The discovery of B-17F Black Jack… The story of how the B-17F Black Jack was found reads like something straight out of an adventure novel. In late December 1986, three Australian divers – Rod Pierce, Bruce Johnson, and David Pennefather – stumbled upon the wreck almost by accident.
Pennefather, an ex-Kiap (Australian patrol officer) who had spent most of his adult life in Papua New Guinea, had long held a deep interest in World War II wrecks. Earlier that year, during a visit to Cape Vogel, villagers from Boga Boga told him about a plane that had crashed near their reef during the war.
Intrigued by the story, he organized a Christmas dive trip with Pierce and Johnson to search for what they believed to be an Australian Beaufort A9.
Rod Pierce, the now-retired owner of the MV Barbarian, a small liveaboard dive boat synonymous with wreck diving in Papua New Guinea, was joined on the expedition by Bruce Johnson, a commercial pilot.
Guided by the villagers of Boga Boga, the team was led to the general area where the plane had gone down.
Once in the water, their strategy was simple: spread out and cover as much ground as possible in search of the wreck. It was Pierce who spotted it first… Catching sight of the massive tail section as he scanned the seabed.
One can only imagine the exhilaration he must have felt upon discovering the remarkably intact B-17 Flying Fortress resting on the sand.
For someone who had dedicated much of his life to exploring wrecks in Papua New Guinea, it must have felt like unearthing the Holy Grail.
The Discovery of B-17F Black Jack – Identification…
Over the next few days, the team explored the wreck as much as its nearly 50m depth would allow.
During one of their dives, they entered the aircraft and discovered the Radio Call Plate, revealing the serial number 24521. This crucial find later confirmed the wreck’s identity – it was indeed the legendary Black Jack.
For Bruce Johnson, as a commercial pilot, the discovery carried an even deeper significance. Determined to reach the cockpit, he carefully navigated through the dark bomb bay, maneuvering past tangled control cables.
At last, he became the first person in over 40 years to sit in the pilot’s seat of Black Jack.
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