHER DICK HAD NOT YET TOLD HIM HE WAS ONE OF THOSE "INDIANAPOLIS" GUYS.
ALL YOU KNEW WAS YOUR DAD WAS ON A SHIP.
>> I KNEW HE WAS ON A SHIP.
THAT'S IT.
THAT'S WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT MY DAD.. >> O'Brien: BOTH BECAME REGULARS AT THE EYE UNIONS OF THE INDY SURVIVORS.
THEY BANDED TOGETHER FIRST IN 1960, COMPELLED BY THE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT OF THEIR ORDEAL AND OUT OF CONCERN FOR THEIR CAPTAIN, CHARLES McVAY WHO HAD AN UNWELCOME DISTINCTION.
>> THAT IS THE ONLY CAPTAIN TO BE COURT MARTIALED FOR LOSING HIS SHIP AS ACT OF WAR OF ALL THOSE SHIPS LOST DURING THE WAR.
>> McVEA WAS COURT MARTIALED FOR HAZARDING HIS SHIP.
>>DI SUCH A CALAMITY.
"NEWSWEEK" AND NEWSPAPERS OF THE DAY ARE WRITING ABOUT IT AND WONDERING, WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
WHY HAVE SO MANY YOUNG MEN M PERISHED.
THERE IS M THIS PRESSURE TO PLACE BLAME ON McVAY.
>> WHEN THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD ENOUGH, CAPTAIN McVAY WAS SUPPOSED TO NAVIGATE IN A ZIGZAG PATTERN TO THWART ENEMY SUBMARINES.
IT WAS A MOON LIT NIGHT BUT IT I WAS CLOUDY.
BEFORE TURNING IN HE ORDERED HIS H OFFICER OF THE DECK TO NAVIGATE IN A STRAIGHT LINE TO THE PHILIPPINES.
>> THE MOONLIGHT WAS OBVIOUSLY BRACELET ENOUGH THAT HE PROBABLYTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT SANGING BUT THAT WAS THE -- ZIGZAGGING BECAUSE THAT WASN'T.
HE FELT THAT HIS OFFICERS WERE CONFIDENT ENOUGH.EN >> AT HIS COURT MARTIAL FOURU MONTHS LATER THE GOVERNMENT CALLED A CONTROVERSIAL WITNESS, THE COMMANDER.
JAPANESE SUBMARINE THAT FIRED THE TORPEDOES I-58.
HE SAID HE SURFACED JUST AS THERE WAS A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS REVEALING THE MOON LITT SILHOUETTE OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
HE TOLD THE COURT THERE WAS NO AMOUNT OF ZIGZAGGING THAT WOULDOU HAVE SAVED THE SHIP.
McVAY MAY BEEN LOVED BY HIS SURVIVING CREW BUT HE WAS REVEALED BY THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONCE ON THE SYSTEMS.
>> AROUND EACH HOLIDAY HE COULD GET LETTER FROM FAMILIES OF DECEASED SAILORS BLAMING HIM FOR THIS CRISIS.
FOR THIS CALAMITY IN THEIR OWN LIVES.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, IF IT I WASN'T FOR YOU MY HUSBAND OR SONBA WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.
IT GOT TO HIM.
VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW THAT.N >> IT WAS TOUGH.O WE PUT THOSE LETTERS IN HIS SOCK DRAWER.
BOUND UP IN A RUBBERBAND.
FINALLY IN NOVEMBER OF 1968, HE WALKED OUT TO THE FRONT STEPSON WITH HIS DOG WATCHING AND HEH COMMITTED SUICIDE.
WITH A SERVICE REVOLVER.
>> O'Brien: BUT THE "INDIANAPOLIS" SURVIVORSU THEMSELVES IMPROBABLY JOINED BY COMMANDER HASHIMOTO WERE DETERMINED TO CLEAR CAPTAIN McVAY'S NAME.
THEY SPENT YEARS TELLING THEIR STORY TO WHOMEVER WOULD LISTEN, PUSHING, LOBBYING FOR AN ONG RAKES.
-- EXONERATION.
IN 2000 AFTER DECADES OF HARD WORK BY THE SURVIVORS AND THEIR FRIENDS, CONGRESS FINALLY PASSEDLL A RESOLUTION EXONERATING CAPTAIN CHARLES McVAY FOR THE LOSS OF USS "INDIANAPOLIS"."
PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED IT.
>> THESE GUYS WERE FIGHTERS IN THE WATER AND BECAME CRUSADERS LATER IN LIFE.LI BOTH IN THE NAME OF THEIR SHIP, NAME OF THEIR CAPTAIN.
>> THE WRECK OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS">> IS A SUNKEN MONUMENT TO THE CHARACTER AND COURAGE OF THOSE WHO WERE LOST AND THOSE WHO SURVIVED.
>> I THINK THE STORY OF "INDIANAPOLIS" IS STORY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE TRYING TOLI DO THE RIGHT THING AT THE LEAST OPPORTUNE MOMENT.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO FORGET THIS SHIP, THIS CREW AND THE TIMELESS LESSONS THEIR STORY HOLDS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
>> THE COURT MARTIAL, MEN LOST,S THE ORDEAL GUYS WENT THROUGH INCLUDING ME.
I WANT TO KEEP THE STORY ALIVE.
THAT TYPE OF STORY SHOULD BE KEPT ALIVE.
>> O'BRIEN: WE'RE JOINED NOW BY SURVIVOR DICK THELEN, AND DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER SARAHEL VLADIC, WHO HAS INTERVIEWED MORES THAN 70 "INDIANAPOLIS" SURVIVORS OVER THE YEARS.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH WITH US.
DICK, THAT IMAGE OF ONE OF THEE SURVIVORS HOVERED IN FUEL OIL THAT IS AT THE END OF THAT STORY REALLY HITS ME.ME AND I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO IMAGINE BEING IN THE WATER FORIN FOUR AND A HALF DAYS, BUT THEN ON TOP THAT HAVE SOME OF THE OTHEROM THINGS YOU WERE CONFRONTED WITH.
GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.
>> WHEN THE SHIP WAS SUNK, WEE WERE IN 8-10 FOOT SWELLS, IT WAS OF COURSE -- WHERE I WAS AT, IT WAS DIESEL FUEL.FU BUT THE BOUNCING UP AND DOWN IN THE WATER AND THE SWELLS,LL SWALLOW WATER AND DIESEL FUEL WILL UPSET YOUR STOMACH SO I THREW UP PROBABLY HALF OR THREE QUARTERS OF WHAT I HAD IN MY STOMACH SUNDAY NIGHT.
THEN WE WENT FOUR DAYS AND FIVE NIGHTS, WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER.
SAID YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
BUT 317 OF US WE DID.
>> O'Brien: IT'S SO EXTRAORDINARY YOU LOOK BACK ONEX IT I KNOW YOU THINK YOU THOUGHT OF YOUR FATHER AND YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS BEING LUCKY BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TREMENDOUS FOCUS ON SURVIVAL.
>> IT WOULD BE -- TO STAY ALIVE, WE HAD TO WORK AT IT TO STAY ALIVE.
I'VE SEEN MEN TAKE LIFE JACKETS OFF SAY THEY'RE GOING DOWN BELOW DECK TO DRINK WATER.
WE HAD COLD WATER DOWN THERE.
IF THEY DO THAT, TAKE IN A LOT OF SALT WATER, THEIR EYEBALLS POP OUT THEY GO WITHIN TWO HOURS THEY'RE GOING CRAZY.
THEY SWIM AROUND.
I SEEN 'EM.
>> O'Brien: IT'S HARD TO FATHOM.
SARAH, YOU'RE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH REALLY SURVIVORS NOT JUST SURVIVORS, BUT THE DESCENDANTS,UT FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE LOST AT SEA WHAT THAT IS BEEN THE REACTION TO THE DISCOVERY OF THEVE WRECK AMONG THE LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE?GR >> IT'S BEEN REALLY POSITIVE,PO BUT ALSO BEEN VERY SOMBER IN THE FINDING OF THIS.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT 8 MEN DIDN'T COME HOME FROM THE SINKING OF THE "INDIANAPOLIS."
AND THAT IS THOUSANDS OF FAMILYAN MEMBERS WHO LOST A FATHERA SON, AN UNCLE, A BROTHER.
AND SEEING THIS FOOTAGE FOR THEM AND THE WRECKAGE IS REALLY BRINGING ALL THAT FEELINGS ANDAN THOSE EMOTIONS AND MEMORIES BACK.
WHILE IT'S POSITIVE IT'S STILL'S VERY HARD FOR SOME TO SEE.
>> O'Brien: WATCHING THAT STORY AS WE DID JUST NOW TALKING ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE CAPTAINCO AS IF THE TWO GROUPS WERE IN DIVIDED CAMPS THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER IN RECENT YEARS?
>> THEY HAVE.
I THINK THAT WHEN THE STORY WAS W BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THEE COUNTRY IF NOT THE WORLD, THEY SAW MORE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENINGS BEHIND THE SCENES THEY REALIZE THAT THE CAPTAIN WASN'T TRULY TO BLAME.
THEY ALL LOST SOMETHING GREAT TOGETHER.
>> O'Brien: DICK, WHAT HAS BEEN BEEN B LIKE TO SEE THESE IMAGES OVER PAST FEW WEEKS AS THEY HAVE COME OUT?
>> IT BRING GOS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.
I HAD FEW TEARS.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, IT'S A TOMBSTONE MORE OR LESS FOR ROUGHLY 3-400 MEN.
300 WERE PICKED UP ROUGHLY.
600 OF US DIED IN THE WATER.
BUT PROBABLY -- NO, SO, BUT TO ME IT'S KIND OF OPPOSING STORY.
HARD FOR ME TO EXPLAIN THIS.
>> O'Brien: I UNDERSTAND.
IT'S HARD TO COME UP WITH WORDS.
SARAH, WHY DON'T YOU TRY TO COME UP WITH WORD FOR THE LESSON OFOF THE "INDIANAPOLIS" FOR ALL OFIA US?
>> SOMETHING THAT ALLLI OF THE SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES HAVERV TAUGHT ME IS THAT YOU NEVER GIVE UP.V AND, DICK SAID THAT TO ME, SUCH A GREAT MESSAGE APPLIES TO THE FINDING THIS SO MANY HAVE COMEO BEFORE TRIED TO FIND THE "INDIANAPOLIS" AND NOW "VULCAN" " AND "PETREL" HAVE DONE THAT IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.
>> O'Brien: GO AHEAD.
>> I GO AROUND TUCK TO LOT OF SCHOOL KIDS, MY FAVORITE STORY IS NEVER GIVE UP.
I TELL THE KID, EVERYBODY HAVE TROUBLE WITH MATH CLASS, DRIVING, FATHER, MOTHER, GIRLFRIEND, DON'T GIVE UP.
I'VE HAD LOT OF THINGS KNOCKEDK DOWN IN MY LIFE.
I ALWAYS COME BACK.
WITH MY FAMILY AND IT'S PART OF LIFE.
>> O'Brien: YOU ARE THE DULY APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE OF NEARLY 1200 PEOPLE.
19 STILL WITH US THE REST HAVE GONE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE WATCHINGPL TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PROGRAM AND FROM THIS EXPERIENCE ANDPE THIS STORY?
>> IT'S SO GOOD TO HEAR THEAR STORY.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER HERE.
AND MY GOSH, OKAY, I TALKED TO CAPTAIN DOUGHERTY, I'VE KNOWNV HIM QUITE A FEW YEARS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
UNBELIEVABLE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I MEAN, TO KEEP THE STORY ALIVE.. >> O'Brien: WE'VE GOT TO LEAVE IT AT THAT, PARTICULAR.
LET'S GO FOR SOME FINAL THOUGHTSAL NOW IN THE PHILIPPINE SEA AND THE PETREL.
>> FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA, HIGH ABOVE THETH WRECK OF THE USS "INDIANAPOLIS," FROM PAUL ALLEN, THE ENTIRE CREW OF RV "PETREL" TO THE CREW OF THE USS "INDIANAPOLIS" THANK YOUAP FOR JOINING.
NEVER FORGET.
>> O'Brien: PROVING THEIR PILOTING SKILLS ABOVE AND BELOWO THE WATER ON THE PETREL.
MENT TONIGHT AS WE HONOR SOME OF THE GREATEST OF THE GREATEST GENERATION, WE HERE AT PBS ARE FOCUSED ON ANOTHER GENERATION AND ANOTHER WAR AS WELL.
BS BEGINNING SUNDAY, THE KEN BURNS SERIES ON THE VIETNAM WAR.
PREMIERS ON PBS, HERE IS A PREVIEW.
>> THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD AVOID TELLING THIS STORY.
FAMOUSLY SAID AFTER CIVIL WAR, NO MORE WARS GOT SUCKED IN TO FILMING A WAR ON THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
T FOR THE TIME WE WERE FINISHING THAT WE KNEW WE WERE OBLIGATEDOB TO JUMP IN TO VIETNAM.
>> KEN SAYS, TRY TO DO VIETNAM NOW.
I'VE BEEN IN SINCE DAY ONE.
O THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT DONE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.
BUT DOCUMENTARY, FEATURE FILM, NOVELS, NOT LIKE NO ONE EVER TRIED.
BUT IT REMAINS THIS KIND OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
IN ORDER TO MOVE ON WITH THE COUNTRY AT ALL WE HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.
AND WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT WITH VIETNAM.
>> IT'S TIME NOW, DECADE HAS SINCE PAST, WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT IN ANY KIND OF HISTORICAL PRESENTATION YOU GOT TO HAVE 25 2 OR 30 YEARS PERSPECTIVE, THEP KIND OF TRIANGULATION THAT CANON TAKE PLACE FROM THAT PASSAGE OF TIME.
>> O'BRIEN: WHETHER IT'S VIETNAM, WORLD WAR II, OR THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, WE THANK THE LIKES OF YOU, BILL, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
BEFORE WE GET AWAY, AMAZING COINCIDENCE IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS THE DISCOVERY OF THE SUBMARINE THAT TORPEDOED THE "INDIANAPOLIS," TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
>> UNBELIEVABLE COINCIDENCE, THE SUBMARINE WAS SCUTTLED BY THEB U.S. NAVY HAD A ROUGH IDEA OF WHERE IT WAS, AGAPE PIECE CREW JUST DISCOVERED IT FILMED IT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
>> O'Brien: STORY THAT JUST KEEPSOR OFFERING US WRINKLES.
DICK SAYS IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS REMEMBER R THIS STORY.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT IT?
>> THE STORY WAS ABOUT THEO MACHINE WHO DIED ON "INDIANAPOLIS" AND MEN WHO SURVIVED.
BUTHO THINKING MORE BROADLY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND T THAT THE "INDIANAPOLIS" WAS VERY TANGIBLE MANIFESTATION OF SERVICE OF WORLD WAR II..
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org
