Deep-sea discovery: 1941 Ford Woody found on sunken WWII aircraft carrier

A team aboard the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer has uncovered a piece of history three miles below the Pacific Ocean surface. While exploring the wreckage of the USS Yorktown, researchers identified a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woody, which has remained submerged for over eight decades following the Battle of Midway in 1942.

3.2 miles deep

The 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woody was found about 5,200 meters below the Pacific, making its survival and identification especially remarkable.

Key findings at the wreck site

• The vehicle was found 3.2 miles (5,200 meters) deep on the ocean floor.
• It is identified as a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woody.
• The car likely belonged to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard before being loaded onto the Yorktown for repairs.
• Despite 83 years underwater, key components like the split windshield and chrome bumpers remain identifiable.

A timeline of the vessel and its cargo

The Yorktown earned its place in history during the pivotal Battle of Midway in 1942. Experts believe the Ford was onboard during a brief repair stint in early May 1942 following the Battle of the Coral Sea. A plate reading “SHIP SERVICE ___ NAVY” indicates it was utility property for the shipyard rather than personal transportation. When the ship was ultimately struck by Japanese torpedoes on June 7, 1942, the Woody went down with the carrier, resting in the deep-sea abyss ever since.

Observations on the car's condition

The vehicle's remains show a stark contrast between durable metal parts and the more fragile materials that did not survive as well.

Condition of the main surviving features

Feature	Status
Windshield	Split configuration visible
Bumpers	Chrome elements still in place
Wooden panels	Mostly rotted / degraded
Tires	Whitewall design identifiable

Despite the immense pressure and corrosive environment of the deep ocean, the vehicle's structural integrity is surprisingly preserved. While the wooden panels—the defining feature of the "Woody"—have largely decayed over the decades, the heavier metal components have remained in their original positions. The discovery provides a rare, tangible link between civilian automotive history and the maritime conflict of the second World War.

This discovery serves as a poignant reminder of the civilian assets caught in the crossfire of World War II, preserved in a harsh, underwater museum for eternity.