Divers Uncover Vintage Ford Woody in Sunken WWII Aircraft Carrier

Deep-sea explorers have just added a classic twist to World War II history. In an underwater expedition led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), divers discovered a vintage automobile nestled within the wreckage of the USS Yorktown, a storied U.S. Navy aircraft carrier lying in the Pacific Ocean.

The Yorktown has a dramatic past—she played a critical role in World War II operations before being sunk by a Japanese submarine in 1942 during the infamous Battle of Midway. After decades at the bottom of the sea, she’s still full of surprises.

During NOAA's recent "Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping expedition," a faint outline of a car was spotted peeking out from the ship’s aft hangar deck. Upon closer inspection, researchers identified the car as a classic 1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe "Woody," decked out with the inscription "SHIP SERVICE ___ NAVY" on its front plate. Talk about a stylish set of wheels for a warship!

According to NOAA, the Woody was likely used by high-ranking officers like Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher or Captain Elliott Buckmaster, or possibly by other crew for official business in foreign ports. The car’s iconic features—including those rectangular rear windows, chrome-finished fenders, split windshield, and a chrome bumper sporting a spare tire—have been remarkably preserved under the waves.

As if finding a vintage car in a shipwreck wasn't enough, divers also uncovered a hand-painted mural hidden inside one of the ship’s elevator shafts. Titled "A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown," this 42-by-12-foot masterpiece details the ship's global routes and the pride of its sailors, offering a visual history lesson in bold, nautical strokes.

The Yorktown and her secrets were first found in 1988, but it seems she’s not done telling her story just yet. Who would’ve thought that beneath the ocean’s surface, an old Woody and a mural were waiting to be rediscovered?