Lanier Phillips and Diving the Wreck of the USS Truxtun

Lanier Phillips at Chambers Cove

Jill Heinerth tells the remarkable story of African-American sailor Lanier Phillips, one of the few survivors of the World War-Two wreck of the USS Truxtun at Chambers Cover, St. Lawrence, Newfoundland. Jill dived on the wrecks of the Truxtun and USS Pollux as part of the recent Great Island Expedition

Locks and hardware on the sea floor
Great Island Expedition Dive Team – Photo: Maxwel Hohn

 

The Great Island Expedition to Newfoundland – Ep. 51

Jill and Robert on The Great Island Expedition team  Newfoundland.

(Video Below)

A team of divers supported by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), the Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland & Labrador and Ocean Quest Adventures have confirmed the discovery of a WWII-era B-24 Liberator Bomber that crashed upon take-off on September 4, 1943, into Gander Lake, Newfoundland with four souls aboard.

Using state-of-the-art underwater imaging equipment, the team of highly experienced divers from the Canada, the United States, and France, completed a survey dive on September 5, 2022, in the cold, tannic waters of Gander Lake. The video and images confirmed an earlier 3D sonar scan from July 2022.

Divers found the aircraft oriented upside-down on a steep ledge nearly 50 meters below the surface. Previous search and salvage efforts conducted by military divers at the time of the 1943 crash were abandoned due to extremely dangerous conditions. The aircraft, dubbed “Liberator 589D” has remained undisturbed since.

Diving Ottawa River Caves and Our Next Newfoundland Project

Jill and Robert with a mid-summer update on the Ottawa River caves where Jill is assisting a team of Canadian Fisheries and Oceans scientists with important ecosystem research. And a preview of the upcoming Newfoundland expedition documenting WWII wrecks and some new discoveries. More at www.IntoThePlanet.com

It is raining like mad on the Ottawa River!

Thai Cave Rescue: Dr. Richard Harris Interview

Jill interviews her friend and colleague Dr. Richard Harris, the brave cave diver and physician who was instrumental in rescuing the young Thai soccer team trapped in a flooded cave. The new National Geographic documentary film “The Rescue” is available now on your cable TV platform. Dr. Harris’ new book “Against All Odds” is available now at https://amzn.to/3t9UFek Episode 47

Snow Squalls, Valerie “Shark Lady” Taylor, Thai Cave Rescue and Awards 

We almost recorded this episode outside! Jill shares her film festival experience with “Playing With Sharks” about shark lady Valerie Taylor and “The Rescue” documentary with Richard “Harry” Harris. And, although well-earned, sometimes receiving awards can be kind of tricky. Episode 46.