On Feb. 17, 1944, the I-169 Submarine made a crash dive to the bottom of Truk Lagoon in order to avoid the first wave of American bombers. It never surfaced again. A valve in the conning tower had been left open, allowing part of the submarine to flood. After the raid the Japanese attempted to rescue the survivors, but were unsuccessful. They then depth charged the forward part, worried that the approaching American Navy might find it.
An open hatch at the stern of the I-169 leads to the dangerous interior of the sunken submarine.
This short, overgrown mast near the aft hatch was used to support an antenna and a flagpole.
Text and Photos © 1999 by Bob Hampton All Rights Reserved