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Eighty years after the tragic sinking of the hell ship Ōyoku Maru in December 1944, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has initiated a comprehensive recovery expedition in the Philippine Sea. This Japanese hell ship was bombed by the US unknowingly, resulting in over 1,600 prisoners of war perishing, with approximately 250 Americans still unaccounted for.
The Recovery Operation: Conditions and Challenges
The USNS Salvor serves as the base for navy divers and forensic anthropologists engaged in the recovery effort, which takes place at a depth of 90 feet under conditions of zero visibility. The divers face significant challenges, navigating through crushed metal debris as they attempt to recover human remains. This operation is authorized under the Sunken Military Craft Act, reflecting the US’s commitment to thoroughly account for the soldiers who endured the harshest maritime conditions of the Pacific War.
Tragedy of the Hell Ship Ōryoku Maru
According to US Naval History, in December 1944, the Ōryoku Maru, one of Japan’s notorious ‘Hell Ships’, was carrying over 1,600 Allied prisoners of war when it came under attack by US Navy aircraft from the USS Hornet. Unbeknownst to the American pilots, their own countrymen were trapped below deck. Over three days, 17 separate airstrikes were conducted, leading to chaos in the lower decks as extreme dehydration and suffocation took their toll. Ultimately, the ship came to rest on the seabed of Subic Bay.
The Pentagon’s High-Precision Search for Missing Americans
The DPAA has dispatched a specialized team to begin the delicate process of excavating the wreck of the Ōryoku Maru. Operating from the USNS Salvor, this team of fifteen divers is working at depths of approximately 90 feet to recover remains that have lain undiscovered for over 80 years, particularly those of the 250 missing Americans. The site resembles a labyrinth of twisted steel, covered by thick layers of river silt, resulting in near-zero visibility. This necessitates high-precision forensic dredging to isolate biological evidence from the wreckage.
Legal Protections under the Sunken Military Craft Act
The recovery efforts are governed by the Sunken Military Craft Act (SMCA) of 2004, which grants ‘protected sovereign status’ to the United States’ sunken military vessels and the remains of service personnel, regardless of their location. This federal law ensures that the Ōryoku Maru is a protected site, preventing unauthorized salvage or looting. This mission is part of a formal diplomatic partnership with the Philippine government to adhere to the policy of ‘Fullest Possible Accounting’ regarding personnel who remain missing.
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