At 888-feet long, the USS Saratoga (CV-3) is surely the largest ship sunk at Bikini. Originally laid down as a cruiser, she was converted to an aircraft carrier before completion due to the post-war naval arms agreements concluded after World War I. The Saratoga took part in many of the major battles in the Pacific, including Guadalcanal, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Tarawa and Rabaul. In February 1945 the carrier was struck by no fewer than five kamikazis. Saratoga was sent to Bikini Atoll as a target ship after significant modifications that removed two of her 5-inch gun turrets and many of her antiaircraft gun tubs. Sunk nearly eight-hours after the Baker blast, Saratoga sits upright on the bottom of the lagoon and is the most impressive wreck at Bikini, with her bow towering high above the lagoon bottom. Unfortunately, most of her flight deck has now collapsed into the hanger deck below, apparently crushing three of the four aircraft inside.

For the Baker test, there were four aircraft in the Saratoga's hanger deck: three Curtiss SBF-4E Helldivers and one Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, all located on the starboard side with their wings folded. The three forward aircraft were SBF-4E Helldivers at frames 90, 100 and 110 (SNs 31894, 31850 and 31840, respectively); the fourth aircraft was a TBM-3E Avenger at frame 120 (SN 69095). In 1996, when Bikini was first opened to the public for diving, the hanger deck was penetrable and all four of these aircraft were accessible. By 2023 most of the flight deck had collapsed into the hanger deck, apparently crushing three of the aircraft. I was able to photograph all four aircraft in 1996, and the partial remains of three (?) of them in 2023. The following photographs show the four hanger deck aircraft starting forward in the hanger deck and working aft, comparing their condition in 1996 (left) and 2023 (right). Note that the identification of the partial aircraft in 2023 is not completely definitive, but my best guess from my 1996 notes and photos and what I could see in 2023 and their relative positions in the hanger deck.

Hanger Deck Aircraft in 1996

Hanger Deck Aircraft in 2023

For the Baker test, there were six aircraft on the Saratoga's flight deck: three Curtiss SBF-4E Helldivers and three Grumman TBM-3E Avengers, all with their wings spread and locked. Two aircraft were located on the ship's fantail, SBF-4E Helldiver SN 31859 on the starboard side, and TBM-3E SN 69080 on the port side. Four aircraft were located midships, aft of the aircraft elevator and adjacent to the stack structure. There were two SBF-4E Helldivers, SNs 31853 asnd 31839, and two TBM-3E Avengers, SNs 69094 and 69099. All of these aircraft were swept off the flight deck and reported as missing after the Baker blast wave had cleared, and before Saratoga sank. All four of them, or there remains, should be somewhere on the floor of the lagoon, presumably nearby.

This aircraft sits upright on the lagoon bottom, facing toward the Saratoga, approximately 100 ft (?) from the port side aft quad Bofor mount. The tail and aft fuselage are missing, with the fuselage severed halfway through the cockpit region. Both wing outer panels are in place with the wing tips missing. Both main landing gears are extended and appear intact, visible from the front of the aircraft. The engine and prop have fallen forward into the sand. On the RHS of the cockpit instrument panel, on top, is the auxiliary gun sight, seemingly in perfect condition. The windscreen frame is intact and un-damaged, minus the plexiglass/glass.

Identifying Features:

- the landing gear is that of an Avenger; it is located inboard and folds outboard, with the characteristic outboard diagonal brace (as opposed to a Helldiver, whose main gear is located outboard and folds inboard); the wheel well is easily visible underneath the wing

- the windscreen has the 4 intermediate vertical frame struts of an Avenger (the Helldiver only has 2)

- the instrument panel layout matches that of an Avenger

- looking closely at the left hand wing, although covered in marine growth, the wing fold line can be made out, and has the canted rib orientation characteristic of the Grumman fold mechanism, as opposed to the non-canted fold rib of a Helldiver; this is particularly noticeable at the wing leading edge

- The wings are in the spread and locked position, indicating that this aircraft was on the flight deck

Due to its proximity to the Saratoga, its location off the port side stern, it seems likely that this is TBM-3E SN 69080, which was located on the port side fantail of the ship for the Baker blast. The aircraft is in excellent condition save for its missing tail section. The damage reported after the Able blast was as follows: 'Airplane sustained light to moderate damage, with port side of fuselage slightly dished, cockpit canopies broken, tail gunner window blown in, flaps buckled and blown downward, elevator hinges and actuating mechanism damaged when elevators were blown violently downward. No damage to other components or equipment.'

Following the Baker blast the damage was reported as: 'Airplane missing - blown over the side from the SARATOGA before the ship sank. Aircraft was secured in steel drip pan which was also blown over the side. There was no fire.'

Off the starboard bow, directly out from the forward end of the remaining triple gun tub, approximately 100 feet (?), lie two aircraft. The aircraft are upside down, approximately 30-50 feet apart, parallel and facing directly away from the Saratoga. The after aircraft is a TBM-3E Avenger, and the forward aircraft is a SBF-4E Helldiver. In addition, directly under the Saratoga's gun tub is the remains of a largely crushed SBF-4E Helldiver.

This forward of the two aircraft is clearly a SBF-4E Helldiver. The majority of the aircraft and wing are completely upside down, with the aft fuselage broken off and possibly right-side up, but missing the vertical fin. The bomb bay doors are open with two 500 lb bombs visible inside. The port main landing gear is in place and sticking straight up, while the starboard gear is broken and lying on the wing.

Identifying Features:

- the landing gear is that of a Helldiver; it is located outboard and folds inboard

- the engine has the 4-bladed prop of a Helldiver (note that only two blades are visible, but are clearly 90-degrees apart)

- the horizontal stabilizers and remains of the elevator match the planform of a Helldiver

- although covered with marine growth, the perforations of the dive flaps are visible on the starboard wing trailing edge

The grouping of three aircraft in such close proximity certainly suggests that these were three of the four aicraft located on the midships flight deck of Saratoga. The mix of aircraft is also correct, minus one missing Avenger. That would suggest that this aircraft is either SBF-4E SN 31839 or 31853. Both aircraft were reported as having sustained 'light damage' following the Able blast, and 'missing - blown over the side from SARATOGA before the ship sank' after the Baker blast.

This aircraft is the after of the two aircraft lying parallel to one another off the starboard side bow of Saratoga. The forward section and wing are completely upside down, but the fuselage is broken mid-way through the cockpit with the after section lying on its starboard side, with the tail wheel visible and the port horizontal stabilizer and remains of elevator sticking straight up. The bomb bay doors are mostly closed with a 500 lb bomb just visible inside. Both main landing gear are in place and sticking straight up. There is what appears to be a drop tank on the port wing, although this could be a radar pod which was common on this version of the Avenger.

Identifying Features:

- the landing gear is that of an Avenger; it is located inboard and folds outboard, with the characteristic outboard diagonal brace (as opposed to a Helldiver, whose main gear is located outboard and folds inboard)

- the engine has the 3-bladed prop of an Avenger, rather than the 4-bladed prop of a Helldiver

- the tail landing gear is retractable with the landing gear door attached

- the radio operator's seat is clearly visible aft of the pilot's in the broken tail section and matches that of the Avenger

It seems likely that this is TBM-3E SN 69099 or 69094, both of which were located on the flight deck midships. Although the wingtips appear to be missing, both wings can be seen to be extended and locked, with part of the outer wing panel still in place. SN 69099 was reported as having light structural damage following Able, while SN 69094 was reported as being undamaged. Both aircraft were reported as 'missing - blown over the side from SARATOGA before the ship sank' after the Baker blast.

This aircraft lies directly under the starboard side bow gun tubs, and appears to have been partially crushed by the Saratoga landing directly on top of its fuselage. The portion of the aircraft that is visible appears to be lying on its starboard side/upside down, based on the presence of two bomb trapezes (lower left photo). Two blades of the propeller are visible sticking out of the lagoon bottom. One of the perforated dive flaps is clearly visible, identifying this as a Helldiver.

Identifying Features:

- the engine appears to have the 4-bladed prop of a Helldiver, although only two blades are visible

- the clear identification of this aircraft is provided by the perforated dive flap on the forward side (forward in reference to Saratoga) of the aircraft (lower right photo)

The location of this aircraft would suggest that this aircraft is either SBF-4E SN 31839 or 31853. Both aircraft were reported as having sustained 'light damage' following the Able blast, and 'missing - blown over the side from SARATOGA before the ship sank' after the Baker blast. It certainly appears that the Saratoga literally landed on top of this aircraft when it sank. It also seems likely that the tail of the same aircraft lies just off the starboard bow of the ship, nearly opposite of this piece...see tail aircraft discussion below.

There were far more aircraft present in the target fleet than just those on the aircraft carrier Saratoga. There were a total of 73 aircraft deployed on various ships (or moored on their own, as several seaplanes were) during the Able blast, and 40 during the Baker test. Many were damaged or destroyed; those that were only moderately damaged after the Able blast were retained for the Baker test. In all, 33 aircraft were either swept overboard, went down with the ship they were stowed aboard or were so badly damaged that they were jettisoned over the side after the Able blast. Another 11 were deposited on the lagoon bottom by the Baker test, including the ten aircraft that went down with Saratoga. The aircraft that ended up on the bottom after Able included 5 SBF-4E Helldivers, 5 TBM-3E Avengers, 7 F6F-5N Hellcats, 7 OS2U-3 Kingfisher seaplanes and 9 FM-2 Wildcats. Baker added the 4 TBM-3E Avengers and 6 SBF-4E Helldivers aboard Saratoga, and a FG-1D Corsair blown off the USS Fallon. Thus there should be a total of 44 aircraft on the bottom of Bikini lagoon, many of which should be lying in the sand as they were blown off their ships or later jettisoned over the side.

On the port side of the Saratoga's bow, approximately 300 feet (?) straight out at the end of a mooring chain stretched across the bottom, is the partial remains of a seaplane. The wreckage consists of part of the structural wingbox with a very short section of curved canopy attached, along with part of either the main float or a wing float, broken in two. There are only two possibilities for the identification of this aircraft, as there were only two types of seaplanes present during the tests, none of which were present on the Saratoga: an OS2U-3 Kingfisher floatplane, or a XSC-1/SC-1 floatplane. (There were also 2 PB2Y aircraft moored, but neither were sunk and this cannot be those due to size alone.)

This piece of wreckage is almost certainly the partial remains of an OS2U-3 Kingfisher, likely from USS Nevada or Salt Lake City. There were two of these aircraft present on Nevada during the Able test, and both were reported 'completely demolished' and their remains were 'jettisoned.' There was also one onboard the USS Salt Lake City that was blown overboard by the Able blast and reported as missing. Nevada and USS Independence were both moored near the center of the target array during Able, and very close to where Saratoga was moved to for the Baker test. The Able location of Salt Lake City, however, seems to have been off the port bow of the Baker location of Saratoga, which fits the location of the seaplane remains. The 2 SC-1 seaplanes present in the tests were not reported sunk or jettisoned.

At the foot of the bow on the port side sits the tail section of an aircraft, including the tail landing gear and either the horizontal or vertical stabilizer, minus the rudder/elevators. The tail landing gear is in place, although covered in quite a bit of marine growth. There are only three reasonable possibilities for the identity of this tail section. On board the Saratoga during the Baker blast were six aircraft on the flight deck, three Curtiss SBF-4E Helldivers and three Grumman TBM-3E Avengers. A third possibility, which is a bit of a wildcard, is the possibility that it is a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. While there were no Hellcats on board the Saratoga during the Baker blast, 4 Hellcats were aboard the USS Independence during the Able blast. Two were on the flight deck and were reported as missing, blown overboard, after the blast. Two were on the hanger deck and reported as “completely demolished” with the fuselage broken aft of the cockpit, and were “jettisoned.” Note that after the Able blast, the Saratoga was repositioned quite close to where Independence was anchored during the Able blast, and it seems possible that Saratoga was coincidentally moored over this tail section, which could be an F6F Hellcat from the Independence.

What does appear to match this tail is a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat fighter (note-not Helldiver). It had a retractable tail wheel that sits directly below the vertical fin. The lower fuselage also extends smoothly forward from the tail wheel without the deep belly of the Avenger, matching the tail at the foot of the Saratoga's bow. In addition, the shape of the vertical fin here seems to match that of the Hellcat (note that the rudder is missing). While there were no Hellcats on board the Saratoga during the Baker blast, 4 Hellcats were aboard the USS Independence during the Able blast. Two were on the flight deck and were reported as missing, blown overboard, after the blast. Two were on the hanger deck and reported as 'completely demolished' with the fuselage broken aft of the cockpit, and were 'jettisoned.' Note that after the Able blast, the Saratoga was repositioned quite close to where the Independence was anchored during the Able blast, and it seems likely that Saratoga was coincidentally moored over this tail section, which is likely an F6F Hellcat from the Independence.

My initial theory was that this was in fact a Grumman Hellcat. This was largely based on two things: from the forward end of the tail wreckage there appeared to be a landing gear door attached to the front landing gear strut, which would mean that the tail gear was retractable, which would eliminate the Helldiver, since it had a fixed tail gear. The second assumption was that the vertical fin was lying in the sand "above" the tail; this seemed logical since there was only one surface present, not the two that would constitute the horizontal stabilizer. The planform of the "vertical" seemed to match the planform of the vertical fin on the Hellcat. While the Avenger had a retractable tail wheel, the tail gear on the Avenger is further forward than the vertical fin, while this tail section has the tail gear directly below the fin. In addition, the deep, stepped belly of the Avenger is not evident here, as the fuselage lower surface extends smoothly forward of the tail wheel. All the above taken together led me to conclude that this was in fact the tail section of a Grumman Hellcat.

As time went on, Becky Kagan Schott introduced me to Brett Eldridge, who had been in Bikini several weeks after I had, and had constructed some fantastic 3D photometric models of the Saratoga's aircraft. We got to talking and comparing notes, and after much back-and-forth discussion and staring at pictures and schematics, finally came to the conclusion that this aircraft tail is actually from a Curtiss SBF-4E Helldiver. As it turns out, the "fin" present appears to be one-half of the horizontal stabilizer, with the other half covered with sand, and not the vertical fin of the aircraft. What I had thought was a landing gear door is apparently the front end of the Helldiver tail fairing; seen from the side (above the wreck) the tail wheel fairing seems to match almost perfectly with the Helldiver fairing, and the "fin" seems to match almost perfectly with the planform of the structural portion of the horizontal stabilizer of a Helldiver.

Eventually we came to the conclusion that we were looking at the horizontal stabilizer, not the vertical fin, and that it lies under the fuselage and the other half is (likely) buried under the sand. This makes a lot of sense; it was bothersome all along that there would be a vertical fin and no trace of the horizontal stabilizer. Referring to the Helldiver on the starboard side of the bow, this is the reverse of what you see, the vertical is gone with no trace, and the entire horizontal is intact. The horizontal stabilizer is built as one piece from side to side. It is then attached to the flat deck of the fuselage aft of the "turtle deck," and then the vertical gets attached above that. So it would have been "disassembled" in reverse order, the vertical getting ripped off, what's left lands upside down and breaks the horizontal stabilizer-fuselage joint in the process and over time the other half of the horizontal gets buried under the sand. The missing part of the fuselage that was above the stabilizer makes the remaining fuselage appear much sleeker, so you don't really see the deep belly of the Helldiver. Since this tail section on the port bow is almost certainly that of a Helldiver, and there is a partially crushed Helldiver beneath the port forward gun tub, it would seem logical that these are two pieces of the same aircraft, either SN 31853 or 31839, which were located midships on the flight deck during the Baker blast.