The re-discovery, identification and documentation of Grumman TBF Avenger’s wreck, lying off the coast of Bambalapitiya, by underwater explorers- Dharshana Jayawardena, Keerthi Karunaratne and Manjula Wijeyaratne, is a significant addition to our rich underwater heritage

BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

On a tip off by a fisherman in Dehiwala, tech-diver and underwater explorer Dharshana Jayawardena and two of his fellow divers – Keerthi Karunaratne, and Manjula Wijeyaratne arrived at a ‘mystery air crash site’ off the coast of Bambalapitiya early this year. Although they had doubts about the find, to their amazement, the three divers were greeted by a sunken aircraft in a very bad shape with only the wing box area, the starboard wing, what was left of the tail fin structure, the engine and the propeller. The air crash debris was lying 32 meters deep.

The search begins

The site characteristics matched the air crash site dived and described by pioneer divers such as Darrel Fryer and David Classz in the 1990s and Dharshana and his colleagues were confident that theirs was a rediscovery of the same site. “It was not easy to measure what was left of the craft as some its features were not particularly evident. But we gathered that radial engine had 14 cylinders and the approximate length from the leading edge of wing centerline to the presumed location of the tail to be 31 ft and 10 inches. Height of the aircraft however, was not measurable. Therefore, based on our measurements and observations we had to search for the candidate aircraft,” remarked Dharshana Jayawardena.

In their search for a matching aircraft, the trio also used Michael Tomlinson’s The Most Dangerous Moment as a reference to list out all the British and Japanese aircraft that participated and were lost in Ariel combat on April 5, 1942 or what is known as the ‘Easter Sunday attack of Ceylon’.

After eliminating some of the British and Japanese aircraft which were lost near Colombo during the World War II, the divers’ initial theory was that it was probably a Japanese VAL bomber lost during the attack. “The RAF (Royal Air Force) strategy during this battle was to focus more on the Japanese Aichi D3A VAL air-to-ground bombers rather than the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero air-to-air combat fighters to minimize the damage of strategic land and sea assets,” explains Jayawardena.

Possibility of an Avenger

Following the presentation of the explorers’ preliminary findings to the Sri Lanka Sub-Aqua Club and on suggestion by its founder member Dr. Malik Fernando, they reached out to David Classz who had supposedly dived to a sunken aircraft in the 1990s. The team was surprised the second time when Classz came up with a completely new aircraft to consider – American-made Grumman TBF Avenger. What was even more surprising was the absence of any reference to this type of an aircraft used in the account of the Easter Sunday attack in 1942 in Tomlinson’s book.

The Grumman TBF Avenger is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed for the US Navy and the Marine Corp. It entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the famous Battle of Midway. An interesting piece of trivia is that, the former American President George H.W. Bush, was an Avenger pilot and was shot down over the Pacific, an ordeal he survived unscathed before being rescued.

It was learnt that Classz together with Darrel Fryer and American diver Ulrich Earnst had dived the wreck of Grumman TBF Avenger in the 1990s when the aircraft was intact. “They had even got into the cockpit and Earnst had made an underwater video of the crash which was unfortunately lost with the passing of the diver. The dive team found out that some avengers (MKIII variants), had been used by RAF during the World War II and were sent to South India and Australia after the end of the war.

The dive team obtaining the measurements

Some were dumped in the sea when their lifespan was over although the locations of most of such ‘burial sites’ of avengers remain unknown. The naval air squadron 733 of the Royal Fleet arm which was based in Royal Navy Air Section of China Bay in Trincomalee also is reported to have operated Grumman Tarpon and Avenger MKIII aircraft.

The measurements of the aircraft at the crash site in Bambalapitiya matched those of the Grumman TBF Avenger with the Twin Cyclone engine. Specifically, a quite a unique engine characteristic, the width of the piston bore, was almost an exact match to that of the Avenger. Subsequently marine archaeologists from the US Naval History and Heritage Command, after an extensive analysis of the footage and photos provided by the dive team, confirmed that ‘these are likely the remains of a Grumman Avenger’.

It was communicated by the U.S. archaeologists that ‘in reviewing the video footage, the two pieces of evidence our subject matters experts were drawn to were the morphology of the port wing and the characteristics of the engine, both of which match nearly identically with that of an Avenger.’ However, they also note that there is still no sufficient information to suggest that the aircraft, though US-manufactured, was in the service of the U.S. Navy or another naval service at the time of the crash.

Underwater heritage

The wreck of the aircraft is in a very bad state of deterioration, says Jayawardena. It is suspected that the several parts of the aircraft have been illegally salvaged over the years. It is now a small artificial coral reef with several species of marine fish present. The dive team specifically observed a number of small groupers hiding within the wreck.

“The re-discovery, identification and documentation of this wreck is a significant addition to our rich underwater heritage. To date over 110 shipwrecks have been located around the shores of Sri Lanka and out of that, about ten are sunken aircraft,” says Jayawardena. A similar noteworthy underwater aircraft discovery made by Jayawardena was the discovery of a World War II RAF Squadron 321 (Dutch) Catalina Patrol Bomber off the shores of Passikudah in 2014. In addition, there are several other underwater remains of aircraft located in Katuneriya, Kalpitiya and the Trincomalee Harbour. “Unfortunately, most of these aircraft are in a very bad state of deterioration, otherwise they would have been a boon to Sri Lanka’s marine tourism,” concludes the underwater explorer.

(Photo credit: Manjula Wijeyaratne)

by Zanita Careem

Head of the Russian Cultural Center in Colombo and First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Madam Maria L. Popova, a warm persona with a genuine interest in people, which transpires through every action or word she shares. Right from the beginning of our conversation Popova revealed her deeply human, affectionate, optimistic and vibrant personality. She brought a common touch to each interaction, expressing her authentic interest in the culture of Sri Lanka. She spoke about the shared values between Sri Lanka and Russia, stating that the two countries appreciate many similar aspects like the freedom of speech, women’s empowerment, cultural activities and other important issues.

Q. Please tell us about your career

A. I came to Sri Lanka two years ago, to work as a cultural diplomat. Before becoming part of the worldwide Russian House team, I worked for a large media holding in Russia called the Moscow Media, consisting of two TV channels and three radio stations, one of which is the city’s main station Moscow FM. During those years I’ve worked in different fields – as an editor, a news producer for the English-speaking radio station Capital FM, a news presenter and interpreter for the TV channel Moscow-24, and finally, as an executive producer of the entire Radio Department. It was a truly invaluable experience, and all these skills are helping me a lot in my diplomatic career today.

Q. Tell us about a time when you professional and family responsibilities came into conflict?

A. I’m one of those lucky women who has never faced those challenges. I’m blessed to have a husband who is like a modern-day Prince Charming. I mean not only his looks, but the fact that he has always supported me in every way, especially in my career. Unfortunately, we don’t get to spend much time together as he mostly lives in Moscow because of his job. But every time we meet – it’s almost like a fairytale. And maybe that’s one of the staples of our happy marriage. Despite the fact that we’re apart, we always have each other’s backs.

Of course, juggling between personal life and a career is not always a walk in the park. It is competitive and challenging and it takes up a lot of energy, but I always try to live up to my expectation, and participate meaningfully in every facet of office work. My son lives with me in Colombo, and he somehow studies in two schools, one of which is distant learning under the Russian curriculum. My trials and tribulations echo many of the daily challenges, but on the other hand, such hectic lifestyle keeps me toned and energized 24 hours a day.

Q. Can you comment on the cultural activities in Sri Lanka?

A. I really respect and admire Sri Lankan culture. Our two nations share many values and traditions, and I made it a point to observe all the important holidays, both Russian and Sri Lankan, at the Russian Cultural Center. This year we had beautiful celebrations of Awurudu and Vesak. We are steeped in history and culture, and it’s one of the best ways to highlight and entwine the cultures of our two friendly countries.

The culture of Sri Lanka is mostly based around the fusion of traditional forms of art, dance and music. One of the spectacular events that impressed me most was the stunning Navam Maha Perahera showcasing traditional local art, colourful costumes, and intricate dance displays. It was definitely the most amazing cultural pageant I’ve seen in my life. It was like a celebration of culture and spirituality epitomizing the rich cultural heritage of this beautiful island.

I also greatly enjoyed the Colombo Fashion Week this year. The talent and artistry of local designers were so unique – each runway show reflected the authentic charm of this beautiful island. I can feel the changes in every aspect of the local fashion industry.

And speaking of runways, this April I was honoured to take part in the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations organized by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry. It was an unforgettable experience for the diplomats – to meet with other officials representing different countries – and to walk the runway demonstrating Sri Lanka’s top designer outfits. I proudly wore a traditional handcrafted Saree.

Q. Can you share an experience professionally or otherwise that helped shape your leadership qualities?

A. As a mother with a full-time job, meetings and events, every day is a challenge! It requires courage and astuteness at all times. These positive vibes have added up to shape my leadership qualities. I believe I have to be strong, competent and create an impression. My motto is: Dedication, Determination, Drive. These combined together definitely add to my personality.

Q. Who are your role models?

A. Speaking of my real-life heroines, both of my grandmothers had a great impact on my life. I was named after my mother’s mom Maria, and she has been the trailblazer for my upbringing. Grandma Maria has given me so much love and comfort, she was the epitome of femininity, kindness and compassion. These qualities I hope I have inherited, live on even though she passed away more than twenty years ago. I still cherish her memories.

My other grandma Eugenia was a teacher of the Russian language and literature, and she had a major impact on my early education. In a way, she influenced my career. I started promoting the Russian language in Sri Lanka in honor of her memory, as well.

As for my role models – young Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve, the two iconic French actresses have become my source of inspiration over the years. I really admire their faultless style, chic elegance, and their leadership skills. I try to resemble their style and fashion.

Q. What is the most memorable and cherished incident in your career?

A. What I love most about my job is that I get to meet new people every day. I could never imagine how many treasures this paradise island had in stock for me when I first came here. I have a great team, wonderful colleagues, and I continuously make new friends. My career has given me an opportunity to meet many talented people – ballerinas, film directors, musicians, writers, and businessmen. And I’m glad that all of them left a trace in the history of the Russian House in Colombo.

Q. Have you ever been faced with a proverbial glass ceiling and how has diplomatic training helped you to resolve it?

A. I have never experienced any kinds of invisible barriers in my career. I was always lucky to have colleagues who respected me and my work ethics – just as I have always respected the work ethics and the feeling of others. When being a boss, it is especially important to take emotions into consideration.

Q. Have you ever been subject to sexual harassment and if so, how did you handle it?

A. The truth is, sometimes women have to fight barriers and work harder in order to rise to top positions. As for my personal experience, I have never encountered sexual harassment in any form. I have always handled the challenges of working within male-dominated circles – diplomatic or otherwise. The key to working among men is to be professional, punctual, and simply be a good listener.

Q. Tell us about your experiences in politics and diplomacy.

A. I think that my career was predestined as I come from a diplomatic background. I’ve lived, studied and worked abroad – first with my parents as a child in Canada, later on with my husband in the US. Therefore, international environment fits me like a glove. You may say that I carried on the family tradition by coming to Sri Lanka and heading the Russian Cultural Centre. I’m also a graduate of the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Relations, and I speak two foreign languages, so it went without saying that the combination of all these factors was the direct path to diplomacy.

Like most women, I’m not big in politics – I deal with education and culture, which makes me very happy. I have an unconditional love for my country, and I’m proud to represent its rich culture and traditions, to promote its top-quality higher education and create more opportunities for the friendly people of Sri Lanka. This is me today. And this is what I always wanted to be – a cultural diplomat.

Q. How can the diplomatic service best improve their gender balance over the next few years?

A. I think the role of women in diplomacy has a lot of potential. Women form the backbone of society and play a crucial role in every life sphere. There are still structural issues that impede the promotion of women to senior positions, but in today’s complex societal challenges from climate change to pandemics, female leaders are equally represented and gender equality principles is widely integrated all over the world.

Q. Your stay in Sri Lanka and what do you enjoy most?

A. I absolutely love Sri Lanka! I call it “The Paradise Island” or sometimes “The Treasure Island” as I have found so many gems here. In a way, the Russian House in Colombo has become my second home.

I remember when I first came to Sri Lanka two years ago, it welcomed me with flowers and sunshine. Sri Lanka is well renowned for its hospitality, golden beaches, salubrious climate, cultural delights, and incredible diversity. These are the reasons I fell in love with this island.

Sri Lanka accepts me for who I am today, putting a smile on my face every morning. And that’s what I love most about this place… simply being happy!