Meet the site
In December 1943 a Curtiss-Wright CW-22B Falcon, serial 3771, operated by the United States Army Air Forces' 45th Service Group based in Townsville, suffered engine failure and ditched in Nelly Bay. The crew were rescued, and the aircraft sank to the sandy bottom of the bay, where its remains still lie. The Marine Life Network records the site, noting that the wreckage is scattered and that the main recognisable features are the engine and propeller. The CW-22 was a two-seat low-wing monoplane used as an advanced trainer and liaison aircraft; several were used by Allied forces in Australia and the Netherlands East Indies. Townsville was a major Allied air base during the Second World War, and the Falcon's loss is one of several wartime aviation incidents around Magnetic Island, which also carries the Forts complex above Horseshoe Bay. As a dive, this is a niche site for wreck and history enthusiasts rather than a reef experience. The remains lie on sand in a bay where visibility is often limited, and the aircraft has had more than 80 years to break down, so expect an engine block and propeller encrusted with growth, surrounded by fragments, with small fish, gobies and invertebrates using them as shelter. The source listing gives a position in the centre of Nelly Bay but its distance reference is ambiguous, and no depth is published; the bay is generally shallow (under about 10 m). Wartime aircraft wrecks in Australian waters are protected historic remains and must not be disturbed. Anyone planning a dive should obtain reliable marks from local divers and treat the site with care. Confidence in the exact position and current condition is low.
What you might see
Encrusting invertebrates, gobies, small reef fish, shrimps; sand-dwelling rays
Location
Scattered remains of a US Army Air Forces Curtiss-Wright CW-22B Falcon that ditched in Nelly Bay in December 1943.
Facilities nearby
Nelly Bay ramp and harbour; ferry terminal, shops and toilets nearby.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.