Within Flight 19
What Happened to the Rescue Plane?
The rescue plane's disappearance added a second tragedy, with tanker and radar reports making an explosion more likely than a shared mystery.
On this page
- The Mariner's search mission from Banana River
- The flames, oil pool, and radar clue
- Why the second loss changed the legend
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Introduction
The disappearance of the PBM Mariner rescue aircraft turned the Flight 19 incident from a single aviation mystery into a double tragedy. Thirteen additional servicemen vanished when a Martin PBM-5 Mariner flying boat launched from Naval Air Station Banana River to search for the missing Avengers on the evening of 5 December 1945. Unlike the fate of Flight 19 itself, however, the evidence surrounding the Mariner points less towards an unexplained disappearance and more towards a probable mid-air explosion. Witness reports from nearby vessels, radar loss data, and the aircraft type’s known fuel-system hazards all pushed investigators towards a catastrophic mechanical event rather than a shared supernatural cause. Wikipedia Ibiblio The second loss nevertheless became deeply entangled with Bermuda Triangle mythology. Popular retellings often merge the two events into one [ibiblio.org]ibiblio.orgFindings of the Board of Investigation Into the Loss of Flightreported explosion failed to reveal any debris of the missing PBM or evidence of its crew. –18–. Transcribed by Harry Allston, for the… seamless mystery, even though the evidence profile for the rescue plane is very different from the confused navigation trail left by Flight 19. Understanding what happened to the PBM Mariner helps separate documented facts from later legend-building.
The Mariner’s Search Mission from Banana River
As concern grew that Flight 19 was lost at sea, the Navy expanded rescue operations across the Florida coast and western Atlantic. Search aircraft and ships were alerted before sunset, and by evening specialised rescue aircraft were being launched from multiple bases. Among them was PBM-5 BuNo 59225, attached to Navy Training Squadron 49 at Naval Air Station Banana River, near present-day Cape Canaveral. [Wikipedia]WikipediaFlight 19Flight 19 [U.S. Naval Institute]usni.orgmysterious disappearance flight 19Naval InstituteThe Mysterious Disappearance of Flight 19That night, a merchant ship off the coast of Fort Lauderdale reported seeing a “b…
The Martin PBM Mariner was a large twin-engine flying boat designed for long-range maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and sea rescue operations. It had substantial fuel capacity and endurance, making it suitable for wide-area ocean searches. During the Second World War the aircraft earned a reputation for range and seaworthiness, but also for maintenance and fuel-vapour dangers that became highly relevant after the Flight 19 disaster. [U.S. Naval Institute]usni.orgvery able marinerNaval InstituteA Very Able Mariner | Naval History MagazineDecember 1, 2007 — The Martin PBM Mariner—the world's largest twin-engine flyi…
The rescue Mariner took off at approximately 1927 hours with a crew of 13. A routine radio transmission was received shortly after departure, and then contact ceased. The aircraft disappeared within roughly twenty minutes of take-off. Unlike Flight 19, whose crews transmitted lengthy confused navigation exchanges, the Mariner left almost no radio trail at all. The sudden silence immediately suggested a rapid catastrophic failure rather than gradual disorientation. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMartin PBM MarinerMartin PBM MarinerThe Martin PBM Mariner is a twin-engine American patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War er… [U.S. Naval Institute]usni.orgvery able marinerNaval InstituteA Very Able Mariner | Naval History MagazineDecember 1, 2007 — The Martin PBM Mariner—the world's largest twin-engine flyi…
That distinction matters because later Bermuda Triangle narratives often present the Mariner as if it had also wandered mysteriously off course. Contemporary records do not support that picture. There were no reports of compass confusion, strange atmospheric effects, or prolonged distress calls from the rescue aircraft.
The Flames, Oil Pool, and Radar Clue
The strongest evidence concerning the Mariner came not from the aircraft itself but from observers nearby. At around 2115, the tanker SS Gaines Mills reported witnessing flames from what appeared to be an explosion at sea. Witnesses described fire leaping roughly 100 feet into the air and burning on the water for several minutes. The tanker’s crew then searched through a large oil slick and aviation-fuel pool but found no survivors. [Aviation Safety Network]aviation-safety.netRead moreAviation Safety NetworkAccident Martin PBM-5 Mariner 59225, Wednesday 5…At 19:50 the tanker SS Gaines Mills reported seeing a mid-air…
Other reports strengthened the explosion theory. The escort carrier USS Solomons reportedly lost radar contact with an aircraft in the same vicinity and timeframe as the tanker’s sighting. The convergence of radar disappearance, visible flames, and fuel on the water created a much firmer evidentiary chain than exists for the missing Avengers. [Aviation Safety Network]aviation-safety.netRead moreAviation Safety NetworkAccident Martin PBM-5 Mariner 59225, Wednesday 5…At 19:50 the tanker SS Gaines Mills reported seeing a mid-air…
No confirmed wreckage was recovered despite extensive searching. That absence later encouraged speculation that the Mariner had vanished under the same mysterious conditions attributed to Flight 19. Yet investigators did not treat the lack of debris as especially surprising given the conditions. A mid-air explosion over open water at night could scatter burning fuel and fragmented wreckage across a wide area before sinking. [Ibiblio]ibiblio.orgFindings of the Board of Investigation Into the Loss of Flightreported explosion failed to reveal any debris of the missing PBM or evidence of its crew. –18–. Transcribed by Harry Allston, for the…
The Navy’s investigation ultimately attributed the loss of the PBM to an explosion. Although investigators could not establish the exact ignition source, they considered a sudden onboard fire or fuel-vapour detonation the most plausible explanation. [Wikipedia]WikipediaFlight 19Flight 19
Why the PBM Was Considered Dangerous
The Mariner’s reputation played a major role in how investigators interpreted the second disappearance. PBMs carried enormous quantities of aviation gasoline, and several accounts from naval aviation history note that fuel vapours could accumulate dangerously within the aircraft. Flexible fuel lines were also known to leak under certain conditions. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMartin PBM MarinerMartin PBM MarinerThe Martin PBM Mariner is a twin-engine American patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War er…
This vulnerability became part of aviation folklore. Mariners acquired the grim nickname “flying gas tanks” among some crews because of their perceived susceptibility to fire. Modern retellings sometimes exaggerate this reputation, implying the aircraft were inherently unsafe, but the Navy nevertheless recognised that fuel leaks and vapour ignition were serious operational risks. [HISTORY TV Nederland]history.comthe mysterious disappearance of flight 19HISTORY TV NederlandThe Mysterious Disappearance of Flight 194 Dec 2015 — Many believe the wrecks of Flight 19 and its doomed rescue plan…
The likely sequence reconstructed by later historians is relatively straightforward:
- The aircraft departed normally from Banana River. [midway.org]midway.orgmysterious disappearance of navy flight 19The Mysterious Disappearance of Navy Flight 1922 Dec 2020 — A PBM Mariner flying boat set out from NAS Banana River north of Fort Lauderd…
- A fuel leak or vapour accumulation developed.
- An ignition source triggered an explosion or intense fire.
- The aircraft broke apart or crashed rapidly into the sea.
That scenario fits the abrupt radio silence, eyewitness fire reports, and fuel slick observations better than theories involving navigational disappearance or unknown atmospheric phenomena. [Naval History and Heritage Command]history.navy.milNaval History and Heritage CommandH-057-4: The Disappearance of Flight 197 Jan 2021 — Radar and visual sighting of a flaming aircraft fal… [2U.S. Naval Institute]
Importantly, the PBM’s probable destruction occurred much closer to the Florida coast than the estimated final position of Flight 19. The two events happened during the same rescue operation but likely under very different circumstances.
Why the Second Loss Changed the Legend
The Mariner’s disappearance transformed public perception of Flight 19. A single lost training flight, while tragic, could still be understood within the context of post-war military aviation accidents. The sudden disappearance of a rescue aircraft searching for the missing bombers gave the incident a narrative symmetry that later writers found irresistible.
By the 1960s and 1970s, Bermuda Triangle authors frequently treated the PBM as corroborating evidence that “something strange” affected the entire region. The emotional force of “a rescue plane also vanished” became more important in popular culture than the technical details suggesting an explosion. [HISTORY TV Nederland]history.comthe mysterious disappearance of flight 19HISTORY TV NederlandThe Mysterious Disappearance of Flight 194 Dec 2015 — Many believe the wrecks of Flight 19 and its doomed rescue plan…
This blending of the two losses blurred an important evidentiary distinction:
- Flight 19 produced extended confused radio traffic, disputed navigation judgments, worsening weather conditions, and probable fuel exhaustion.
- The PBM Mariner produced sudden silence, fireball sightings, radar disappearance, and evidence consistent with explosion.
The rescue plane therefore occupies an unusual place in the wider Flight 19 story. It intensified the mystery in public imagination while simultaneously providing one of the clearest conventional explanations connected to the overall incident.
The Balance of Evidence
Among historians and naval aviation researchers, the Mariner loss is generally regarded as the least mysterious part of the Flight 19 episode. The combination of eyewitness testimony, radar reports, and known aircraft vulnerabilities gives investigators a coherent working explanation even without recovered wreckage. [Naval History and Heritage Command]history.navy.milNaval History and Heritage CommandH-057-4: The Disappearance of Flight 197 Jan 2021 — Radar and visual sighting of a flaming aircraft fal… [2U.S. Naval Institute]
That does not mean every detail is settled. No definitive debris field was identified, and no physical forensic examination was ever possible. But the evidentiary pattern differs sharply from claims of paranormal disappearance. The rescue aircraft most likely suffered a catastrophic airborne fire or fuel explosion shortly after departure.
Ironically, the PBM Mariner helped create the Bermuda Triangle legend while also undermining its strongest supernatural interpretations. The second tragedy added emotional weight and dramatic coincidence, yet the available evidence points towards a conventional aviation disaster unfolding alongside the already confused and deteriorating situation faced by Flight 19 itself.
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Endnotes
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Flight 19
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_19 -
Source: ibiblio.org
Title: Findings of the Board of Investigation Into the Loss of Flight
Link: https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Flight19/index.htmlSource snippet
reported explosion failed to reveal any debris of the missing PBM or evidence of its crew. --18--. Transcribed by Harry Allston, for the...
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Source: history.navy.mil
Link: https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-057/h-057-4.htmlSource snippet
Naval History and Heritage CommandH-057-4: The Disappearance of Flight 197 Jan 2021 — Radar and visual sighting of a flaming aircraft fal...
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Source: usni.org
Title: mysterious disappearance flight 19
Link: https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2021/october/mysterious-disappearance-flight-19Source snippet
Naval InstituteThe Mysterious Disappearance of Flight 19That night, a merchant ship off the coast of Fort Lauderdale reported seeing a “b...
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Source: usni.org
Title: very able mariner
Link: https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2007/december/very-able-marinerSource snippet
Naval InstituteA Very Able Mariner | Naval History MagazineDecember 1, 2007 — The Martin PBM Mariner—the world's largest twin-engine flyi...
Published: December 1, 2007
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Source: history.navy.mil
Title: Naval History and Heritage Command Martin Mariner PBM
Link: https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-aircraft/martin-mariner-pbm.htmlSource snippet
Naval History and Heritage CommandMartin Mariner PBM - Naval History and Heritage CommandMartin PBM-3 "marine" patrol bomber, NH 93645 Ma...
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Source: aviation-safety.net
Title: Read more
Link: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/337515Source snippet
Aviation Safety NetworkAccident Martin PBM-5 Mariner 59225, Wednesday 5...At 19:50 the tanker SS Gaines Mills reported seeing a mid-air...
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Source: history.com
Title: the mysterious disappearance of flight 19
Link: https://www.history.com/articles/the-mysterious-disappearance-of-flight-19Source snippet
HISTORY TV NederlandThe Mysterious Disappearance of Flight 194 Dec 2015 — Many believe the wrecks of Flight 19 and its doomed rescue plan...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Martin PBM Mariner
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_PBM_MarinerSource snippet
Martin PBM MarinerThe Martin PBM Mariner is a twin-engine American patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War er...
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Source: aviation-safety.net
Link: https://aviation-safety.net/asndb/type/mamaSource snippet
Martin PBM-3C MarinerAviation Safety Network: Aviation Safety Network: Databases containing descriptions of over 11000 airliner write-off...
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Source: aviatorsdatabase.com
Title: Flight 19
Link: https://www.aviatorsdatabase.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Flight-19.pdfSource snippet
Navy investigators...Read more...
Additional References
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Source: nasflmuseum.com
Link: https://www.nasflmuseum.com/flight-19.htmlSource snippet
Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale MuseumFlight 19 the Lost AvengersGaines Mills reported seeing an explosion at sea off New Smyrna beach...
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Source: seawings.co.uk
Link: https://www.seawings.co.uk/images/manuals/Mariner%20Manual%20ex%20Dave%20Koss/Pilots%20Handbook%20Martin%20PBM-5%20Mariner.pdf -
Source: facebook.com
Title: throwbackthursday on december 5 1945 five us navy bombers collectively known as
Link: https://www.facebook.com/NavyOutreach/posts/throwbackthursday-on-december-5-1945-five-us-navy-bombers-collectively-known-as-/976025141232518/Source snippet
Navy bombers, collectively...A tanker in the vicinity reported witnessing a midair explosion, and an oil slick... PBM Mariner flying bo...
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Source: attitudeofaggression.com
Link: https://www.attitudeofaggression.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Flight-19-History-Analysis.docxSource snippet
Flight 19 History & AnalysisClaim: A PBM Mariner sent to search also vanished—furthering the mystery. • Evidence: A nearby tanker crew re...
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Source: simpleflying.com
Title: mystery flight 19 us navy martin pbm mariner bermuda triangle
Link: https://simpleflying.com/mystery-flight-19-us-navy-martin-pbm-mariner-bermuda-triangle/Source snippet
Mystery Of Flight 19: The US Navy Martin PBM Mariner...7 Aug 2024 — It should be noted that, unlike the missing torpedo bombers, a vesse...
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Source: reflections.live
Title: into the vanishing horizon by ayaan khalil 27896 mjzld8ri
Link: https://reflections.live/articles/25633/into-the-vanishing-horizon-by-ayaan-khalil-27896-mjzld8ri.htmlSource snippet
Into the Vanishing Horizon4 Jan 2026 — The Official Investigation: Reports, Revisions, and Unresolved Questions. In the immediate afterma...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTKP9OalRyP/Source snippet
ble floating platform for an aircraft resting on the water.Read more...
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Source: midway.org
Title: mysterious disappearance of navy flight 19
Link: https://www.midway.org/blog/mysterious-disappearance-of-navy-flight-19Source snippet
The Mysterious Disappearance of Navy Flight 1922 Dec 2020 — A PBM Mariner flying boat set out from NAS Banana River north of Fort Lauderd...
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Source: historyhit.com
Title: the mysterious disappearance of flight 19
Link: https://www.historyhit.com/the-mysterious-disappearance-of-flight-19/Source snippet
7 Feb 2023 — (Two PBM Mariner flying boats were sent out and one of these also disappeared, believed to have exploded shortly after take...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/HickoryAviationMuseum/posts/today-in-milavhist-1251945-the-disappearance-of-flight-19-flight-19-was-the-desi/1168725341728883/Source snippet
Today in MilAvHist, 12/5/1945, the disappearance of Flight..." A PBM Mariner designated Training 49, is dispatched to locate the missing...
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