The P-51 Mustang of La Fourmigue de Giens: A Revealed Story

The discovery of a P-51 Mustang off the coast of Giens has sparked an exciting investigation that has spanned over two decades. Philippe Castellano, a member of the research team, shares the adventures of this quest, from the seabed of Var to American archives.

The Discovery of the Wreck

In 1985, a small trawler, the Pierre Pilato, encountered a metallic mass off the Giens peninsula. After reporting the incident to the maritime authorities, the wreck was left abandoned. Two years later, another fisherman, Charlie Beringuier, got his net caught near the Fourmigue buoy. He sought the help of Christophe Desix, director of the Ulysse-Plongée club, to recover his gear.

Accompanied by Christophe Claparède, Desix dove and discovered a plane wreck, a P-51 Mustang, entangled in the net. The condition of the aircraft indicates it dates back to World War II, with its machine guns still in place. However, the fuselage is severed at the rear of the cockpit, with no trace of the tail.

First Clues

Subsequent dives revealed crucial details. The canopy is open, suggesting that the pilot may have ejected. The propeller is intact, but several blades are twisted, indicating that the engine was running at the time of the landing. The flaps are in a lowered position, while the landing gear is retracted, reinforcing the idea of a controlled landing.