SS Francis Preston Blair
Coordinates: 21°48′S 153°42′E / 21.8°S 153.7°E
| Career | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 7,196 tons |
SS Francis Preston Blair was an American Liberty ship, 7,196 tons stranded on Saumarez Reef in the Coral Sea during a cyclone in 1945. The ship has since deteriorated into a rusty heap. The wreck was used by Royal Australian Air Force F-111 aircraft for target practice during the 1980s.
The bronze propeller was salvaged by unknown persons between 1964 and 1970. Wreck was visited by Wild Kingdom who made a TV episode hosted by Marlin Perkins for USA and world distribution in 1971.