The B-24 Liberator "Tulsamerican" is a WWII aircraft wreck off Vis, Croatia, resting at 38-52 meters depth. Built in July 1944 as the last B-24 produced in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this aircraft was shot down on December 17, 1944 during an 800-aircraft raid. Three crew members lost their lives. The wreck is now a protected Croatian historic monument and remains a memorial site where two airmen still rest.
PickADive guides and forecast windows are planning context, not a safety clearance. Confirm current conditions, rules, training limits, and operator guidance before diving — the decision is yours.
- Planning focus
- WWII aircraft wreck
- Access
- Operator-led boat dive
- Confirm legal access, route, and depth locally.
- Best for
- History and wreck photography
- Planning note
- Confirm depth locally
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Suggested context: Advanced Open Water Or Deeper Wreck Experience Recommended; Dive Only With A Local Operator Who Confirms Depth, Legal Access, And Route Suitability.
- Depth
- Depth varies
- Confirm your plan against current conditions and training.
Why dive B-24 Liberator "Tulsamerican"
The Tulsamerican represents more than a dive site - it is a piece of WWII aviation history. Factory workers in Tulsa signed their names on the aircraft they built for the war effort. After flying over 150 combat missions from Italy, the B-24J (serial 42-51430) was forced to ditch near Vis when returning from a mission to Odertal. Searchers arrive through the aircraft history, and the page should honor that intent.
How to dive it
Plan it only with a local operator from Vis or Komiza who can confirm current legal access, mooring point, maximum depth, visibility, and whether the dive suits your certification. The wreck lies in three main sections: forward fuselage with wings and engines, and a separated tail section. Approach as a look-only heritage site - the aircraft remains protected where it lies.
Marine life and site character
The main interest is the aircraft wreck and its setting in the Adriatic. Marine life colonizes the structure, but the dive is about respecting WWII aviation heritage. Keep distance, avoid contact, and leave the wreck exactly as found.
Best season and conditions
Choose a settled Adriatic weather window with good operator confidence, manageable current, and visibility suitable for the 38-52m depth range. Summer trip reports more often describe settled weather and current, but this remains a serious dive requiring appropriate experience and gas planning in any season.
Hazards and diver readiness
Depth (38-52m requires experience), boat logistics, current, low visibility, fragile wreckage, entanglement points, and heritage-site restrictions. The Tulsamerican is a protected monument - touching, entering, or disturbing the wreck is prohibited. Two crew members remain at rest inside the aircraft.
Local tips
Operators in Komiza and Vis town run trips to the Tulsamerican. Before booking, confirm they treat the dive as a memorial/heritage experience. Ask about the exact planned depth, bottom time limits, and photography guidelines. The NOVA documentary about the 2017-2018 recovery expedition provides excellent context.
The Tulsamerican story
The Tulsamerican was the last B-24 Liberator built at the Douglas plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma in July 1944. Home Front workers funded its construction and signed their names on the fuselage. The aircraft served with the 765th Squadron, 461st Bombardment Group, flying over 150 combat missions from bases in Italy before its final mission.
- Serial number 42-51430, B-24J model Liberator bomber.
- Last B-24 built in Tulsa - factory workers signed the aircraft before it shipped.
- Part of the 765th Squadron, 461st Bombardment Group.
- Over 150 combat missions flown from Torretta, Italy.
December 17, 1944 - the final mission
On December 17, 1944, the Tulsamerican joined an 800-aircraft raid to Odertal near the Polish-German border. Over Czechoslovakia, German fighters attacked and damaged an engine. Unable to keep formation, the crew turned for Italy but realized they could not make it. With another engine failing over Vis, they attempted a water landing - the impact tore the aircraft apart. Three crew members were killed; others were rescued by local fishermen and a British rescue team.
- Part of a massive 800-aircraft raid on German targets.
- German fighter attack damaged engine over Czech airspace.
- Could not lower landing gear - forced to ditch at sea near Vis.
- Three crew members lost their lives in the crash.
Diving the Tulsamerican
The wreck was discovered by Darko Bojanic in 2009 at 41 meters depth near Vis. Today the site lies at 38-52 meters, accessible to experienced recreational divers. The forward fuselage, wings, and four engines remain largely intact; the tail section lies separated. In 2017-2018, a recovery expedition supported by the Croatian Navy recovered crew remains, later identified as Captain Ford through DNA testing and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
- Depth: 38-52 meters - requires experience and proper gas planning.
- Forward fuselage, wings, and engines largely intact.
- Tail section separated from main wreckage.
- Protected Croatian historic monument since discovery.
- Two crew members remain at rest within the aircraft.
Questions to ask the operator
The Tulsamerican is a serious dive requiring proper planning. Operators in Komiza and Vis run trips to the site.
- What maximum depth and bottom time are planned?
- Are there legal or heritage restrictions at the wreck?
- Is the route suitable for my certification and recent experience?
- What enriched air or decompression planning is recommended?