Everything You Need to Know About the No-Go Zone of the Bermuda Triangle
Whether sea monsters, aliens or something entirely less other-worldly is to blame for the mysteries surrounding the Bermuda Triangle, it remains a place of much intrigue. With incidents spanning three centuries, that seemingly innocuous patch in the North Atlantic Ocean has a lot to answer for.
What and Where Does One Discover the Mysterious Bermuda Triangle?
The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is famous for numerous stories and legends of mysterious disappearances of ships and aeroplanes.
The primary area of the Bermuda Triangle is loosely defined, but it is generally believed to stretch between the points of Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. The region gained notoriety in the 20th century due to a few high-profile incidents that received significant media attention.
Famous Cases of Disappearances at The Bermuda Triangle
Famous Cases of Disappearances at The Bermuda Triangle
One of the most well-known incidents at the Bermuda Triangle is the disappearance of Flight 19 in 1945. Five U.S. Navy torpedo bombers suddenly vanished during an overwater training exercise. The training assessment was called Navigation Problem Number 1.
Flight leader, US Navy’s Lieutenant Charles Carroll Taylor, had about 2,500 flying hours, mostly in aircraft of this type. He was expected to train 13 pilots to fly the Avenger Torpedo bombers in combat. Taylor had completed a combat tour in the Pacific theatre as a torpedo bomber pilot on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock. He had recently arrived from NAS Miami where he had also been a VTB (torpedo-bombing plane) instructor.
The mission was to fly east for a set distance, conduct a practice bombing run on a target ship, and then return to base. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly. Both other aircraft nearby and the base had reported hearing the pilots talking to each other during three of the four legs of the training. We know that the bombing element of the training had been completed, because at 3pm, a trainee pilot requested permission to drop his last bomb.
As The Flight Nears the Bermuda Triangle, Equipment Starts to Malfunction
However, during this last exercise, something seemed to have gone wrong. Lieutenant Robert F. Cox, who was gathering his group of students for the same mission, received an unidentified transmission.
In the transmission, an unknown trainee pilot asked one of his student colleagues, Powers, for his compass reading. And Powers replied: “I don’t know where we are. We must have got lost after that last turn.”
Cox then transmitted back to the lost Powers: “This is FT-74, plane or boat calling ‘Powers’ please identify yourself so someone can help you.”
After a few moments, a man identified as Taylor came on the radio instead of Powers.
So Cox (FT-74) requested more information “FT-28, this is FT-74, what is your trouble?”
Lieutenant Taylor
"Both of my compasses are out and I am trying to find Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I am over land but it's broken. I am sure I'm in the Keys but I don't know how far down and I don't know how to get to Fort Lauderdale."
Efforts Were Made to Locate and Contact the Haywire Plane
Cox continued to give the lost flight advice so that they could orientate themselves. But by this point, the weather was deteriorating. With a front moving in and visibility decreasing, the radio began to stutter and cut out. The base managed to follow some of what the pilots on Flight 19 were saying, but it was hard to determine where they were or whether their plan of action was sound.
It sounded like panic had begun to set in with the pilots and there were some heated discussions afoot. Military training, however, stopped the pilots from just following their instincts and they continued to plough East, rather than West, as some of them thought was the better option.
By 5:24pm, several radio stations had managed to triangulate Flight 19’s location to within 100m and realised that they were miles away from where they needed to be. They were north of the Bahamas and many miles from the Florida coast. Then the sun started to set and things began to look even more dire.
The last transmission from Flight 19 was at 7:04pm and was patchy: “All planes close up tight… we’ll have to ditch unless landfall… when the first plane drops below 10 gallons, we all go down together.”
The Search Through the Bermuda Triangle Begins in Earnest
A massive search-and-rescue operation was launched, involving multiple aircraft and ships. After darkness fell, the ground team decided to divert two Martin PBM Mariner flying boats from their own training exercises to search for the missing flight. Flight PBM-5 BuNo 59225 called in a routine radio message shortly after taking off and also vanished.
Vanished Without a Trace into the Fearful Bermuda Triangle
No trace of Flight 19 or its crew was ever found, and the same for the rescue flying boat, 592225. The search continued for weeks, covering an area of over 700,000 square kilometres but it yielded no concrete results.
The disappearance of Flight 19 gained widespread attention and became one of the most famous incidents associated with the Bermuda Triangle. Many theories and speculations arose to explain the event, ranging from supernatural causes to extraterrestrial abduction.
Further Investigations Speculated What Could Be a Rational Cause of the Disappearance
Investigations into the incident concluded that several factors likely contributed to the disappearance. These factors include the deteriorating weather conditions, the pilots’ lack of experience, navigation errors, and possible confusion caused by the malfunctioning compasses. It is worth noting that the Avengers used in Flight 19 were known to have compasses that were prone to failure.
The disappearance of Flight 19 remains an unsolved mystery, as no wreckage or concrete evidence has ever been found. The incident, however, contributed to the popular mythology and speculation surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. It is often cited as an example of the alleged dangers and mysteries associated with the region, despite similar incidents occurring outside of the Bermuda Triangle as well.
1918 - USS Cyclops Meets its Maker in the Treacherous Depths of the Bermuda Triangle
Another incident often associated with the Bermuda Triangle is the disappearance of the USS Cyclops in March 1918. The USS Cyclops was a United States Navy cargo ship that disappeared in the vicinity of the Bermuda Triangle. The ship was en route from Barbados to Baltimore and was carrying a crew of 309 people, as well as a cargo of manganese ore.
There had been a couple of concerns. A cracked engine cylinder had been reported by the ship’s captain, Commander Worley. And several people had noted that it was overloaded. An unscheduled stop was made in Barbados when the water level rose above the plimsoll line, which was further evidence of overloading. But after investigating, the boat set sail once more.
After this, the ship vanished without a trace, and despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage or survivors were ever found.
Various theories have been proposed to explain the disappearance of the USS Cyclops. Some suggest that it was a victim of storms or severe weather conditions common in the area. Others speculate that the ship may have encountered a structural failure, resulting in its rapid sinking.
One theory often mentioned in connection with the USS Cyclops is the idea of “magnetic anomalies” in the Bermuda Triangle affecting navigational instruments.
In conclusion, the USS Cyclops remains an unsolved mystery, and its disappearance adds to the enigmatic reputation of the Bermuda Triangle.
1881 - Sailing Ship Ellen Austin
In 1881, an American schooner by the name of Ellen Austin was traversing the treacherous waters around the Bermuda Triangle. The vessel was completing a journey from London to New York and had been at sea for several days.
The ship’s captain, Captain Baker, was surprised when the Ellen Austin encountered an unidentified vessel that seemed to be adrift travelling alongside. The deserted ship was said to be in good condition, showing no signs of struggle or distress.
Wary of being lured into a trap, the crew of the Ellen Austin tried to make contact with the seemingly abandoned vessel for two days. After receiving no sign of life, Captain Baker decided to send some of the crew members aboard the smaller boat and tow it back to port for salvage.
The Ellen Austin Continues her Journey through the Bermuda Triangle with her New Companion
The lost ship in itself was somewhat strange, but not unheard of. However, the story takes a bizarre turn after the abandoned ship is crewed by sailors from the Ellen Austin.
After a few days, a sudden storm separated the two vessels, and when the weather cleared, the abandoned ship had vanished without a trace. The Ellen Austin reportedly searched for the missing ship but found no sign of it at first. Eventually, Captain Baker spotted the rogue vessel in the distance. Through his telescope, he could see that none of the crew he had sent were visible. After watching the ship for some time and seeing no sign of life, he rerouted the Ellen Austin to intercept the smaller ship.
On approaching, it was clear that the small vessel was, once again, deserted. Confused, Captain Baker sent a smaller crew of four of his men to board the ship and find out what was happening. He sent them armed, this time, concerned about the whole thing being a trick. Maybe pirates were picking the crew of the Ellen Austin off so they could commandeer the schooner.
The Mysterious Bermuda Triangle Strikes Again
The new crew were instructed to sail the ship alongside the Ellen Austin and to ring their bells at regular intervals throughout the night to make sure they didn’t get separated again.
That very night, a dense fog descended on the two ships. The Ellen Austin lost sight of the small ship’s lantern, but both ships continued to clang their bells… until they didn’t. Concerned, Captain Baker carried on clanging the bell, but getting nothing in response. When day broke and the fog dispersed, the small ship was nowhere to be seen. This time, it was not recovered and the Ellen Austin continued its journey, successfully docking in New York, despite missing several crew members.
There had been rumours and legends about disappearances within the Bermuda Triangle since 1701. So this incident left the remaining crew bewildered and scared. It gave rise to speculation about supernatural forces or mysterious phenomena.
It is worth noting that the story of the Ellen Austin’s disappearance has been embellished and perpetuated through retellings over the years. Again, we’re back to the argument I make often about stories being built upon and gaining traction.
The Bermuda Triangle Has Quite the Reputation
The sea is still largely unexplored. Investigations throw up fearsome looking creatures all the time, even in this day and age. So imagine living in times that were far more superstitious. Setting sail in a wooden boat with no way to contact land for days, weeks, and months at a time with the vast expanse of ocean either side and underneath you stretching out for miles and miles.
Since the first ever ships set sail, there have been stories of great sea monsters. But the first recorded story of the Bermuda Triangle dates back to 1701.
A pirate ship is said to have been making the hazardous journey through the Devil’s Triangle. Suddenly, rising up from the depths of the ocean, a giant squid appeared and sank the ship, killing all aboard. Legend has it that the ghost of the pirate ship is still spotted out on the water. If anyone tries to board the ship, they are never seen again.
Even now, fishing boats have reported sighting a ship sailing in the distance. They often report hearing screaming and sometimes can make out screamed warnings to “turn back” and save themselves the same fate.
Since that time, many unexplained disappearances in the area have been attributed to the Bermuda Triangle.
2017 - Turkish Airlines flight TK183
In 2017, a Turkish Airlines Flight, TK183, was passing over the Bermuda Triangle when it began to experience technical difficulties. According to the cabin crew, they suddenly lost signal with no explanation. Shortly after, they experienced mechanical and electrical malfunctions. Just one thing after another began to break down.
Eventually, the decision was made for the plane to land at Washington Dulles Airport, instead of carrying on to its original destination of Havana. This is not the first incident of malfunctions over the Bermuda Triangle. While everyone on board Flight TK183 landed safely, it does make you wonder about the claims of magnetic anomalies interfering with navigational equipment. That would also explain why compasses become useless in that area.
What Have Experts Said About the Bermuda Triangle?
In reality, the number of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle is not statistically significant compared to other well-travelled oceanic regions. Ships and planes go missing in various parts of the world’s ocean. Many of the incidents attributed to the Bermuda Triangle can often be explained by natural phenomena, human error, equipment failures, or severe weather conditions.
Scientists and experts have put forward several rational explanations for the phenomena associated with the Bermuda Triangle. Some theories suggest that the region experiences unique weather patterns, including severe storms and rogue waves, which can be hazardous to ships and aircraft. The area is also known for its complex network of underwater seamounts, which could potentially interfere with navigational systems.
Overall, while the Bermuda Triangle has captured the imagination of many people and remains a topic of fascination, most of the mysteries surrounding it can be attributed to natural and human factors. The actual level of mystery and danger is likely less than the popular myths and legends would suggest.
Scaredy Cat’s Take
It’s hard to make a proper judgement, because I have no knowledge of how aeroplanes work, and I am a shit sailer. I once got seasick on a pedalo, so I tend to keep my feet firmly on the ground.
I love the idea of sea monsters, though. I’m fascinated with the ocean depths. Old maps show sea monsters and treacherous areas and I don’t doubt for a second that sailors back in the day would have been horrified by all kinds of colossal animals. Most of which wanted to eat them.
While the Bermuda Triangle has sparked interest and speculation for hundreds of years, it’s most likely that it is just a difficult part of the sea to sail and requires a huge amount of skill. And in terms of flights, turbulent weather could play a part.
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