Historians tuned into the NOAA’s livestream of its historic exploration of the USS Yorktown on Saturday, April 19. Everyone expected surprises, but even the experts were shocked by what they found in the hangars. “That is a full car.” The most popular theory is that it was a 1940–41 Ford Super Deluxe ‘Woody.’ That would be a surprise on any ship, but was especially shocking considering what the Yorktown was doing when it was sunk by a Japanese submarine.

The USS Yorktown’s sinking

Six months after Pearl Harbor (June 1942), the U.S. Navy faced off against the Japanese fleet again at the Battle of Midway. The Japanese fleet targeted U.S. carriers because it had been unable to damage them during Pearl Harbor. But it only managed to sink one carrier and one destroyer. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy sank four Japanese carriers.

While the U.S. decisively won the Battle of Midway, the USS Yorktown suffered extensive damage. Commissioned in 1937, the Yorktown was an 824-foot-long carrier with 2,200 crewmembers. After the battle, the Navy decided to separate the non-operational Yorktown from the fleet and tow it back to Hawaii. The plan was to dock at Pearl Harbor for repairs. But the USS Yorktown never made it home. A Japanese submarine ambushed the ship, sinking it with torpedoes.

Exploring the USS Yorktown’s wreckage

On Saturday, April 19, the NOAA’s Ocean Exploration Division live-streamed its remotely operated vehicle’s expedition through the Yorktown. The wreckage of the aircraft carrier sits three miles below the ocean’s surface, 1,300 miles northwest of Honolulu.

As the ROV navigated the wreckage, something odd appeared in the depths. A surprised researcher exclaimed, “It’s a car. That’s a car.”

Was it a grille or some car parts? Nope. The ROV circled the wreck and another researcher added, “That is a full car.” It wasn’t a Willys Jeep or Dodge ¾-ton truck. No, it had chrome trim, a spare tire, and a convertible top.

Someone else asked the question everyone was thinking: “Why is there a car on this ship?”

Aircraft carriers have very limited hangar space. Keeping a car on board meant room for fewer fighter planes.

Why was a 1940–41 Ford Super Deluxe ‘Woody’ on a WWII aircraft carrier?

The mystery 1940-41 Ford “Woody” in the hangars of the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier might have been being transported for repairs. Or it might have belonged to the Admiral on board.

The NOAA filled in some details on the vehicle. “It has a license plate on the front that can be partially read saying ‘SHIP SERVICE’ at the top, but the lower part is illegible due to corrosion.”

During the live feed, one of the researchers asked for help identifying the make and model: “Here’s an open request to all your automobile vehicle folks out there… I’m sure you are being attentive to this and you understand what you are looking at. Please post on this. It really helps.”

The NOAA later suggested two theories for what a car was doing on the ship. “Perhaps the car belonged to someone important on the ship or to the fleet: the captain or admiral.” The Yorktown was Admiral Frank Fletcher’s flagship. So he could have had the car aboard as his “flag car.”

Why don’t historians have records of the car? “The vehicle may have been brought aboard at Pearl Harbor during a very brief visit for repairs sustained during the Battle of Coral Sea.” That means the car could have been loaded without being thoroughly documented.

But that’s not the only possibility. The car could have been transferred to the Yorktown later because it sustained damage, and the crew aboard the carrier was repairing it. Perhaps the car was even catching a ride back to Pearl Harbor for more extensive repair after the Battle of Midway. But it’s odd the explorers found the car still inside the carrier.

The USS Yorktown floated for hours after the torpedo strike. The crew worked very hard to keep it afloat. The NOAA explained, “Yorktown’s salvage crew worked tirelessly to jettison anti-aircraft guns and aircraft to reduce its list, but did they leave the car, something they could roll off the side?”

What car was on the USS Yorktown?

Redditors examined early photos of the headlights and chrome wheel covers of the mysterious car found in the USS Yorktown’s wreck and identified it as a Ford. Later, the NOAA released a photo of the entire vehicle, speculating it’s a “1940–41 Ford Super Deluxe ‘Woody’ in black.” The fact that its wood body rotted away first made it harder to identify.

Within hours, the Miami Herald and car enthusiasts on Reddit agreed that the mystery vehicle was indeed a Ford Woody.

The Ford Woody would have been a very unique choice for Admiral Fletcher’s staff car. The NOAA explained, “Evidently staff cars of the Ford Super Deluxe model were common with the Navy and Army ashore; however, as of yet, they haven’t been able to find a ‘Woody’ in service for staff officers, so that is potentially unique for this ship.”

Whatever the reason a Ford ‘Woody’ is at the bottom of the ocean inside the USS Yorktown, it’s a fascinating piece of automotive—and naval—history. Want to join the conversation? Click on the post below: