SS Macumba Found Off Northern Australian Coast

Another great piece of research.
"Researchers said Thursday they have discovered the wreck of an Australian merchant ship sunk by Japanese aircraft during World War II, after it lay hidden in the sea off northern Australia for 74 years.
For many years, the whereabouts of the SS Macumba had been a mystery, but a joint investigation between the Northern Territory government and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization led to its discovery the previous day.
David Steinberg, senior heritage officer with the Northern Territory government and principal investigator in the search for the SS Macumba, said the discovery brought on mixed feelings.
"I was excited about discovery, but you have to remember it is a tragedy," he told Kyodo News. "Three people died on that ship and one body wasn't recovered so it's a war grave site."
The 2,540-ton merchant ship was sunk by two Japanese aircraft on Aug. 6, 1943, while transporting a cargo of supplies from Sydney to the northern city of Darwin. The ship's captain and 36 crewmen survived.
Steinberg said the discovery of the wreck after so many years is a significant reminder of the role northern Australia played during World War II.
"We were part of the front line during the war," the marine archaeologist said.
Steinberg said many Australians remember the Japanese air raids on Darwin in February 1942 that killed 235 people, but other attacks are not so widely known.
"(The bombing of Darwin) was so devastating, it's well remembered," he said. "But they don't remember that attacks from the Japanese continued for years. Macumba was attacked in August 1943, over a year after the bombing of Darwin."
WWII shipwreck found off northern Australia after 74 years

 

Nice Gordon...should have posted this myself...I disagree that the Bombing of Darwin was "well remembered"...it was from Darwin's point of view, holding memorials every year since 1946...but the rest of Australia either didn't know or had forgotten...no one else remembers the day every year, one doesn't hear or see it on TV...Indeed as ive said previously, it wasn't until Barack Obama came to Darwin and paid homage that the rest of Australia woke up...Theres even a famous Australian song (by Midnight Oil) where one verse "Our shoreline was never invaded, our country was never in flames" has been played for decades, and annoys me every time I hear it! - Darwin was bombed 64 times!

 

Nice Gordon...should have posted this myself...I disagree that the Bombing of Darwin was "well remembered"...it was from Darwin's point of view, holding memorials every year since 1946...but the rest of Australia either didn't know or had forgotten...no one else remembers the day every year, one doesn't hear or see it on TV...Indeed as ive said previously, it wasn't until Barack Obama came to Darwin and paid homage that the rest of Australia woke up...Theres even a famous Australian song (by Midnight Oil) where one verse "Our shoreline was never invaded, our country was never in flames" has been played for decades, and annoys me every time I hear it! - Darwin was bombed 64 times!

 

POSTED TWICE DUE TO SLOW LOAD UP

 

It's good to know people still care to find things like this! Fantastic discovery indeed, thanks for sharing Gordon.