Site Formation Process Studies as Aircraft Site Identification: A WWII-Era Flying Boat Case Study

Compared to the study of shipwrecks, the investigation of submerged aircraft is relatively recent in underwater archaeology. With the passing of time and the addition of World War II (WWII) sites to historical registers, the inclusion of aircraft in the Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004, and the continued expansion of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s (DPAA) mission to recover lost pilots and crew, these studies have become increasingly important to a variety of stakeholders. Site formation process (SFP) studies stipulate that a crucial aspect of the accurate investigation and interpretation of a site first requires a thorough understanding of the processes that created and subsequently altered the site. For terrestrial archaeologists and maritime archaeologists studying shipwreck sites, a well-established database of such knowledge already exists. For submerged aircraft, however, this database is small, yet growing. This paper will contribute to the understanding and interpretation of submerged aircraft sites through the study of the processes that created and subsequently affected a submerged WWII-era PB2Y Coronado aircraft located in Tanapag Lagoon, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Archaeological and historical evidence is examined through the lens of SFP studies to identify the specific aircraft, determine its cause of crash, and understand cultural and natural factors that have impacted the site and may affect it today.