In Oahu, HI, the wreckage of ships, planes, or other large structures is often sunk deliberately with the intent of making an artificial reef. However, the sinking of the Vought F4U Corsair was not intentional but rather an accident. The warplane Vought F4U Corsair crashed in 1945 during World War 2 after allegedly running out of fuel. Today, the abandoned wreck is located on the southeast side of Oahu, approximately three miles away from the Hawaii Kai marina. The wreck can be found at about 110 feet below seawater and is only accessible by boat, but only by professional divers granted access to the watery site.

What Happened on the Vought F4U Corsair’s Last Flight?

The Vought F4U Corsair was a Navy and Marine military plane with bent wings that emitted a unique sound during flight. Its approximate length was 33 feet, with a height of almost 16 feet. The plane was shipped to Oahu and assigned to the USMC, MAW-1, and MAG-12, among other departments. One day, Lt. W. H. Holden took out this plane for a routine training mission from Molokai Field at Oahu to Ewa Field. Within twenty minutes of being airborne, the aircraft started sputtering, presumably due to a fuel shortage or other malfunction. Fortunately, the pilot maneuvered the craft to a smooth water landing before the engine could ultimately fail. However, the plane could not remain afloat and began sinking. Luckily for the pilot, he did not go down with the plane; his lifejacket saved him. (See kids, always wear a lifejacket!) Lt. Holden was later rescued with only a slight cut on top of his right eye as evidence of his harrowing tale. The plane remains primarily intact, with the ocean gradually reclaiming it as its own.

The Vought F4U Corsair Plane Wreck Today

The wreckage of the Vought F4U Corsair rests at a depth of over 100 feet, sitting on the sand surrounded by strong currents. The left wing of the Corsair has sunk into the seafloor, anchoring the wreckage from being washed away by the strong currents. Since the area is free from rocks or other natural structures, the wreckage is suitable for various marine creatures. After over seven decades of sitting underwater, the Corsair plane wreck is a popular adventure site for divers and photographers. However, since the area has unpredictable and strong currents, advanced diving knowledge is a necessity.

The Vought F4U Corsair Plane Wreck as a Natural Habitat and Attraction Site

The wreckage of the Vought F4U Corsair has become an ideal space in the sea for housing several varieties of fish, turtles, and eels. The Corsair lies so deep with harsh currents that it only attracts hard coral colonies. The popularity of the Corsair plane wreck grew in the mid-80s when the wreckage was featured in an episode of the US tv show Magnum. Since then, researchers, adventures, and diving professionals use the wreck as a place to photograph, visit, and study the effects of the ocean in the process of reclaiming a manufactured structure.

The Best Season to Visit the Vought F4U Corsair Plane Wreck

The best time to visit the Corsair plane wreck is during off-peak travel times. Usually, Oahu is less crowded during these periods, and hotel rooms are plenty and at affordable rates. Visiting the site during winter may give you an unmatched experience. During the cold seasons, whales tend to seek shelter on or near the wreckage, making it a stellar place to watch herds of whales.

How to Reach the Underwater Vought F4U Corsair Plane Wreck

Accessing the plane wreckage is fairly easy from the Hawaii Kai marina. You will board a boat from Koko Boat Marina, which will sail off in the northwest direction. After traveling for approximately three miles, you will anchor and ready yourself to dive. The area does have strong currents, so you will need to have a guide while touring. While anchored on top of the wreckage, you will descend an anchor line and swim for about 30 feet down towards the wreck. As you approach the intact plane wreckage, you will notice its exposed wheels, indicating the courageous pilot’s water landing. You will also notice that the plane’s bent propeller, showing the brutal force that took place during landing and sinking.

Key Takeaways

While the plane failed Lt. Holden the day of the crash, Lt. Holden’s training allowed for his survival. And the sinking of the Vought F4U Corsair created an underwater attraction for sealife and humans alike.

If you traveled between the Mehedinți Mountains and the Cerna Mountains of Romania, you’d come across Băile Herculane. Băile Herculane is a small historic town, home to one of the oldest resorts in the world. Legend has it that the great Roman hero, Hercules, once came to the town and bathed in the warm sulphuric springs, which are still believed to have healing properties. The many statues of Hercules found throughout the town suggest that his presence has been significant to its past residents. But it’s the famed thermal and sulfur springs that truly set this town apart. The Romans first began developing the natural hot springs back in 153 AD, when members of the Roman aristocracy would frequent the town for the healing waters. Over the years, the resort has undergone elaborate construction as people returned to Băile Herculane for rest and relaxation—or at least the nobles of the ruling class did. In 1852, Emperor Franz Joseph even called Băile Herculane “the most beautiful resort on the continent.”

Băile Neptun

The most significant developments were made in the 19th century, specifically between 1883 and 1886, when the Austrian imperial baths were built. The bathhouse known as Băile Neptun, named after the Roman god of the sea, was once a magnificent spa resort. But, after having been abandoned for hundreds of years, it is now a dilapidated ruin. Before its demise, however, it was a vibrant resort that attracted a lot of tourism under Romania’s communist rule. Hotels were constructed during this time to accommodate the growing tourism.

The Man Behind the Design

The architect behind Băile Neptun, Alpar Igna, created a monument to a bygone era, and now the images captured in the wake of its decay are both haunting and beautiful. Designed with a neoclassical interior, the sulfur and thermal baths consisted of 32 individual cabins and two large pools built of red marble. The grand reception hall is decorated in fine detail, with incredible colors and a ceramic fountain in the middle. While some of the rooms have deteriorated badly, this room has remained relatively preserved.

Capturing the Bathhouse

The fearless urban photographer, Roman Robroek, found his way into the abandoned buildings and took pictures of the state of the bathhouse in 2019. It is through his lens that we can marvel at the absolute beauty of the place. You could easily imagine what the buildings could have looked like in their prime. Robroek said of his discovery, “In the resort, Roman origins are present throughout the building. For example, plaques dedicated to Hercules, Aesculap, and Hygeia (protective gods of this place) can be found.” While the Băile Herculane is closed to the public—and definitely a safety hazard—these pictures may have been the last remaining memento we have of this forgotten monument to the past.

What is Being Done to Preserve the Bath House?

The bathhouse and surrounding structures were said to be beyond rehabilitation-only a few years ago. Although, as a heritage building, people believed the government should restored it with the help of financial aid. The fact that it’s on land divided between two private owners, even while the building belongs to the city hall, has been an issue of concern and ongoing legal disputes. A few brave archeologists have been fighting for the baths in the hopes that they can change its fate. Between the collapsing walls, plaster, and ceilings, it was becoming a matter of urgency for them to get in and begin the restoration process.

Herculane Project

And so the NGO, Herculane Project, was launched to save the historic building complex, as reported by the BBC. A team of about 25 volunteers, including architects and students, has already raised around €75,000 as of early this year. The team has estimated that they would need about €12 million to fully restore the buildings. They have managed to gain access inside the complex and have started saving vital sections that were under threat of being destroyed irrevocably. So far, they have added 12 sections of roofing, erected structural supports, and protected various interior and exterior relics. “This building needs constant maintenance,” says Oana Chirila, one of the architects responsible for setting up the NGO. Their goal is to have a fully restored, functioning spa in the future.

In Conclusion

While there are other fully operating spas in Băile Herculane, none can compare to the magnificence of the Băile Neptun. To experience Băile Neptun as visitors to the bathhouse were meant to enjoy it would be an honor to any future tourist.

St. Ambrose Church is located in the small town of St. Nazianz, Wisconsin. This Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1898 by Father Ambrose Oschwald, an immigrant from Germany. Father Oschwald left his church in the village of Black Town, Germany, amid claims of mystical and prophetic works to avoid religious persecution from the town’s citizens. But not every townsperson was critical of Father Oschwald. While in Germany, he amassed a following of believers who fled with him to the U.S. Father Oschwald and his cult-like following are said to have used a “divine white heifer’ to guide them through the forest. The heifer took them to what is now known as the village of St. Nazianz. The land was held communally, with all members agreeing to divide tasks equally and work without pay. After settling, Father Oschwald and his followers formed “The Association of Oschwald Brothers and Sisters” simply referred to as “The Association.”

The Death of Father Oschwald

Father Oschwald fell ill in early 1873. There were reports of strange happenings as he succumbed to his illness, like pounding on the walls of his and other residents’ houses. The mysterious pounding stopped after his death on the morning of the next day, February 27th. Father Oschwald’s coffin remained unsealed 63 days after his death before he was moved to a burial site within the Church compound.

The Decline of The Association

The Association and, by extension, the community that Father Oschwald created started falling apart shortly after his death. The decline was mainly due to legal property battles that strained the Association’s membership and finances. In 1886, The Association invited Father Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, a German Catholic priest and the founder of the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians). Later that year, the Association turned over its leadership and governorship of their remaining land to the Salvatorians. The remaining members of the Association thrived under The Salvatorians. During the 1920s and the 1930s, the Salvatorians beautified the church in brick and Gothic Revival styles. They also built a new church within the property, the new St. Ambrose Church. In addition to the new church, the Salvatorians also built a new Monastery, utility and farm buildings, a garage, a gymnasium, and a Chapel for the Salvatorian sisters. Most of this construction went into creating accommodation for newly admitted seminarians, who at the time were quite a number. In 1939, the church hosted up to 150 seminarians. Intake at the seminary started to decline in the 1960s. By the mid-1960s, only a few students were enrolling every year. This led the Salvatorians to convert the seminary to a school—the John F. Kennedy Preparatory High School. The following year, the school’s intake was at an all-time high, with the Salvatorians attempting to revive the once glorious seminary days. Unfortunately, the school was unable to maintain adequate enrollment, and it closed down in 1982.

The Haunting of John F. Kennedy Preparatory School

JFK Preparatory was rumored to be haunted. There were reports of unexplainable events happening in the school, attributed to the spirit of Father Oschwald, who is claimed to have cursed the church and other spirits of angry seminarians. The seminarians are said to have been mistreated by nuns while studying in the church. There were also accounts of the ghost of a seminary’s former student who is said to have committed suicide in the school’s dormitory. Currently, the former JFK Preparatory building lies in ruins, abandoned.

Passed Around and Converted

After the school closed in 1982, the church complex went through several owners every decade or so. The property as it stands now has been severely neglected and vandalized. Most of its buildings are dilapidated and uninhabitable. In 2008, United Ministries, a religious organization based in Green Bay, purchased the property and began its transformation to a Christian youth center campus. The Ministry has refurbished some of the church’s properties and buildings, including the former football field and several dormitories. The organization has remodeled the former gymnasium into a thrift store and built a campground near Lake Oschwald. The thrift store is one of the St. Ambrose church properties open to visitors. Even with these renovations, the main St. Ambrose Church building remains run-down and deserted, with only a temporary roof left to shelter curious visitors during the summer.

Conclusion

Despite its mysterious and slightly creepy history, the St. Ambrose Church in Wisconsin is a marvel to both visitors of St. Nazianz and long-term dwellers. The building is now a former shadow of itself with dimly lit windows and shabby structures but is still magnificent and full of history.