Lost with all hands?One body found after cargo ship with 28 Americans aboard sinks during Hurricane Joaquin... leaving behind one widow pregnant with twins

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The pregnant wife of an American sailor is praying for a miracle tonight, along with the families of 32 other crewmen who had been on board a missing cargo ship that is believed to have sunk.

The Coast Guard says it found the body of one crew member from a U.S.-based ship El Faro that went down during a hurricane off the Bahamas.

Capt. Mark Fedor said at a press conference this morning that an airborne crew spotted several survival suits floating amid a large debris field from the 790-foot El Faro Sunday. Most were empty but one had a body.

A helicopter crew confirmed the person was dead but had to leave the body, described as ‘unidentifiable,’ behind to continue the search for possible survivors. 

The families of the crew, among them 28 Americans, reportedly have been notified of the alleged sinking. 

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Evidence of maritime disaster: This screengrab from a short video released by the US Coast Guard Monday shows a capsized lifeboat from the missing cargo ship El Faro off the Bahamas 

Coast Guard officials said there was no one on the lifeboat when it was discovered Sunday 

Keith Griffin's wife, Katie, spoke out from the couple’s home in Massachusetts this afternoon, revealing that she is pregnant with twins and feels ‘devastated.’ 

‘My babies are all I have left of him now,’ she told the Boston Herald.

Mrs Griffin said she last communicated to her husband, a 2005 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, via email last Wednesday.

'We just talked about our day and he was getting ready to go bed and that he probably wouldn't get much sleep because it was stormy out,’ she told the paper.

According to Griffin's wife of two years, over the course of his career as a sailor he has visited such far-flung places as South Korea and Egypt.

Katie Griffin added that Keith was scheduled to return home later this month, just in time to find out the gender of their twins together. 

Griffin was among three American El Faro crew members who were identified as missing by their loved ones Monday morning. 

Jeremy Riehm, 46, and Steven Shultz, 53, both from Florida, were also aboard the doomed vessel, according to their families.

Steven Shultz's mother told the station WBBH that she believes her son, who has been a Merchant Marine for 30 years, is still alive along with other crew members, but she is worried their supplies are dwindling.  

Names of the missing: Three more American crewmen from the missing shipping have been identified, including (L to R): Steven Shultz, Keith Griffin and Jeremy Riehm

Expectant parents: Missing sailor Keith Griffin, 33, is pictured above with his wife of two years, Katie. Mrs Griffin, from Massachusetts, is currently pregnant with the couple's twins 

Veteran sailor: Shultz's mother says her 53-year-old son, pictured here with his three children, has been a Merchant Marine for 30 years

Happier times: Jeremy Riehm (far right) is pictured in this Facebook photo next to his wife, Tina (second right) and other family 

Jeremy Riehm's wife, Tina, is a social worker based in Bokeelia, Florida, who also operates a pre-school. 

Coast Guard cutters and aircraft and a US Navy plane continued searching the Atlantic Ocean for the missing crew. The ship's owners say it carried more than enough lifeboats and rafts for the crew.

Capt Fedor also said crews found one of two lifeboats from El Faro, but it had no people or signs of life. He says the ship had two lifeboats, and each can hold 43 people.

According to the Coast Guard official, the crew would have been abandoning sheep in a Category 4 hurricane with 50-foot waves and zero visibility.

The search will continue throughout the day, focusing on one debris field that is about 300 square nautical miles and another that is 70 square nautical miles.

'We are remaining hopeful,' Fedor stated.  

The US Coastguard released footage of a rescue team recovering empty life rings from the water on Sunday

The search continues: Empty life vests, three empty life rings and loose deck materials have been found floating in the Bermuda Triangle two days after a cargo ship carrying 33 people went missing in the region

On Saturday, rescue teams spotted one life ring 120 miles northeast of Crooked Island. By Sunday, a further two life rings and multiple life vests had been spotted

On Sunday, searchers spotted what appeared to be pieces of container and an oil sheen, and found a life ring from the El Faro. 

Cargo, wood and Styrofoam have also been discovered 48 hours after the captain aboard El Faro inexplicably sailed into Hurricane Joaquin on Friday and was last known to be near the Bahamas' Crooked Island.

At noon Monday, Antonthy Chiarllo, Prsident and CEO of TOTE Inc, the company that owns and operates ther boat, released a statment addressing the apparent sinking of El Fato.

'We continue to hold out hope for survivors. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the family members and we will continue to do all we can to support them,' the news release read. 

'The efforts and assistance from the US Coast Guard has been extraordinary and we continue to be grateful for their dedication and efforts to find surviving crew members. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico continues to work closely with the Coast Guard in ongoing search and rescue operations.' 

This picture shows a life ring from the sunken cargo vessel the El Faro 

Update: Capt. Mark Fedor, chief of response for the Coast Guard 7th District, talks to reporters during a news conference Monday at the Opa-locka Airport in Opa-locka, Florida 

This map shows the last known position of El Faro off Crooked lsland, Bahamas, on the morning of October 1 before it went missing during Hurricane Joaquin  

On Saturday, rescue teams spotted one life ring 120 miles northeast of Crooked Island. 

By Sunday afternoon, a further two life rings and multiple life vests had been spotted, First Coast News reported, dealing an ominous blow to hopes the 28 Americans and five Poles will be found alive. 

Addressing the discovery of the debris field on Sunday night, Chiarello admitted: ‘You don’t want to find that of course but we hold out hope that until we have specific confirmation of what the debris field includes and specific identification that ties it to the El Faro.

‘You have to remember there was a lot of debris that came off the neighboring islands and blew into the water so to have a significant debris field in that area there likely will be many one would expect based on just the severity of the storm.

‘So we hold out hope until there is confirmation that the materials in the debris field came in fact from El Faro.’

Asked if the search now was for the ship or for lifeboats at this stage Mr Chiarello said: ‘We’re looking for anything we can – the ship, lifeboats or both.’

Items found by the US Coastguard search teams - who have covered an area of more than 70,000 square nautical miles - also include containers, loose deck materials and oil sheen, officials confirmed to Daily Mail Online.

However, they insist the finding is positive as it 'validates our search effort'.

'It validates our search efforts and while we are disappointed we did not find the ship today we are hopeful,' Coast Guard spokesman Marilyn Fajardo told CNN on Saturday. 

'Tomorrow, we will have three C-130s flying and the Navy will be assisting again with a P-8 aircraft.'

Families of some of the missing crewmembers from Maine will attend a private prayer vigil this evening. 

Today Tote workers were called into the company’s Jacksonville Headquarters and Red Cross officials were seen entering the building. A US coastguard official was also seen arriving shortly after midday.

Barry Young’s nephew, Sean Riviera is on board El Faro. Speaking to DailyMail Online on Sunda night he said: ‘We appreciate the media attention that this is getting. At the present there’s not a lot of information as far as what has been found I just want to say to this community we really as families of these people we’re asking for your prayers, sincere prayers because in this situation that’s all we can do.’

He continued: ‘Consider if that was your child or your loved one, we ask that you seriously pray for their safe return.

‘These men are trained to survive hopefully they did what was needed to survive. We just want you to please pray for these men.'

Referring to the families’ spirits he said they were, ‘very uplifting.’ Speaking of the evening’s gathering of family members along with Tote executives and union representatives he said: ‘We had a long time of prayer and just having a united front in prayer because that’s all we can do.’ 

Antony Chiarello, President and CEO of Tote Services, admitted the firm hoped they wouldn't find the 225 square nautical mile debris field, but was holding out hope until there something there tying it to the El Faro

Phil Greene President & CEO of Tote Services defended the ship's captain Michael Davidson on Sunday night, insisting he was 'highly competent' 

Barry Young the uncle of the missing crew member Sean Riviera, asked for people to keep praying for the people on board the lost ship 

Senior officials at the maritime firm have had to defend the decision of the ship's captain, Michael Davidson, to travel towards the path of the hurricane.

Phil Greene President and CEO of Tote Services Inc said: ‘He was a highly competent, qualified master, by all accounts a calm, well collected and thoughtful leader who looked after the ship and the crew as his ultimate priority.

‘We place great faith and confidence in our captain’s voyage planning.

‘The captain established his voyage plan. He had been observing this weather system for many days. He had come back from Puerto Rico on his northbound run and had been monitoring the beginning of it when he was in port he was doing his voyage planning accordingly.

‘He had intentions of passing in front of the weather system with an adequate margin. Regrettably he suffered a mechanical problem with his main propulsion system which left him in the path of the storm.

Speaking of El Faro’s safety equipment Mr Greene added: ‘The vessel had two lifeboats on board which were certified and approved by the US Coastguard each with a capacity of 43 persons. 

'El Faro also was equipped with five life rafts also the kind of life rafts that you deploy by throwing over the side then pulling a cord they each have a capacity that can encompass somewhere between 15 and 17 people. 

'So when you look at the life rafts plus the lifeboats there was well over a 200 % capacity versus the crew that was on board.’

He insisted that El Faro, which has been in service for several years, is an ‘extremely well built vessel,’ originally designed to operate on the company’s Alaskan routes and therefore, ‘purpose built to operate in some of the most rugged and arguably dangerous waters in the world as she transited back and forth up to the Arctic. 

Phil Greene, President and CEO of TOTE Services, and a Coast Guard have a 15 minute walk around the headquarters of Tote Maritime Jacksonville, Florida, on Sunday discussing the missing cargo ship El Faro

American Red Cross workers turning up at the headquarters of Tote Maritime Jacksonville, Florida, on Sunda

Development: Three life rings and one life vest from El Faro have now been found floating north of Crooked Island. It comes a day after rescue teams found one floating in the sea. El Faro has been missing since Friday

The U.S. Coast Guard says it is still searching for car carrier ship El Faro after the vessel radioed to say it had lost power and was being battered by Hurricane Joaquin before losing contact

Search-and-rescue teams on Sunday located debris appearing to belong to the cargo ship El Faro, which went missing in the eye of Hurricane Joaquin with, 33 mostly-American crew members on board

Hurricane Joaquin is pictured off the east coast of the United States in this handout photo provided by NOAA

Tote have called in crisis management specialists MPI Network to help handle the developing situation. 

Speaking to Daily Mail Online Mike Hanson of MPI Network said: ‘Tote is literally all hands on deck.  

'Management is obviously seriously engaged we’ve set up a special team to assist family members. We set up a special 800 number for family members to call into with questions and concerns. That’s a private number.

‘We’ve set up an 800 number for media. I think I mentioned that I now have a team of 7 assisting either both management in Jacksonville – 3 of them are in Jacksonville one is en route and there are 4 of us up here in our offices in Stanford.

We’re MPI Network and this is what we do assist ship operators in crisis situations.’

As the search for El Faro continues when asked whether or not they would seek advice from other agencies, such as the Red Cross, Mr Hanson said: ‘We’re not to that point yet. If the unthinkable happens we would bring in professionals to assist the families.’ 

The developments come as the wife of one of El Faro’s crewmembers demanded to know why the beleaguered vessel set sail and why it did not re-route out of the path of Hurricane Joaquin.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail Online from her home in Jacksonville, Florida, Rochelle Hamm, 44, revealed her confusion at the captain’s decision but told of her absolute faith that her husband and the rest of the crew were still alive and would be returned safely.

Portrait of Frank Hamm and his wife Rochelle. Frank Hamm, 49, is a crew member of the missing ship El Faro. ‘We [the families] were wondering why they shipped out even though they knew that the storm was coming. And why didn’t they re-route as well,' said Rochelle to DailyMail Online 

She said: ‘We [the families] were wondering why they shipped out even though they knew that the storm was coming. And why didn’t they re-route as well.’ 

She revealed that Tote Maritime executives are standing by 53-year-old Captain Michael Davidson’s decision to set out in what was then categorized as a Tropical Storm.

She said: ‘Basically they were emphasizing that the captain has had 20 years of experience plus and that he could decide and have good decisions on things of that nature.’

Engineer Mike Holland, 25, from Wilton, Maine is also among the crew. His mother Deb Roberts wrote on her Facebook page on Sunday morning that she was 'staying positive and hopeful as a new day of searching begins'. 

She also posted a series of photos of her son in his crew uniform and on a fishing trip. 

Engineer Mike Holland, 25 (pictured with his mom Deb on her Facebook page), from Wilton, Maine is also among the missing crew. His mother wrote on Sunday that she was 'staying positive and hopeful'

Proud mom: Deb posted several images of her son Mike on Facebook, including ones of him in his ship uniform and on a fishing trip

Emotional: Deb was one of a few family members gathered on Sunday at the Seafarers International Union Jacksonville Florida awaiting news on the fate of their loved ones

Tote Maritime reported on Saturday that a life ring from El Faro was found was 120 miles northeast of Crooked Island. 

That's about 70 miles northeast of the last known position of the El Faro before it lost contact with authorities with 33 people on board.

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss says the crew of a C-130 airplane spotted the life ring on Saturday and a helicopter crew confirmed it was from the El Faro.

Though the release also states that the discovery of the life ring is in no way indicative of the ship's fate and that of the crew, including Frank Hamm, on board.

Mrs Hamm, a data entry clerk for the Federal government, has been married to husband, Frank, for 18 years and the couple have five children and three grandchildren.

Still looking: The discovery of the life ring  by the HC130 crew is in no way indicative of the ship's fate or that of those on board 

She said that her husband, from Baltimore, Maryland, had been at sea since 1999 but that this was the first time she had ever endured an experience like this.

She was joined by her daughter Desiree, 18, outside the family’s Jacksonville home and both stressed that they are remaining positive and hopeful for a safe return of their loved ones.

Mrs Hamm said: ‘I want you all to pray with us that everybody will come home safe just like Jesus delivered Jonah from the whale He’s going to deliver these guys on the ship and bring them home to us.’

She was, she said, ‘a prayer warrior’ clinging to the hope that El Faro is ‘just floating in the water.’

She said: ‘I was devastated at first but after communicating with everyone we really believe that they’re okay.

Family portrait: Mrs. Hamm, a data entry clerk for the Federal government, has been married to husband, Frank, for 18 years and the couple have five children and three grandchildren

Staying strong: Rochelle and Desiree Hamm, the wife and daughter of Frank Hamm a crew member of the missing ship El Faro, are praying that Frank and the rest of the crew are alive and well 

‘I do believe it’s just floating in the water and we are prayerful, we are prayer warriors, and we are praying that they’re going to come out and I believe that they are safe – all of them.’

Laurie Bobillot’s daughter Danielle Randolph, 34, from Rockland Maine is another one of the Americans on board.

Speaking to DailyMail Online Mrs Bobillot who is travelling to Jacksonville said: ‘Right I need to find out if they’ve located my child.’

Mrs Bobillot said of her daughter: 'She is usually the only female aboard the ship, but even though she is a short little girl she can handle her own well," Bobillot said in a statement. "When she's home, she's all girlie girl. She's an avid barbie doll collector and loves to dress up retro style, shop, and bake. Ever since an extremely young age, she wanted to work on the ocean.' 

This is the last message Laurie Bobillot received from her daughter aboard El Faro, Thursday morning:

'Not sure if you’ve been following the weather at all but there is a hurricane out here and we are heading straight into it.

'Winds are super bad and seas are not great.'

Lost at sea: Danielle Randolph, 34, from Rockland, Maine, is one of the missing Americans on the missing cargo ship El Faro

Mother's prayers: 'She is usually the only female aboard the ship, but even though she is a short little girl she can handle her own well,' said Danielle Randolph's (left) mother Laurie Bobillot (right)

Dreamed of the ocean: 'When she's home, she's all girlie girl. She's an avid barbie doll collector and loves to dress up retro style, shop, and bake. Ever since an extremely young age, she wanted to work on the ocean,' said Laurie of her missing daughter Danielle (pictured)

Earlier captain’s wife, Theresa Davidson, 49, told DailyMail Online of her faith in his abilities to captain El Faro safely in its hour of peril.

Speaking from the family home in Windham, Maine she said: ‘My husband is extremely capable, he has extensive training.

‘If anyone can handle a situation like that it’s my husband so we are hopeful that he’s just waiting it out and that they’ll be rescued today.’

The captain's daughter Ariana Davidson asked people to pray for her father on her Twitter account on Saturday.

The U.S. Coast Guard previously saved 12 sailors who were forced to abandon a sinking cargo ship late on Thursday. Laurie hopes her daughter will be rescued as well despite the ship's lack of communication

Faith: Laurie prays that her daughter Danielle and the rest of the crew will return home safely after the storm. On Friday night officials from ship owners Tote Services and Tilt Co met with families of the crew

'Please pray for my Dad to return home safely,' she Tweeted.

'My family appreciates all the love and support, thank you all #DavidsonStrong,' she posted just a few hours later.

On her Facebook account, Davidson, who is studying Biology at the University of Southern Maine, posted a photo of her and her supportive soccer teammates' arms outstretched with 'El Faro' written on them. 

Company officials noted that the El Faro's captain 'is a man of incredible experience' who has spent more than two decades at sea. 

Casco Bay Lines operations manager Nick Movadones, 55, sailed with Captain Michael Davidson when the men were both captains for Casco.

He has known Davidson since they were both kids, growing up in nearby summerhouses in Maine.

Speaking to WCSH6 Movadones described Davidson as ‘detailed’ and ‘prudent.’ 

The captain: Company officials noted that the El Faro's captain Michael Davidson (circled) 'is a man of incredible experience' who has spent more than two decades at sea.

Captain's kin: The captain's daughter Ariana Davidson is desperately praying that her father, who has spent two decades at sea, is safe along with the rest of his crew  

According to Ariana Davidson's Facebook page she is studying biology at the University of Southern Maine  

Team support: Davidson posted a photo to her Facebook of her and her supportive soccer teammates' arms outstretched with 'El Faro' written on them

He said: ‘Anytime you’re a mariner you want to exercise prudence operating a vessel and I’m sure he was doing that earlier this week when they got underway from Jacksonville. He’s been sailing these ships for many years and is very experienced and, I think, a very good sailor.’

He added: ‘I’ve known Mike since we were kids – very smart, very good-natured and a strong family person, so I’m hoping and praying that they’re able to find Mike and his crew.’ 

The US Coastguard resumed its search for the missing vessel at first light today. They lost contact with the vessel at 7.30 on Thursday morning when the ship and its 33 crewmembers vanished in Hurricane Joaquin.

The car carrier is believed to have been close to the eye of the storm and disappeared north of the Bahamas after setting sail from Florida destined for Puerto Rico, with 28 Americans and five Polish crew on board.

Shortly before losing contact, the Coast Guard said the vessel sent out a distress call reporting that it had lost power, had been overcome by the storm and was taking on water.

Daughter of the captain: Davidson asked people to pray for her father on her Twitter account on Saturday

Giving thanks: 'Please pray for my Dad to return home safely,' she Tweeted. 'My family appreciates all the love and support, thank you all #DavidsonStrong,' she posted just a few hours later

El Faro, which is carrying 33 crew including 28 Americans, was last heard from near Crooked Island, just north of the Bahamas, where it reported losing power and taking on water

News of the ship's disappearance came as Hurricane Joaquin continued to batter the Bahamas with winds of up to 125mph.

On Friday night officials from ship owners Tote Services and Tilt Co met with families of the crew.

Antony Chiarello, president of Tilt said: ‘We have met with as many families in person as we could that have loved ones on board the vessel El Faro.’

According to ActionNewsJax.com the meeting was an emotional one for the families as they wait for answers.

Phil Green, with Tote Services said: ‘I think the most critical importance for us is that we share as much information as we have, that we’re as upfront about the situation as we possibly can be.’

They have yet to release the names of the crewmembers and have said they do not intend to at this point.

The Bahamas is currently being battered by winds from Hurricane Joaquin (pictured from the International Space Station) which has been ripping through the island chain

Meanwhile the US Coastguard has launched two C-130 Hercules aircraft from its base in Clearwater, Florida in order to search for the 735ft vessel which is thought to be adrift in the Bermuda Triangle.

According to a Coast Guard press release El Faro last messaged at 7.30am on Thursday to say that it was beset by the hurricane and that it had lost propulsion and was taking on water. At that point the crew stated that they had managed to contain the flooding.

El Faro also reported a list of 15 degrees likely made worse by its cargo of 391 containers above deck and 294 cars, trucks and trailers in its hold.

Without working engines the ship is at the mercy of seas that were reported to be between 22ft and 30ft – the height of a three-storey house. 

The U.S. Coast Guard previously saved 12 sailors who were forced to abandon a sinking cargo ship late Thursday, hoisting them into a helicopter from a life raft in churning waters off northwest Haiti. In a Saturday statement, officials said they had accounted for all crew members on the Bolivian-flagged ship.

Clare Reigard of Georgetown, South Carolina, abandons her car after it stalled on Duke Street due to heavy rains in Georgetown, South Carolina

Two men row a boat on a flooded street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina

Lloyd said that several smaller vessels reported missing during the storm also had been located and their crews found to be safe.

As the threat of the storm receded on a path that would take it away from the U.S. mainland, people in the southeastern Bahamas were in cleanup mode. Joaquin destroyed houses, uprooted trees and unleashed heavy flooding as it hurled torrents of rain, and officials were investigating reports of shelters being damaged and flooded.

There had been no reports of fatalities or injuries so far, said Capt. Stephen Russell, the director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency.

The Bahamas government said it was inspecting airports first for damage and would later look at other infrastructure, adding that it would take time to compile information about overall damage from numerous islands. Officials have already reopened more than a dozen small airports across the island chain.

Flood waters rise around a title loan store on Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, North Carolina

A vehicle and a man try to navigate floodwaters in Florence, South Carolina

A group of young people enjoy the water at a flooded street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina

Joaquin ripped off roofs, uprooted trees and flooded areas of the Bahamas with torrential downpours this week

On Saturday afternoon, the storm was centered about 500 miles (805 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and was moving northeast at 17 mph (28 kph). It strengthened again into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to lose strength in upcoming days, but a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch were issued for Bermuda.

The eye of Joaquin was expected to pass west of Bermuda on Sunday, but the storm still might veer closer to the island, forecasters warned.

Rick Knabb, director of the hurricane center, said Joaquin was expected to pass well offshore from the eastern seaboard.

'We no longer have any models forecasting the hurricane to come into the East Coast,' he said. 'But we are still going to have some bad weather.'

In addition, the entire East Coast will experience dangerous surf and rip currents through the weekend, he said.

'Joaquin is going to generate a lot of wave energy,' Knabb said.

People watch as waves pound the shore in Atlantic City, New Jersey

TALES OF THE HOODOO SEA: BERMUDA TRIANGLE'S BIGGEST MYSTERIES

The phrase Bermuda Triangle was first used in 1964 to describe an area of ocean off the coast of Florida where it was claimed an unusually high number of ship disappearances took place.

While the phrase was not coined until then, sailors had been noting for decades that the waters between Florida, Bermuda and the Bahamas contained hidden dangers.

Perhaps the earliest record of strange goings-on in the area came from Christopher Columbus when he reported odd compass readings going through the area in 1492.

While many debate the Triangle's significance, arguing that it is no more or less dangerous than any stretch of open sea, the legend has stuck - and some mysteries still remain unsolved to this day.

The USS Cyclops 

The Cyclops was a coal-carrying ship used to ferry fuel to American warships during World War One, and was on its way from Bahia, in Salvador, to Baltimore when it vanished in 1918.

No wreckage from the 542ft vessel has ever been found, nor has any trace of the 306 crew and passengers it was carrying at the time.

While in theory it could have disappeared anywhere between Bahia and Baltimore, not necessarily in the Triangle, supporters of the theory argue that the lack of a distress call from the vessel means it met with a supernatural end.

The 309 killed on board the Cyclops remains the single biggest loss of life in U.S. Naval history not involving combat.

Airplane NC16002

The Douglas DC-3 passenger plane disappeared in 1948 while on a flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami despite good conditions.

The weather was fine, though a little windy, and visibility was excellent as the aircraft made its way over the Triangle.

The last radio transmission to come from the craft was from the pilot, saying he was 50 miles from Miami, but the plane never showed up.

To this day nobody knows what became of the plane, or the 32 people on board.

Flight 19

Perhaps the most famous of all the Bermuda Triangle mysteries, Flight 19 was a squadron of five Avenger torpedo bombers that became lost and then vanished while taking part in a training mission over the Triangle in 1945.

Lead by experienced pilot Lt. Charles Taylor, the rest of the squadron was made up of students under his command.

On the day they vanished they were taking part in a practice bombing run, tasked with flying west from the airbase at Fort Lauderdale over the Triangle, 'hitting' targets on Chicken Shoals, then returning back to base.

However, during their outward journey Lt. Taylor became convinced that the squadron was not over the Triangle, as it should have been, but was instead flying over the Florida Keys, which was several hundred miles to the south.

Certain that the planes had taken off in the wrong direction, he turned his students north east, in the hopes of reaching Miami, but they never made it.

Commanders at Fort Lauderdale were in contact with Flight 19 throughout the rest of the day, though radio transmissions often crackled in and out. 

Towards the end of the day, with communications failing and a storm approaching, a search party was launched.

None of the search planes were able to locate the five Avengers and, to make matters worse, one of the rescue craft disappeared itself.

No wreckage from any of the planes has been found, though the missing search plane was reported to have crashed after fellow rescue pilots reported seeing an explosion shortly after it had taken off.