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Canada believes has found U.S. wartime plane wreck


    OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian divers have found what they believe is the wreck of a U.S. seaplane that sank in the St. Lawrence River in November 1942, and there may still be human remains aboard, officials said on Thursday.

    The U.S. Army Air Force PBY 5A flying boat -- popularly known as the Catalina -- foundered after trying to take off in high waves near Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec, some 940 km (580 miles) northeast of Montreal. Five members of the nine-man crew died.

    Underwater archaeologists working for Parks Canada found that the plane appeared to be in very good condition and said there could be a chance of finding remains of the missing crew.

    Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan was home to one of the airfields built in Eastern Canada that were used to ferry aircraft and supplies to Allied forces in Europe in World War Two.

    Canadian officials will now work with the U.S. government to formally identify the wreck and to "explore the possibility of eventually recovering the remains of the missing crew members," Parks Canada said in a statement.

    (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Rob Wilson)