In a recent discovery that adds yet another piece to the complex mosaic of World War II in the Mediterranean, a Junkers Ju 88 plane was found 51 meters deep on the seabed near the small island of Capo Passero, located at the southern tip of Sicily. This aircraft, identified by its serial number, belonged to KG 54 (Kampfgeschwader 54), a Luftwaffe unit that took off on March 2, 1943, from Catania with the mission to bomb the port of Tripoli. However, it was intercepted and attacked by night fighters, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at sea, just south of Capo Passero.

The team from Capo Murro Diving Center, under the scientific supervision of the Soprintendenza del Mare, has worked tirelessly to investigate and retrieve data to accurately identify both the aircraft and its crew. Thanks to this effort, it has been confirmed that four crew members were aboard: the pilot, Lieutenant Hans Bergé, who was injured in the incident; the observer, Werner Paetow from Lübeck, who sadly lost his life and was buried in Motta S. Anastasia in Catania; the radio operator, Lieutenant Hans Treffkorn, who was also injured; and the gunner, Albert Burging from Limbach/Homburg, who also perished and was buried in the same location as his comrade.

The identification of this Junkers Ju 88 provides a new perspective on reconstructing the air operations that took place along the Syracuse coast during World War II. These events occurred in the critical context of Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. During this operation, Axis forces, particularly the Luftwaffe, fought fiercely to halt the Allies’ advance toward the Italian peninsula, with many Junkers Ju 88s playing an active role in this effort.

Junkers aircraft sicily
Another view of the wreckage. Credit: Elio Nicosia / Soprintendenza del Mare

The Junkers Ju 88 was one of the most versatile and widely used aircraft of the Luftwaffe, serving multiple functions in the war, from bomber and night fighter to reconnaissance aircraft, dive bomber, and torpedo bomber. Its versatility made it a cornerstone of German air operations on multiple fronts, including the Mediterranean, where it was used to attack Allied convoys and land targets.

Notably, between July 10 and July 17, 1943, many of these planes were shot down while attempting to stop the Allied invasion of Sicily’s shores. Historical records indicate that in the first days of Operation Husky, from July 10 to July 12, several Junkers Ju 88s succeeded in sinking Allied vessels, although at the cost of significant losses in the waters near Syracuse.

The discovery of this latest plane joins a series of recent findings of Ju 88 aircraft along the Syracuse coast, underscoring the intense aerial military activity in this area during the war. In September 2024, another Junkers Ju 88 wreck was found 19 meters deep, near the coast of Calabernardo, a locality in the municipality of Noto, also in Syracuse.

Although the aircraft was severely damaged, its wings, largely stripped of metal cladding, as well as some tanks and parts of the electrical and hydraulic systems, were still visible. The wings, about 14 meters long, lay in a flight position and were submerged in a meadow of Posidonia, a seagrass that carpets the seabed in various areas of the Mediterranean. About 80 meters from the main wing, aluminum fragments likely belonging to the same aircraft were located. Although the fuselage and engines were missing, identification was possible thanks to the arrangement of distinctive structural elements and analysis of technical documentation.

These recent findings bring the total number of Junkers Ju 88 aircraft found in Syracuse waters to six. The first of these planes was discovered in the 1980s in Punta Izzo, at a depth of 26 meters. Subsequently, others were located in Capo Ognina, at 63 meters in 2021; at the mouth of the Simeto River, at 19 meters in 2023; in Punta Campolato, at 102 meters in 2023; and finally in Calabernardo in September 2024, at 19 meters deep.

The discovery and study of these wrecks have not only historical value but also symbolic significance: they serve as a tribute to those involved in these events and allow the memory of those who lost their lives in these conflicts to be remembered and preserved. Moreover, documenting these findings builds a lasting record that helps future generations better understand the context and magnitude of the wartime operations in the Mediterranean.

SOURCES

Soprintendenza del Mare

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