World War II airplane found in Syracuse seabed

Sicily once again proves to be a treasure chest of underwater historical treasures. In the depths of Capo Passero, in the province of Siracusa, a Junkers Ju 88, one of the Luftwaffe's most versatile aircraft during the World War II. The wreck, lying at a depth of 51 meters, was located thanks to searches by the team of the Capo Murro Diving Center, supervised by the Soprintendenza del Mare della Regione Siciliana. This discovery represents an important piece in the historical reconstruction of air operations along the Sicilian coastline.

Through serial analysis and consultation of historical documents, the wreckage was identified as belonging to a KG 54 (Kampfgeschwader) aircraft. This Junkers Ju 88 had taken off on March 2, 1943 from Catania with the objective of bombing the port of Tripoli. During the mission, it was attacked by night fighters and forced to ditch south of Cape Sparrow.

The four-member crew had a dramatic fate:

• Leutnant Hans Bergé, pilot, was injured.
• Unteroffizier Werner Paetow, observer, lost his life and was later buried in Motta Sant'Anastasia.
• Leutnant Hans Treffkorn, radio operator, sustained injuries.
• Unteroffizier Albert Burging, machine gunner, also died and was buried in Motta Sant'Anastasia.

This episode is set in the context of the intense air war operations conducted along the Syracuse coast during World War II, particularly during the crucial period of theOperazione Husky, the Allied landing in Sicily in July 1943. During Operation Husky, many Junkers Ju 88s operated along the Sicilian coast, attempting to counter the Allied advance. Between July 10 and July 17, 1943, these aircraft were involved in attacks on enemy vessels, but suffered heavy losses, with numerous examples shot down and ending up in the Syracuse seabed.

Thanks to a meadow of posidonia, the Junkers Ju 88 at Capo Passero still retains distinctive elements of the wings, some 14 meters long, and other components such as tanks and piping. Technical analysis, supported by historical documentation, enabled the aircraft's model and origin to be identified with certainty.

The discovery at Capo Passero is not an isolated case. In recent years, thanks to cooperation between the Sea Superintendence and private associations, several Junkers Ju 88 wrecks have been discovered in the waters of the province of Syracuse:

1. Punta Izzo - Wreck at a depth of 26 meters, identified in the 1980s.
2. Cape Ognina - Wreck at 63 meters depth, identified in 2021.
3. Mouth of the Simeto River - Found in 2023 at a depth of 19 meters.
4. Punta Campolato - Wreck located in 2023 at a depth of 102 meters.
5. Calabernardo - In September 2024, at a depth of 19 meters.
6. Cape Passer - Last found, October 2024, at a depth of 51 meters.

The discovery of wrecks such as that of Capo Passero is the result of a successful synergy between public agencies and private associations. In recent decades, this collaboration has made it possible to unearth not only traces of antiquity, but also significant evidence from the 20th century, contributing to a more complete historical reconstruction.